Honey has a host of medicinal benefits, including antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, according to whfoods.com. Anyone who has taken honey for a sore throat knows that it goes down smooth and helps to soothe the pain. Recent research from the Penn State College of Medicine showed that, when given before bedtime, buckwheat honey relieved a child's cough better than the common cough suppressant dextromethorphan or no treatment at all. You can simply take a spoonful of honey by itself or, if you like, mix the honey into a common folk-medicine cough remedy.
Step 1
Boil hot water as if for tea, then pour two tablespoons of it into a small mug. Let the water cool until it's drinkable.
Step 2
Add 1/2 tsp. of honey and 1/2 tsp. of lemon juice to the hot water. Stir to dissolve the honey.
Step 3
Drink the honey, lemon and water combination down slowly. Repeat as needed to treat cough symptoms.
Tips and Warnings
- You can also mix the honey on its own, without lemon, into a little hot water, or eat it directly from the spoon.
- The Mayo Clinic warns that, because of the risk of infant botulism, you should never give honey to children under the age of one year.
Things You'll Need
- Hot water
- Small mug
- 1/2 tsp. honey
- 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
