Does Honey Really Work to Soothe a Cough

Key takeaways:

• Studies show that a teaspoon of honey may be an effective remedy to help a cough.
• The thick texture of honey may help reduce the urge to cough by coating and soothing the throat. Honey's antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties may also play a role.
• Honey is safe for most people except children under 1 year old. People who have diabetes may want to limit how much honey they have.

Table of contents

Honey for cough overview

How honey helps

Dosage and types

Who should avoid

FAQs

Bottom line

References

simpson33/iStock via Getty Images Plus Ever have a cough that keeps you up at night? While you may not always need medication, having a remedy on hand that can keep your cough at bay can make all the difference. It turns out that honey - a household staple - may have some science-backed benefits after all.

Can honey help a cough?

Research suggests that honey may helpalleviate a cough. And it may be even more effective than some cough medicines.

Before we dive into the research, it's important to note that most of the research on honey and coughs has been done in children. This makes it harder to know how effective it is in adults.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Is it COVID or a cold?COVID-19 and the common cold can feel similar, but there areimportant differencesin incubation, symptoms, and how long the illness lasts.
• How to kick a persistent cough:There are several different causes of a stubborn cough, and thetreatment will depend on the cause.
• Is your cough serious?Although fighting off a cough takes time, most coughs eventually resolve on their own. Butthere are a few signsthat suggest you should get checked out as soon as possible.

For example, one large review study found thathoney helpswith both cough frequency and intensity in children ages 1 through 18. And when the researchers compared honey to other treatment, they found that honey was:

• Better than no treatment (or placebo)
• Better than diphenhydramine
• Similar in effect as dextromethorphan
• Similar in effect as salbutamol

But keep in mind, depending on what's causing your cough and the length and severity of your symptoms, youmight need antibioticsto treat your cough. Talk with a healthcare professional if your cough lasts longer than 2 weeks.

How does honey work to help a cough?

There are a few ways honey may help treat coughs. It:

• Containsantioxidants, which may help lower inflammation in your throat
• Containsantibacterial propertiesthat may help prevent infection
• May decrease the amount ofmucusthe body produces
• Has athick texture, which may help with throat irritation that produces the urge to cough

How much honey should you take for a cough?

It's unclear. Some studies on honey for coughs used around half a teaspoon (2.5 mL), and others closer to 2 tsp (10 mL). In most studies, participants took the honey before bed. If you have questions abouthow much honey is safefor you or your child to take for a cough, talk with your primary care provider or your child's pediatrician.

Honey can be taken on its own or mixed into warm water or tea. Some people like to add a squeeze of lemon for flavor.

What type of honey is best to take when you're sick? So far, there's no clear evidence that one particular type of honey is better to use than others.

But try to look for honey that says "raw," "unfiltered," or "pure" on the label, since these types skip the filtration process that causes honey to lose nutrients.

Who should avoid honey?

Honey can be a more accessible and affordable way to soothe a cough than somecough medications. But while honey is safe for most people, some people need to avoid or limit it.

Babies Babies younger than 1 year shouldn't be given honey for a cough due to arisk of botulism, a rare but life-threatening disease. Honey can contain spores fromClostridium botulinum. Most adults are able to inactivate these spores in their gut. But babies don't yet have a mature enough immune response to fight bacterial spores.

Type 2 diabetes If you have Type 2 diabetes, you don't necessarily need to avoid honey altogether. But you may want tolimit the amount you eat.

Although honey has alower glycemic index (GI) than table sugar, it stillcontains sugar. And any type of sugar raises blood glucose levels.

But the type of carbohydrates (fructose and glucose) in honey areeasier for the body to digestthan table sugar.And the balance of fructose and glucose in honey means that it hasslightly less of an impact on raising blood glucose levelsthan table sugar.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) As mentioned above, honey contains fructose, which cantrigger symptomsfor some people with IBS.

In addition, many people with IBS are sensitive to a group of foods that contain fermentable oligo-di-monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPS). And honey is high in FODMAPs.

In some people with IBS, FODMAPs are not fully absorbed in the small intestines. When these foods reach the large intestines, gut bacteria break them down and make excess water and gas. This can make IBS symptoms worse.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest cure for a cough?expand_more There are several ways to manage and improve a cough quickly.Over-the-counter (OTC) medicationscan provide relief in most cases. The type of treatment you should choose depends on the type of cough you have. A wet cough may need an expectorant. A dry cough may need a cough suppressant.

There are also home remedies for a cough, including:

• Honey
• Humidifier
• Steam treatment
• Warm liquids

Why do coughs get worse at night?expand_more

• Does honey break up mucus?expand_more

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" data-qa="ContentCalloutH2Title" The bottom line

A teaspoon of honey is an inexpensive home remedy to treat a nagging cough. Its thick texture helps coat the throat and limit irritation, which can help lower your urge to cough. Try it by the spoonful or in a cup of tea.

Babies under 1 year old should not eat honey. If you have Type 2 diabetes, you may choose to limit the amount of honey you eat. If you have questions about whether honey is a safe cough remedy for you, talk with a healthcare professional or dietitian

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