Are you experiencing an annoying cough that keeps you awake at night? Unfortunately, over-the-counter cough syrups aren't as effective as the advertisements would lead you to believe, and codeine-based prescription ones can make you tired and nauseous. The side effects of cough syrups are even more pronounced in children, and parents are being encouraged to avoid them completely in very young kids for safety reasons. Natural remedies for cough are usually the best tolerated, but is there one that really works? An interesting study shows that there may be a tasty and effective way to stop a cough – by sipping hot chocolate.

    Chocolate: A Natural Remedy for Cough?

    In a study published in the FASEB Journal, researchers demonstrated the amazing ability of theobromine, a common ingredient in dark chocolate, to naturally suppress cough. To test this, they gave participants a capsule containing either codeine, theobromine, or a placebo. The participants then inhaled increasing amounts of capsaicin, an ingredient in red peppers, to stimulate them to cough. The results? When they were given theobromine capsules, the participants needed a third more capsaicin to induce cough than when they received a placebo. Surprisingly, codeine wasn't much better than placebo for suppressing cough in this study.

    How Does Theobromine Work as a Natural Cough Remedy?

    Theobromine, a chemical found in large quantities in cocoa beans, suppresses cough by inhibiting activity of the vagus nerve which innervates the lungs from the brain. This is similar to the way in which dextramethorphan and codeine suppress cough, but theobromine doesn't have the same undesirable side effects. In fact, in this study, participants experienced no significant adverse reactions to theobromine – suggesting it could be a safe, natural remedy for cough.

    How Much Chocolate is Needed for Cough Suppression?

    The amount of theobromine used in this study was equivalent to the amount contained in two cups of cocoa. Although chocolate and cocoa powder contains caffeine which could be a problem for some people, it's a relatively small amount compared to coffee.

    Cocoa or Dark Chocolate as a Natural Cough Remedy: Should You Use It?

    Researchers are hoping to develop a theobromine based cough syrup. Until then, it's unlikely doctors will be prescribing dark chocolate or hot cocoa for treating cough. But, because it's safer than most cough syrups out there, it may be worth a try if you have an annoying cough. If the cough persists, see your doctor.

    你是否经历过整晚咳嗽而难以入睡？不幸的是非处方咳嗽糖浆并不如广告所宣称得那么有效，并且一些含可待因成分的药方会令你感到疲倦及产生呕吐感。咳嗽糖浆对儿童的副作用更为明显，出于安全考虑，父母常被劝告要完全避免对非常小的孩子使用这类药物。天然疗法常常是最能被接受的，但是它真的有用吗？一项有趣的研究表明也许有一种可口有效的止咳方法--喝热巧克力。

    巧克力：咳嗽的天然疗法？

    在美国实验生物学会联合会（FASEB）杂志上发表的一项研究中，研究人员证明了咖啡碱的惊人效用，咖啡碱是纯巧克力一般成分，能自然抑制咳嗽。为了测试该结论，他们给参与试验的人员含有可待因或者咖啡碱或者安慰剂（无治疗效用）的胶囊。然后参与人员会吸入增加的辣椒素，辣椒素是红辣椒中的一种成分可刺激他们（受试验人员）咳嗽。那么结果如何呢？服用咖啡碱胶囊的受试者要比接受安慰剂的人员多三分之一的辣椒素来引起咳嗽。令人意外的是，在该研究中可待因在抑制咳嗽方面并不比安慰剂有效。

    咖啡碱是如何作为天然咳嗽疗法的？

    咖啡碱是大量存在于可可豆中的一种化学成分，通过抑制大脑支配肺部的交感神经活性从而抑制咳嗽。这与dextramethorphan（一种药物成分）和可待因抑制咳嗽的方式相似，但是咖啡碱并没有与之相同的不良副作用。事实上，在这项研究中，参与者对咖啡碱并没有明显的不适感--说明它可能是一种安全天然的咳嗽疗法。

    抑制咳嗽需要多少巧克力？

    本研究中所用的咖啡碱量与两杯可可所含咖啡碱量相当。虽然巧克力和可可粉中含有困扰一部分人的咖啡因，但是与咖啡相比，咖啡因的量很小。

    作为天然咳嗽药的可可饮料或纯巧克力：你应当使用吗？

    研究人员希望生产一种咖啡碱成分的止咳糖浆。到那里时，医生就不会开出纯巧克力或热可可来治疗咳嗽了。但是因为这种方式比市面上大部分止咳药更安全，因此如果受到咳嗽的困扰，这值得一试。如果这样咳嗽还是"顽固不化",还是去看看医生吧。