There is very little evidence cough syrup is effective at treating coughs. In one review, 15 out of 19 studies analyzed showed no benefit, or the results were conflicting. Other reviews have similar findings; the researchers say there is “no good evidence for or against the effective of OTC medicines in acute cough.” There is no guarantee that cough syrup will do anything for our cough, though it could help us get a better night’s sleep.
Taking larger doses of DXM can cause dizziness, uncontrollable eye movement, convulsions, and even death, and it’s especially dangerous for young children — thousands of kids under 12 are sent to the emergency room every year because of accidental overdoses on cough medicine.
Rather than drinking a bottle of cough syrup, there are natural treatments that can alleviate an irritating cough. They are not only better for you, but they taste a whole lot better than most cough syrup too! Most of the time, we can manage our coughs at home with natural, accessible, and relatively inexpensive remedies:
I – Word Understanding
Convulsions – seizure; a sudden, violent shaking of the body
Alleviate – to ease or relieve
II – Have Your Say
1. How do you treat coughing? What are the known treatments of cough that are commonly recommended by your doctors?
2. Do you know some natural remedies of cough? Here are some recommendations:
– Honey
– Licorice
– Chocolate
– Whiskey and other strong alcohol
586 Does Cough Syrup Really Work? Eating Chocolate And 3 Other Natural Remedies To Stop Coughing