New Study Confirms Honey is Better Than Antibiotics at Treating Colds and Coughs

By Divya Ramaswamy

• Honey has been used for thousands of years as a home remedy for colds and coughs
• However, its effectiveness in treating common cough or flu hadn’t been studied heavily
• Now, experts at Oxford University’s Medical School and Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences found honey to be a more effective, safer, cheaper and readily available alternative to antibiotics

Honey can treat colds and coughs better than antibiotics or the usual over-the-counter medicines, a new study revealed.

Despite being a popular home remedy for coughs, the effectiveness of honey in treating these illnesses hasn’t been studied heavily. But, experts at Oxford University’s Medical School and Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences have now analyzed existing evidence to find out how upper respiratory infection symptoms like cough, sneezing, sore throat, and runny nose responded to treatment with honey.

They conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, while searching several databases. The experts then identified 14 studies involving more than 1,700 participants of varying ages. Analysis of these studies revealed that, compared to usual care, honey improved cough frequency and severity. A couple of studies pointed out treatment with honey offered faster results and the symptoms lasted one or two days less.

The good old home remedy was found to be a more effective, safer, cheaper and readily available alternative to antibiotics in relieving symptoms of colds and flu-like illnesses. However, no specific type of honey was touted to be the best...