The Best of Tea

A chill has crept into the air here in the northeast, and undoubtedly following closely behind will be its evil toadies: cough and cold. When they afflict you - as an adult - you may suffer a bit; you may be annoyed a bit, but you can manage with the aid of rest and over-the-counter medicine.

When your young children get sick, you may also want to turn to cold and cough medicine to help them manage their suffering, but you should know pediatricians advise against giving this medicine to children under six.

So, what’s a parent to do?

A great alternative to cold and cough medicine is a warm cup of herbal tea sweetened with a spoonful of honey. Honey has actually been shown to be more effective than the active ingredient in cough medicine, dextromethorphan, and if you choose an herbal tea infused with cranberry, you may even help battle the bacteria directly.

There are a few caveats, however: never give honey to a child under 12 months, make sure the tea is cool enough for them to drink safely, and avoid caffeinated teas.