Honey ‘beats antibiotics’ to cure colds: study shows more effective than drugs

It has long been a popular remedy for irritating coughs, sore throats and colds.

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

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

They looked at studies that compared the effectiveness of honey against cough suppressants, antihistamines, and pain relievers in treating symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) – which include coughs and colds.

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

Honey was on average 36% more effective at reducing the frequency of coughing than common medications, and it reduced the severity of coughs by 44% more.

There was also some evidence that honey reduced the time needed 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 published in the British Medical Journal states.

He added that the so-called “nectar of the gods” is cheap, readily available and has virtually no side effects. The authors also said that using honey for infections could reduce overprescribing antibiotics, which is fueling a crisis in antimicrobial resistance.

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

The researchers said, “Honey was superior to usual care for improving symptoms of URTI. It offers a widely available and inexpensive alternative to antibiotics. URTIs are the most common reason for prescribing antibiotics. As the majority of URTIs are viral, prescribing antibiotics is both ineffective and inappropriate.

“Since the lack of alternative therapies and the desire to preserve the patient-physician relationship are two key factors in the over-prescription of antibiotics by general practitioners, 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’s medical watchdog included it in official guidelines for the treatment of coughs.

But there were few reviews on its effectiveness in the treatment of URTI. Oxford scientists looked at 14 studies, with 1,761 participants, to determine the impact of honey in treating upper respiratory symptoms.

All 14 studies compared treating patients with honey to “usual care” – such as cough medicine and pain relievers.

They found that honey was more effective in improving symptoms, especially the frequency and severity of the cough. 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 people treated with honey.

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

The study concluded: “Honey is consumed commercially and can be used safely by the majority of the population, with the exception of people with allergies and infants under one year of age.

“Honey is a secular remedy that is frequently used and well known to patients. It is also inexpensive, easy to access, and comes with limited risk.

“When clinicians want to prescribe URTIs, we recommend honey as an alternative to antibiotics. It is more effective and less harmful than usual healthcare alternatives and avoids causing damage by antimicrobial resistance.

Honey should not be given to children under one year of age because of the risk of bacteria that can produce toxins in a baby’s intestines, leading to life-threatening infant botulism.