is honey good for sore throat ? The reality!

People with a pain, scratchiness or irritation in sore throat often ask a question. is honey good for sore throat ?

The answer is plain and simple, Yes!

This sweet, viscous food that is produced by bees and other insects has been used as a medicine and a food for thousands of years. It is thought to be good for sore throats as it help to reduce inflammation and improve symptoms.

How honey works for sore throat ?

Honey is known to have anti-microbial, antiseptic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Researches [1] have shown that honey effectievely inhibits the growth of Streptococcus bacteria – the main cause of sore throats. No wonder, it has been used as a home remedy for coughs and sore throats for thousands of years

The ancient Egyptians, as a matter of fact, used honey as a remedy against cuts, infection and inflammation, while the Greeks called it “nectar of the gods” and believed it to be divine in origin.

Why honey is beneficial in Pharyngitis aka sore throats ?

Sore throats, medically termed as Pharyngitis are a common problem, and many people reach for honey as a natural remedy.

And it never disappoints you !

Long been used as a folk remedy for sore throats, honey is a natural antiseptic, and it also contains antioxidants that may help to reduce inflammation. Moreover, the natural medication also, soothes irritated throats by producing a cooling layer over them.

How to use honey for a relief in throat discomfort !

As sore throats can be caused by a variety of things, from a simple cold to strep throat, many people find relief from sore throats by using honey. While over-the-counter medications can help relieve the symptoms, they can also be expensive and come with unwanted side effects.

The best way to use honey for a sore throat is to mix it with warm water and gargle with it for at least five minutes. A few hours later, your throat will no longer be as sore as it was before.

Other methods of using honey for throat inflammation

There are also a lot of different remedies for sore throats in the market using honey.

Some people swear by hot tea with lemon and honey. Others use raw honey to soothe the throat, while others prefer just plain old warm water with some honey in it.

But there is one remedy that has been proven time and again as being effective: gargling with honey!

Some myths about using honey

• Myth No1:People tend to think that honey is just sugar with a few vitamins thrown in for good measure. But there is so much more to it than that. It is abundant in essential vitamins, minerals along with amino acids, antibiotic-rich inhibine, proteins, phenol antioxidants, and micronutrients. The honey, in fact, has been used as medicine since ancient times and today, we still use some of the same methods from our ancestors when making this sweet treat.

• Myth No2: Another myth is that all types of honey are equal in terms of benefits. However, this is not true! There are two types of honey, one created by bees and one created by humans. The first one is more valuable than the latter, since it is made without additives or preservatives. The substance is created in a beehive by bees through a process called nectar collection, where they take the nectar from flowers and create honey from it. In fact, you can’t even eat all kinds of honey. Some varieties have been treated with chemicals, making them unfit for human consumption. And there are different varieties of honey, each with its own distinct flavor, color and aroma.

To wrap things up

Sore throat is one of the most common health complaints in the United States. Conventional medicine has ample remedies for this, such as antibiotics, analgesics and over-the-counter medications.

But these have different side effects and interactions with other drugs. A safer alternative to conventional medicines is honey. The safe natural sweetener is an effective natural remedy for so many ailments, including sore throat.