Honey better treatment for coughs, colds than antibiotics: study

LONDON: Honey may be better than conventional treatments for coughs, blocked noses and sore throats, researchers have said.

Scientists from the University of Oxford said doctors can recommend it as a suitable alternative to antibiotics, which are often prescribed for such infections, even though they are not effective. Honey has long been used as a home remedy for coughs but its effectiveness in treating common illnesses has not been researched.

Physicians from Oxford University’s Medical School and Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences analyzed existing evidence to determine how the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) responded to it. URTIs are common cold-like illnesses that affect the nose, sinuses, pharynx or larynx.

“Honey was superior to usual care for the improvement of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections,” the researchers wrote in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.

“It provides a widely available and cheap alternative to antibiotics. Honey could help efforts to slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance, but further high quality, placebo controlled trials are needed.”

The scientists looked at research databases for relevant studies comparing honey and preparations that included it as an ingredient with usual care – mostly antihistamines, expectorants, cough suppressants and painkillers. They found 14 suitable clinical trials, involving 1,761 participants of varying ages.

Data analysis of the studies indicated that honey was more effective than usual care for improving symptoms, especially the frequency and severity of coughing. Two of the studies showed that symptoms lasted one to two days less among those treated with honey.

The researchers noted that honey is a complex substance and not a uniform product. They also pointed out that only two of the studies involved a placebo, saying more studies need to be done before definitive conclusions can be reached.

The researchers suggest honey might provide an alternative when doctors want to prescribe something to safely treat upper respiratory tract symptoms.

They concluded: “Honey is a frequently used lay remedy that is well known to patients. It is also cheap, easy to access, and has limited harms. When clinicians wish to prescribe for URTI, we would recommend honey as an alternative to antibiotics.

“Honey is more effective and less harmful than usual care alternatives and avoids causing harm through antimicrobial resistance.”

Previous research has proven that honey has the power to kill bacteria. Studies have shown that it is effective against dozens of strains, including E. coli and salmonella. A specific type of honey from New Zealand, called manuka, and Malaysian tualang honey have been shown to fight staph and the digestive bacteria responsible for peptic ulcers, H. pylori.

Another study of 139 children found that honey did a better job of easing nighttime coughs and improving sleep than both the popular cough suppressant dextromethorphan and the antihistamine diphenhydramine often sold under the brand name Benadryl.