Evidence supporting the use of: Honey
For the health condition: Cough (damp)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 4

Honey has a long history of use as a remedy for cough, especially in traditional systems such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is often used to soothe the throat and moisten dryness, which can correspond to "damp" coughs. However, there is also scientific validation supporting honey's efficacy in treating cough, particularly in children. Multiple randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews, including those cited by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have shown that honey can be more effective than placebo and some over-the-counter cough medicines in reducing both the frequency and severity of cough, especially nocturnal cough associated with upper respiratory tract infections.

The proposed mechanisms include honey’s demulcent properties, which provide a soothing coating to the throat, its antimicrobial effects, and its ability to modulate inflammatory responses. For example, a 2018 Cochrane review found that honey probably improves cough symptoms more than no treatment, diphenhydramine, and placebo, and may be at least as effective as dextromethorphan, a common cough suppressant. It should be noted that honey is not recommended for children under one year of age due to the risk of botulism.

In summary, both historical and scientific evidence support the use of honey for cough, with modern clinical studies providing a strong evidence base for its symptomatic relief, particularly in cases of acute upper respiratory tract infections.

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