![\"Honey](\"https:\/\/blueridge-ent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/honey-syrup-.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAccording\nto pediatrician Jennifer Shu, spokesperson for the American Academy of\nPediatrics, pediatric cough medicine at the drug store is less about medicine\nand more about marketing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you make it, some people are going to buy it,\u201d she said<\/a>. \u201cThat’s why you see lots of products on shelves that may not be necessary or even safe for kids.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But how\neffective are these medicines, really? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nactive ingredient in most kids\u2019 cough syrups is a cough suppressant like\ndextromethorphan or an antihistamine like diphenhydramine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat the\u00a0studies have shown<\/a>\u00a0is that \u2013 for some reason \u2013 in kids they aren’t that effective,\u201d Shu explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In\naddition to not being particularly effective for pediatric populations, these\ningredients can have unfortunate side effects, like increasing blood pressure\nand heart rate or suppressing breathing \u2013 neither of which is good for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternatively,\nparents can turn to honey, which has been shown to be at least as effective as\nOTC cough syrup and have fewer side effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHoney\nis at least as effective as those many, many products that you see in the\ndrugstore,\u201d said Dr. Bud Wiedermann, infectious disease specialist at\nChildren’s National Hospital in Washington D.C. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One randomized controlled trial in Israel asked parents to give their kids either honey or a placebo syrup that looked and tasted like honey. The parents in the honey group reported improvement in their child\u2019s cough and sleep<\/a> after just one night, and parents in the control group saw no difference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another study found that honey works about as well as dextromethorphan in kids with fewer side effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Note: Honey should only be used for children over the age of one. There is some risk of botulism for younger infants). <\/p>\n\n\n\n While\nthe reason behind honey\u2019s effectiveness is not totally clear, there are some\ntheories. \u201cHoney has some natural antibacterial and antiviral properties,\u201d said\nDr. Shu. \u201cIt contains hydrogen peroxide, so there is a theory that that’s why\nit might help fight a cold. But also the thickness of it helps coat the throat\nand makes it feel more comfortable so you don’t have that dry, ticklish feeling\nthat’s causing your cough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nAn\nAlternative Solution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n