A spoonful of honey can quiet children's nighttime cough and help them

to sleep better, a new study shows. When compared to the cough syrup

ingredient dextromethorphan or no treatment, honey came out on top.

"The results were so strong that we were able to say clearly that honey

was better than no treatment and dextromethorphan was not," Dr. Ian

M. Paul of Pennsylvania State University in Hershey, one the study's

authors, said.

There is no proven effective treament for cough due to an upper

respiratory infection like the common cold.

While dextromethorphan is widely used, there is no evidence that it

works, and it carries risks.

Honey is used around the work as a folk remedy for cough, and might

provide a safe, effective alternative to cough medicine, Paul and his

colleagues note in the

sleep.

Source: Reuters