Honey has a tradition of being an effective, natural soother for throats and coughs. A study by a Penn State College of Medicine research team found that honey may offer parents an effective and safe alternative to over-the-counter cough medicine. 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.
As with any raw foods, honey should not be fed to infants under one year of age. Honey is a safe and wholesome food for older children and adults.