Patients suffering from a cough who used a chocolate-based medication reported a “significant improvement” in their symptoms within two days, compared to those on a regular cough syrup, according to a study conducted by a research group at the University of Hull in Yorkshire, England, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Wednesday.
In the study, the researchers examined 163 patients in Europe with a cough, randomly prescribing them either regular codeine or a chocolate-based medicine called ROCOCO.
“We have just seen the results of the largest real-world study of an over-the-counter cough remedy ever undertaken in Europe,” lead author Alyn Morice told the Daily Mail. “This proves that a new medicine which contains cocoa is better than a standard linctus.”
Morice pointed out that an earlier research study, done at Imperial College in London, had similar findings, discovering that theobromine, an alkaloid in cocoa, is better at suppressing cough than codeine.
Researchers said they believe the properties of cocoa are such that they help relieve irritation and inflammation.
“This simply means it is stickier and more viscose than standard cough medicines, so it forms a coating which protects nerve endings in the throat which trigger the urge to cough,” Morice explained. “This demulcent effect explains why honey and lemon and other sugary syrups can help, but I think there is something more going on with chocolate.”
Those who conducted the research recommend sucking on a piece of chocolate to help get rid of cough symptoms, but say that hot chocolate may not be as effective, because it doesn’t come in contact with the throat long enough.
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