美國賓州大學醫學院：蜂蜜治咳嗽 效果比感冒藥好
一湯匙的蜂蜜，就是止咳良藥！這是美國一份於96年12月3日發表的研究報告的結
論，報告指出，蜂蜜治咳嗽的效果，比醫生開的止咳糖漿還要好。
賓州州立大學3日發表的這份報告作者保羅博士說，實驗結果「非常明確，讓我們可
以很清楚的說，蜂蜜（止咳效果）比止咳藥右美沙芬（Dextromethorphan）或者不做
任何治療還要好。」
右美沙芬是目前醫界普遍使用的止咳藥成分。
目前醫界對於普通感冒常出現的上呼吸道感染而引起的咳嗽，還無法證明哪一種藥
保證有效，即使右美沙芬也是如此，而且還會有副作用。
因此這份報告認為，蜂蜜這種民間治療咳嗽的偏方，可能可以當作替代咳嗽藥的一
種安全又有效的治療方式。
研究人員對105名因為上呼吸道感染而有咳嗽狀況的兒童做實驗，分三組治療，分別
是睡前給予蜂蜜，蜂蜜調味的右美沙芬咳嗽藥，以及不做任何治療。
結果發現，吃蜂蜜的那組，不管是頻率和咳嗽程度，止咳效果最好，睡眠品質也因
此改善最多。
至於蜂蜜能夠止咳的原因，報告中指出，可能是蜂蜜的抗氧化成分和抗菌效果，以
及其甜漿形態對喉嚨產生了消炎與保護作用。
研究中使用的蜂蜜份量類似於咳嗽藥建議的劑量：2歲到5歲孩童給予半茶匙，6到11
歲的吃一茶匙，12歲以上給兩茶匙。
不過保羅也提醒，並不建議給予一歲以下的寶寶使用蜂蜜，因為可能會引起一種少
見但是嚴重的肉毒桿菌中毒﹔至於一歲以上的小孩使用蜂蜜都是安全的。
這份報告3日在小兒與青少年醫學檔案期刊發表。
(美國賓州大學醫學院 美國蜂蜜委員會研究資金捐助)
原文：
Honey proves a better option for childhood cough than OTCs
Monday, December 3, 2007
Hershey, Pa. — Now that the safety and effectiveness of children’s cough medicines are in question, what can parents do to help their child deal with a troublesome cough?
A new study by a Penn State College of Medicine research team found that honey may offer parents an effective and safe alternative. The study found that a small dose of buckwheat honey given before bedtime provided better relief of nighttime cough and sleep difficulty in children than no treatment or dextromethorphan (DM), a cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cold medications.
Honey did a better job reducing the severity, frequency and bothersome nature of nighttime cough from upper respiratory infection than DM or no treatment. Honey also showed a positive effect on the sleep quality of both the coughing child and the child’s parents. DM was not significantly better at alleviating symptoms than no treatment.
These findings are especially notable since an FDA advisory board recently recommended that over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines not be given to children less than 6 years old because of their lack of effectiveness and potential for side effects.
The results are published by Penn State College of Medicine researchers, led by Ian Paul, M.D., M.Sc., in this month’s Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
In a previous study published in 2004, Paul and colleagues showed that neither DM nor diphenhydramine, another common component of cold medications, performed better than a placebo at reducing nighttime cough or improving sleep quality. However, honey has been used for centuries in some cultures to treat upper respiratory infection symptoms like cough, and is considered to be safe for children over 12 months old. Honey has well-established antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, which could explain its contributions to wound healing. Honey also soothes on contact, which may help explain its effect on cough as suggested by the World Health Organization.
In the latest study, the researchers enrolled 105 children between the ages of 2 and 18 at a single university-affiliated physician practice site. On the first night of the study, children received no treatment. Parents answered five questions about their child’s cough and sleep quality as well as about their own sleep quality. On the second night, children received either honey, artificial honey-flavored DM or no treatment about a half hour prior to going to bed. Parents answered the same five questions the following morning.
The randomized study was partially double-blinded: Medical staff did not know what treatment each participating family received when distributing their sealed syringe-containing envelope. Parents of children who received honey or artificial honey-flavored DM in a measured syringe were blinded to their treatment group. Parents of children in the no treatment group received an empty syringe, and therefore were aware of their child’s treatment group.
Across the board, parents rated honey as significantly better than DM or no treatment for symptomatic relief of their child’s nighttime cough and sleep difficulty. In a few cases, parents did report mild side effects with the honey treatment, such as hyperactivity.
"Our study adds to the growing literature questioning the use of DM in children, but it also offers a legitimate and safe alternative for physicians and parents,” said Paul, a pediatrician, researcher and associate professor of pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Children’s Hospital. “Additional studies should certainly be considered, but we hope that medical professionals will consider the positive potential of honey as a treatment given the lack of proven efficacy, expense, and potential for adverse effects associated with the use of DM.”
Potentially dangerous effects of DM in young children include dystonic reactions, severe involuntary muscle contractions and spasms. Further, DM is a commonly used as a drug of abuse by adolescents.
Cough is the reason for nearly three percent of all outpatient visits in the United States, more than any other symptom. It is particularly bothersome at night because it disrupts sleep. Consumers spend billions of dollars each year on OTC cough and cold medications despite little evidence that these drugs provide significant relief.
This study was funded by an unrestricted grant from the National Honey Board, an industry-funded agency of the United States Department of Agriculture.
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