Most people know or have heard of the benefits of honey with it's soothing and antiseptic properties. This study compared the recovery of children with chest infections, and the effects the remedies were having on the cough, and general recovery. Honey scored best, and this is important, as we learn some of the pharmaceutical cough and cold medicines, could be doing more harm than good.

My mum often told us that there was great value in old remedies: Honey for chesty coughs; Witchhazel for bumps; Arrowroot for tummy problems; and, via my late father-in-law, Knitbone or Comfrey for sprains, all of which I have used from time to time and were, as Lily the Pink maintained, efficacious in every case.