Honey ‘Beats Antibiotics’ for Curing Colds: Research Shows It’s More Effective Than Medication

It has long been a folk remedy for an irritating cough, sore throat and cold.

But research now shows that honey is more effective in treating these conditions than antibiotics or over-the-counter medications.

Experts at Oxford University said doctors should tell patients to take a spoonful of honey instead of prescribing antibiotics that can fuel antimicrobial resistance.

They reviewed studies comparing the effectiveness of honey against cough suppressants, antihistamines, and pain relievers in treating upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms, including cough and cold.

Overall, honey was found to be ‘superior’ in relieving coughs, sore throats and congestion – and unlike other medications, it had no harmful side effects.

Honey was an average of 36 percent more effective at reducing coughing frequency than regular medications, and it reduced the severity of the cough by 44 percent more.

There was also some evidence that honey shortens the time it takes to recover from URTIs by up to two days.

“Honey was associated with a significantly greater reduction in combined symptom score, cough frequency and cough severity,” the study said in the British Medical Journal.

It added that the so-called ‘nectar of the gods’ is inexpensive, readily available, and has virtually no side effects. The authors also said that using honey for infections can reduce antibiotic overproduction, fueling a crisis of antimicrobial resistance.

Experts are increasingly concerned that doctors are too often handing out antibiotics for coughs and colds, for which they are rarely needed because most of these are caused by viruses.

The researchers said, ‘Honey was superior to usual care for improving symptoms of URTIs. It provides a widely available and inexpensive alternative to antibiotics. Urtis are the most common reason for prescribing antibiotics. Since most URTIs are viral, antibiotic prescribing is both ineffective and inappropriate.

Given that a lack of alternative therapies and the desire to maintain the patient-doctor relationship are two major causes of over-prescribing of antibiotics by GPs, our finding that honey can be effective is important. Honey is a reasonable alternative. ‘

Honey has long been used as a home remedy, and two years ago, the UK medical watchdog included it in official guidelines for the treatment of coughs.

But there have been limited reviews of its effectiveness in treating URTIs. The Oxford scientists reviewed 14 studies, involving 1,761 participants, to determine the impact of honey in treating upper respiratory symptoms.

The 14 studies compared the treatment of patients with honey with ‘usual care’ – such as cough medicines and painkillers.

They found that honey was more effective at improving symptoms – especially the frequency and severity of coughing. In the case of the antihistamine diphenhydramine, honey was “significantly better” because it reduced the severity of the cough by 50 percent.

Two of the studies showed that symptoms lasted one to two days less in those treated with honey.

But the researchers warned that honey is a complex substance, so different types can have different effects.

The study concluded, ‘Honey is consumed commercially and is safe for use by the majority of the population, with the exception of allergic individuals and infants under one year of age.

‘Honey is a widely used substance for lay people that is well known to patients. It’s also cheap, easily accessible, and has limited damage.

‘If clinicians want to prescribe URTIs, we recommend honey as an alternative to antibiotics. It is more effective and less harmful than usual care alternatives and prevents damage from antimicrobial resistance. ‘