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The active ingredient in chocolate can cure cough
An ingredient in chocolate could be used to stop persistent coughs and lead
to more effective medicines, researchers say. The study found that
theobromine, found in cocoa, was nearly a third more effective in stopping
persistent coughs than codeine
(http://www.lookchem.com/cas-294/29485-83-4.html), currently considered
the best cough medicine.
The researchers, from Imperial College London (ICL), said the discovery
could lead to more effective cough treatments. Ten healthy volunteers were
either given theobromine, codeine or a dummy pill during the trial, which
also involved Royal Brompton Hospital and St Bartholomew's Hospital.
The researchers, writing in the online FASEB Journal, said that theobromine
worked by suppressing vagus nerve activity, which is responsible for
causing coughing. They also found that unlike standard cough treatments,
theobromine caused no adverse effects on the cardiovascular or central
nervous systems, such as drowsiness.
chelsea8611
1) Unless I'm missing something, your link is relatively dead making you a
spammer. However I'll go on...
2) The effect of theobromine on the vagus nerve and possibility to act as a
cough supressant is absolutely nothing new. However, what you mentioned
regarding its side effects is NOT true. It is a vasodilator (similar to
asthma medications), dilates the blood vessels, and increases the
heartbeat. This sounds like an effect on the cardiovascular system, don't
ya think? Why would chocolate cause drowsiness? However, it has been known
to cause sleeplessness, restlessness, tremors, and various other
effects.
EDIT: I was too tired when I wrote that. It is a vasodilator (hence dilates
the blood vessels...why did I mention it twice) but not similar to asthma
medications (which are bronchidilators). It only works as an asthma
medication by relaxing smooth muscles.
Nissan_Altima
