Medical expert of the article
New publications
Chocolate is the best cure for a chronic cough
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Chocolate is not only a tasty treat loved by many, but also an excellent means for preventing cardiovascular diseases. In addition, chocolate wraps will help make your skin smooth and velvety.
Chocolate is a very healthy and tasty product, and if you list all its useful properties, you won't have enough fingers on your hands, especially since one more benefit has been added to all the others - it turns out that chocolate can help with chronic cough, which many people suffer from. With such a tasty medicine, treatment is not only not scary, but also pleasant.
The study involved about 300 people who complained of persistent, intrusive cough. The clinical trials took place in 13 NHS hospitals.
The results of the study are presented on the pages of the scientific journal “NewScientist”.
"The cough that plagued our patients is often the result of a viral infection. It is difficult to treat and can plague a person for weeks. Because opiate-containing drugs can cause side effects, patients should not take them in large doses," says Aline Moris, the study's lead author.
For 14 days, specialists gave patients tablets containing a component found in cocoa – theobromine.
It was found that 60% of people who took part in the study felt relief.
Experts say that a bar of dark chocolate contains enough active ingredients that can soothe a cough.
Experts suggest that this effect is achieved due to the action of theobromine, which affects the endings of the vagus nerve, which connects the brain and the respiratory tract of the lungs.
To finally verify the correctness of their conclusions, the experts studied the effect of theobromine on guinea pigs. As it turned out during the experiment, theobromine is actually able to neutralize the depolarization of the vagus nerve ending. In addition, according to scientists, when using theobromine, patients do not experience any unwanted or side effects, which are often encountered when using other medications.
"The results are promising," Dr. Morris said. "Millions of people worldwide suffer from chronic cough, and most of the drugs that can help are opiates or contain codeine, which is a narcotic. Unfortunately, the harm from using such drugs can outweigh the benefit."
Dr. Maurice says that persistent, intrusive coughs are often seen in people with lung diseases, and so their discovery could be the basis for developing new treatments.
However, experts still note that despite the absence of visible side effects from chocolate, in particular theobromine, it is necessary to consult a doctor before starting chocolate therapy.