Honey Works on Kids' Coughs

Parents looking for an alternative to cold medicines for their young kids might consider a sweet solution—honey. A new study suggests that a commonly available dark variety soothes children's coughs and helps them sleep better, the Houston Chronicle reports.  The study comes in the wake of the FDA's recommendation last month that children under 6 not be given over-the-counter cough and cold medicines.

"Honey is a cheap and effective treatment," said the lead researcher in the study, published in JAMA. "It's kind of amazing that something so simple could be an answer." Researchers said buckwheat honey worked best. They speculated that its sweetness causes salivation that coats the throat. The study, funded by the National Honey Board, noted that honey should not be given to children under 1. (More cough syrup stories.)