Honey is a naturally produced sweetener. It is a combination of nectar from flowers and saliva from bees. Enzymes in the bees' saliva cause this mixture to form honey. Honey's popularity as a sweetener was displaced by the discovery and widespread use of refined sugar. However, honey features medicinal qualities that may provide some relief if you have a sinus infection. Consult your doctor before using honey to treat your symptoms.
Bacteria
One cause of sinus infections is bacteria. Dry, congested sinus passages are the breeding ground for bacteria. Honey is an anti-bacterial and is particularly effective in killing certain bacteria known to cause sinus infections. In the July 2009 issue of "Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery," Dr. T. Alandejani et al. state that biofilms formed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA), which contribute to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), are significantly reduced by honey.
Throat
Sinus infections can lead to a sore throat as a result of post-nasal drip. Post-nasal drip is the worst at night when you are lying down in bed. Mucous from your sinuses collect in your throat causing irritation and redness. This soreness may be alleviated with a teaspoon of honey. Not only can honey soothe your throat, but it also coats your throat to help prevent further irritation. If it hurts too much to swallow a tsp. of honey, dissolve it in a cup of hot tea and drink it.
Cough
Coughing is symptomatic of an upper respiratory infection such as a sinus infection. It generally occurs when your nose, sinus and throat become irritated by a foreign material. Coughing is your body's attempt to expel the irritant from your body and can help rid your body of mucous. However, constant coughing can also make your body ache and prevent you from getting a good night's sleep. In the July 2010 issue of "The Journal of Complementary Medicine,", Dr. M. N. Shadkam states that a dose of honey is more effective in alleviating cough in young children than dextromethorphan (DM) and diphenhydramine (DPH), common ingredients in cough medicines.
Warning
Honey is generally safe for children and adults to consume. However, it can be harmful to infants because their digestive systems are not mature enough to prevent bacterial spores in honey from forming toxins in their bodies. These toxins allow bacteria to grow in the infant's intestines causing a condition known as infant botulism. Infant botulism results in constipation and overall weakness. Older children and adults have more acidic digestive systems that prevent the toxin from being formed. In the June 2010 article of "The Times," botulism expert Dr. Kathie Grant, warns that although this condition is rare, it is serious and almost always requires hospitalization to cure.
References
- PubMed: Effectiveness of honey on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms; Alandejani T, Marsan J, Ferris W, Slinger R, Chan F.; July 2009
- Honey: Natural Throat Soother
- PubMed: A comparison of the effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and diphenhydramine on nightly cough and sleep quality in children and their parents; Shadkam MN, Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Mozayan MR.; July 2010
- Benefits of Honey: Warning on Honey and Infant
- "The Times"; Honey warning to parents after new case of infant botulism diagnosed; Valerie Elliott; June 2010
