Honey appears to help well with a cold, perhaps better than cough syrup

Researchers scrutinize honey

Researchers from the University of Oxford (UK) put this to the test and analyzed fourteen previous publications. Honey performed quite well in the process. For upper respiratory infections, which include the common cold, honey often helped to alleviate symptoms. People who used honey coughed less frequently and less severely.

For another scientific review, conducted at the Universidad de Granada (Spain) among others, 48 ​​previous studies were examined. Some of these concerned other health complaints, others coughing. And yes, these scientists also observed various beneficial effects of honey, including relief from coughs in children.

However, the scientists do add a few caveats. For instance, not every study was conducted in the same way, making comparison difficult. All in all, the amount of evidence is still limited. In short, science is cautiously on its side, but the matter is not yet entirely settled.

Why can honey help?

Honey consists largely of sugars and water, but also contains other substances to which antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, among others, have been attributed.

But with a cold, the main benefit probably lies in something much simpler: honey can soothe an irritated throat. Due to its thick, syrupy texture, honey essentially forms a layer over the mucous membrane in the throat. This can reduce irritation and, by extension, the tendency to cough constantly.

Just don't expect miracles from that spoonful of honey. A cold is usually caused by a virus, and honey doesn't make that virus disappear overnight. Therefore, research into honey focuses primarily on symptom relief.

And what about cough syrup?

A bottle of cough syrup seems like the obvious solution for a persistent cough, but science is far less certain about that. In a large so-called Cochrane review, scientists examined 29 studies into various over-the-counter cough remedies. The results were quite mixed: some remedies reduced the cough, while others worked no better than a placebo.

This also has to do with the fact that not all cough syrups are the same. Some contain a cough suppressant intended to inhibit the urge to cough, while others are specifically designed to make it easier to cough up mucus. The researchers did not see convincing results for various types of cough remedies.

The researchers' conclusion is therefore cautious: there is insufficient good evidence to say whether over-the-counter cough remedies clearly work or not for acute coughs. Therefore, anyone who picks a bottle from the shelf is not automatically guaranteed that the annoying cough will actually lessen.

So: honey or cough syrup for a cold?

Looking at the available research, that jar of honey is at least an interesting option in your kitchen cupboard. There are indications that honey can soothe coughs, whereas the evidence for many over-the-counter cough remedies is limited.

Honey is no miracle cure, but for that annoying tickle cough, a spoonful might be worth a try.

For as long as she can remember, Sophie has started her favorite sentences with 'why'. Deep down, she has always been a sleuth brimming with questions. The Quest editorial team therefore feels like coming home to a place where she can answer all burning questions about the psyche, nutrition, relationships, and everything that moves people. She writes all over the world, preferably in a busy city with good coffee by her side.