Research: Chocolate as a home remedy for coughs - does it work?

Chocolate as a home remedy for cough? Since a British study from 2015, there has been a rumor on the internet that chocolate can help against coughs. The study compared a regular cough suppressant with a preparation containing cocoa. In this article we explain why the interpretation that chocolate works as a cough suppressant is a bit hasty and why chocolate can still be a health maker.

The cough syrup study

In the UK in 2015, a study examined the effects of a cocoa-based cough suppressant. More than 160 people who had had a cough for more than a week took part in the study. They were given either the novel preparation with cocoa or a conventional cough syrup with the active ingredient codeine. The result of the comparison of both groups: The preparation with cocoa lowered the frequency of coughing and also reduced the nocturnal sleep interruptions caused by coughing - significantly better and faster than the conventional remedy. It is still unclear why the cocoa preparation works so well. The researchers from Great Britain suspect, among other things, that the chewy consistency flatters the throat and thus relieves the urge to cough. The preparation puts a protective film over the mucous membranes. In medical jargon this is called “demulcens”.

When the weather is bad, the cold doesn't wait long - does chocolate help as a home remedy for coughs? ©Unsplash

So is chocolate a home remedy for cough?

After the results of the study were published, many media pounced on it: "Chocolate helps against coughs!" Sorry, but we have to tone down that (admittedly sugar-sweet) conclusion a bit. Of course, chocolate contains cocoa – more or less, depending on the variety. And if you let the chocolate slowly melt on your tongue, it flows down your throat with a soft melt. According to the researchers, however, this enamel is not sufficient to permanently relieve inflammation in the throat.

Myth or not: chocolate is good for you

The myth that chocolate helps against coughs from a medical perspective remains a myth. If you have an acute cough, chocolate can still be a good idea. Why? Because cough suppressants have a lot to do with personal belief in them - the placebo effect, so to speak. If your favorite chocolate or a warm drinking chocolate is good for you and you feel relief, they are exactly the right remedy for you personally. The second argument in favor of chocolate for a cough is the feel-good factor: if you are plagued by a cough and cold, you should primarily treat yourself to rest and relaxation. And for real chocolate fans, one or two pieces of chocolate are simply part of relaxation. So: Even without a scientific basis, chocolate can do you good. It's worth a try, isn't it?

Relaxation and chocolate always help ©Unsplash

Cough or not: if chocolate, then really good ones! You can find selected chocolates from all over the world in our online shop .

Sources:
Birring SS, Brew J, Kilbourn A, Edwards V, Wilson R, & Morice AH (2017). Rococo study: a real-world evaluation of an over-the-counter medicine in acute cough (a multicentre, randomised, controlled study) . BMJ Open, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014112 Dose, D. (24 January 2019).
No, the ingredients in chocolate are not effective against coughs. And yet ... | SOUTH COURIER Online. Retrieved on August 26, 2019 from https://www.suedkurier.de/ueberregional/panorama/Na-die-livery-materials-der-chocolate-acting-not-against-Husten-And-doch-can-sie-help;art409965 ,10028995