Imagine a cold winter night when your child tosses and turns because of a cough and can't sleep. With a messy medicine cabinet in your home, you're anxious to find a natural remedy that's both safe and effective. That's when you think of the sugar cane, which is said to be a cough suppressant handed down from your ancestors. But does sugar cane really stop coughs? Is it safe for children?
Sugar cane, a sweet plant that grows in tropical landscapes, is more than just an ingredient for sugar production or a thirst-quenching snack. In traditional medicine, it is known as a good medicine that clears away heat, detoxifies, and moisturizes the throat. But in modern families, the practice of sugarcane water for cough is full of controversy and misunderstanding. Some parents see it as a panacea, while others are worried about its side effects.
Sugarcane water: a natural cough healer
Cough is a common symptom that is not only uncomfortable, but in some cases can last for a longer period of time, affecting daily life. Sugar cane is a popular natural remedy with a long history of cough suppressant benefits in traditional medicine. But how do you scientifically understand sugarcane cough suppressant? Let's dive in.
Cough suppressant in sugar cane
Sugarcane is rich in sugars, organic acids, trace elements, and unique phytochemicals. Together, these ingredients can help relieve inflammation in the throat and reduce coughing. In particular, the phytoglycosides in it have been shown to have the effect of moisturizing the lungs and expelling expectorants, making sugarcane water a mild and effective cough suppressant.
Association of sugarcane water with cough type
There are many types of coughs, and the effects of sugar cane water can vary from person to person. Studies have shown that sugarcane water can provide a throat moisturizer and relieve irritation caused by dry throat when dealing with dry cough. However, its effectiveness in the treatment of other types of cough requires further scientific research.
Scientific research support
In recent years, several studies have begun to explore the cough suppressant effects of sugarcane water. Although the study is still in its infancy, preliminary results suggest that sugarcane water can be used as an adjunct treatment for cough. Scientists have experimentally found that sugarcane water can reduce respiratory tract inflammation and relieve cough symptoms to a certain extent.
Hot and cold cough: Two sides of your child's cough
Parents are often anxious to seek treatment when a child has a cough, however, not all coughs are suitable for the same treatment. Cold cough and hot cough are two common types of cough in TCM theory, and they have their own characteristics and adapted treatments. Through accurate identification, parents can help their children relieve cough more effectively.
Chills: A continuous cough caused by cold
Cold cough is usually caused by the cold climate outside or excessive cold in the body, and is manifested as white and thin phlegm, and the cough voice is dull. Your child may have chills and cold hands and feet. At this point, staying warm and eating a warm diet in moderation is key, while cool cough foods such as sugar cane may not be suitable as they may exacerbate the cold in the body.
Hot cough: An irritating cough caused by internal heat
Hot cough is caused by internal heat evil, which is common in the later stages of a cold or when there is heat in the body. This type of cough has thick yellow phlegm, irritating and continuous coughing, and the child may have fever, thirst, red face and other hot symptoms. At this time, a cooling diet such as sugarcane water may be more suitable, as it can help clear away heat and detoxify and relieve cough.
Cane water and a child's cough: a cup of treatment or a problem?
Cough is one of the common symptoms in children, and many parents want to alleviate their child's discomfort through natural remedies. Sugar cane water is popular for its natural sweetness and traditionally believed cough suppressant effect. However, parents must be cautious when using sugarcane water to treat cough in children, as inappropriate use can have unintended consequences.
Understanding the type of cough is crucial. Children's cough is broadly divided into cold cough and hot cough, both
Treatments vary widely. Sugarcane cooling, according to TCM theory, is suitable for hot coughs, i.e. those coughs that are accompanied by fever, sore throat or yellow phlegm. If used to treat a chilly cough — usually phlegm-clear, athermia, or weakness — it can backfire and exacerbate cough symptoms.
Children's digestive systems are more sensitive and immature than adults. Sugarcane water is high in sugar, and excessive consumption may cause indigestion, bloating, or affect your child's appetite. It should be used with caution especially in children with prediabetes or other glucose metabolism problems.
Relying on sugarcane water as the primary cough suppressant may overlook the underlying cause behind cough. Cough can be a symptom of a variety of ailments such as colds, allergies, asthma, etc., which require diagnosis and treatment by a doctor. Focusing attention on a single home remedy can delay the right time to treatment.