Raw Honey: A Natural Remedy to Reduce Cold and Flu Symptoms
With cold and flu season rapidly approaching on top of the pandemic, we thought we’d “bee” proactive and remind you about the benefits of raw honey. In particular, raw honey is a natural remedy that can help minimize the symptoms of both cold and flu.
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Public Health England (PHE), it’s best to try using raw honey to treat a cough first rather than jumping headfirst into antibiotics. The evidence they present shows that honey might be an effective (not to mention delicious!) way to tame acute coughs caused by infections of the airways.
Better Than Cough Medicine
Mary Poppins sang about a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. But for a natural and delicious way to get relief when you’re feeling under the weather, raw honey might be the way to go.
Adding raw honey to warm lemon water and drinking this first thing in the morning is also known to help with sore throat and cold. Honey is incredibly soothing, especially for coughs while lemons contain vital elements of vitamin C. Vitamin C is known for eliciting the production of white blood cells which are the ones that fight off pesky infections and germs. Having a spoonful of raw honey on its own though might just be enough to suppress a nasty cough too.
On top of the science behind it, drinking honey lemon water is extremely soothing and comforting. The aroma is invigorating yet relaxing, something that begs to be sipped and enjoyed. You can find out more about the benefits of this delicious beverage here.
A study cited by the Mayo Clinic discussed how children benefitted from taking 2 teaspoons of honey at bedtime. It reduced coughing and led to better sleep. Interestingly, honey showed that it was just as effective as a common ingredient in cough suppressants known as dextromethorphan.
Again, raw honey is only for those ages 1 and up. While it’s rare, it does pose a risk for children under the age of 1 but it still should be avoided. For everyone else, that sweet taste of honey can surely help. Plus, all those antioxidants and natural compounds that are found in raw honey are just plain good for your overall health and wellness.
However, remember that coughing is a good thing when it is productive. When you cough up mucus, it clears from your airway. If you or your child are coughing up mucus, you won’t want to suppress it unless it is keeping you from getting sleep.
When you need that sleep, try turning to raw honey instead. If your condition worsens, your doctor may then put you on antibiotics. It’s important not to overuse them as they can create resistance and not be effective when you truly need them the most.
Choose raw honey that is safe and sustainable for your health and for the best flavour too. At BeeRoots, we only ever harvest excess honey from our bees and never add in anything else. We prize quality over quantity, letting our passion for our bees and nature be the biggest buzz of all. Try it today for taming coughs or for adding a little healthy sweetness to your day!