Honey: An effective cough remedy?

Answer Section

Drinking tea or warm lemon water mixed with honey is often used to soothe a sore throat. But honey alone may work as well as medicines available without a prescription to lessen coughing.

In several studies, people with upper respiratory tract infections were given honey to lessen coughing. The honey seemed to lessen their coughing and help them sleep better. These studies included children.

In these studies, honey appeared to work as well as diphenhydramine (die-fen-HI-druh-meen), though higher-quality studies are needed to confirm the results. Diphenhydramine is a common ingredient in medicines available without a prescription to lessen coughing. Since honey is safe for people over age 1 year, it might be worth a try.

Children ages 1 and older can be given 0.5 to 1 teaspoon (2.5 to 5 milliliters) of honey to treat a cough. The honey can be given as is or added to other liquids, such as juice, to lessen its strength. Due to the risk of infant botulism — a rare but serious form of food poisoning — never give honey to a child younger than age 1.

And remember: Coughing isn't all bad. It helps clear mucus from your airway if you have an infection or an allergy, for example. If you or your child is otherwise healthy, there's usually no reason to try to stop occasional coughing. If you have any concerns, check with your doctor or other healthcare professional for advice.