Take a marshmallow tonight and call me in the morning. That’s the latest TikTok advice to help stop incessant and annoying nighttime coughing.  More than 2.6 million people viewed a woman’s post saying her doctor recommended that she eat a jumbo marshmallow before bed to help relieve her lingering cough that was making it impossible to get much sleep.

According to Everyday Health, TikTokers say the gelatin in marshmallows coats your throat and stops your cough. But experts say there is no science behind the claim that gelatin is a cough suppressant. In fact, Dr. Cynthia Li, a specialist in internal and integrative medicine says the primary ingredients in commercial marshmallows are sugar and corn syrup, which are known to cause inflammation and suppress the immune system. This can make your symptoms worse.

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Dr. Omid Mehdizadeh, an otolaryngologist from Pacific Neuroscience Institute, says that natural marshmallow root is an herbal remedy that may work.

“Natural marshmallow root helps develop a protective coat along the lining of the throat, esophagus, and lungs, which can be soothing and act as an anti-inflammatory,” he says. “This may in turn soothe irritation from any number of causes which could cause a cough.”

But the doctor says commercially sold marshmallows don’t contain marshmallow root. Home remedies that may work, however, include warm water with honey or bone broth.

“Bone broth, which is gaining popularity for its healing properties, contains cysteine, glutamine, and carnosine — all compounds that have immune-supporting and mucus-thinning properties,” says Li.

Other ways to reduce nighttime coughing are to sleep with your head and chest elevated on pillows to enhance the drainage of phlegm. Adding a humidifier to the bedroom can also help you sleep better. Avoid late night eating that can lead to acid reflux, a common cause of coughs at night. Using salt water nasal spray or a neti pot can help flush out sinuses and reduce postnasal drip.

Cough drops that are low in sugar and contain Manuka honey or menthol can assist, adds Li. Over-the-counter cough syrups that contain dextromethorphan, which is found in Robitussin, work, says Mehdizadeh. He also recommends anti-inflammatory nasal sprays such as Flonase or Nasacort that can sometimes reduce coughing.

“Follow up with a doctor for a cough that lasts more than two weeks, or for other symptoms including shortness of breath and chest discomfort,” Mehdizadeh says.