Honey for Sore Throat: What Studies Show

Honey has been used as a sore throat remedy for thousands of years, but no trial has tested honey on sore throat pain itself. The human evidence is for cough from colds. A 2012 study in Pediatrics (Cohen et al.) gave 300 children aged 1 to 5 with nighttime cough from colds a single dose of eucalyptus, citrus or labiatae honey or a date-extract placebo before bedtime; parents rated cough frequency, severity and sleep better with honey than with the placebo. A 2007 Penn State trial of 105 children aged 2 to 18 with colds (Paul et al.) compared a single bedtime dose of buckwheat honey, honey-flavored dextromethorphan (DM) and no treatment: honey beat no treatment, but the difference between honey and DM was not statistically significant. A 2021 review in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine (Abuelgasim et al.) pooled 14 studies and found honey improved upper respiratory symptoms, mainly cough frequency and severity, compared with usual care; evidence against placebo was weaker. Honey does not treat bacterial throat infections such as strep throat.

No study shows one honey works better than another for a sore throat. The trials used ordinary food honeys: buckwheat honey in the 2007 Penn State study, and eucalyptus, citrus and labiatae honeys in the 2012 study. So pick by taste and price. Manuka honey, from the Manuka bush (Leptospermum scoparium) in New Zealand, is sold by UMF or MGO grade, which states its methylglyoxal content; no trial shows Manuka, or any grade, eases a sore throat better than other honey, and it costs far more. Buckwheat honey is dark and malty; it was the honey used in the 2007 Penn State cough study (Paul et al.), where parents rated it best, though its difference from DM was not statistically significant. Wildflower and clover honeys are mild, cheap and dissolve easily in tea. Raw and regular honey were not compared in these trials.

The classic preparation is simple: dissolve honey in a cup of warm water and add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Let hot tea or broth cool to a comfortable drinking temperature before stirring in honey; a very hot drink can scald a throat that is already sore. Another option is honey-ginger tea: steep a thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger in hot water for 10 minutes, let it cool to a comfortable drinking temperature, then stir in honey. Ginger adds a warm, spicy flavor. Honey popsicles are another way to enjoy it: mix honey with lemon juice and a little water, pour into molds, and freeze (never for babies under 12 months).

While honey is remarkably safe for most people, there are critical safety considerations to keep in mind. The most important rule is absolute: never give honey to infants under 12 months of age. Honey can contain spores of Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that causes infant botulism — a rare but potentially life-threatening illness. The immature digestive systems of babies cannot prevent these spores from growing and producing toxin. After age one, the digestive system is mature enough to handle any spores safely. Honey remains a fast-acting carbohydrate; the honey carbohydrate and label guide explains serving-size total-carbohydrate counting within an individualized care plan. Honey should never be considered a substitute for antibiotics when a bacterial infection like strep throat is suspected. Strep throat requires proper antibiotic treatment to prevent serious complications like rheumatic fever and kidney inflammation. If your sore throat is accompanied by a fever above 101°F, white patches on the tonsils, or swollen lymph nodes, see a doctor promptly. Any sore throat lasting more than a week warrants medical evaluation, as does severe difficulty swallowing or breathing — these symptoms require immediate medical attention.

Most sore throats come from colds and other viruses, and antibiotics do not work against viruses. For cough from a cold, honey has trial evidence in children over one year; for sore throat pain itself it has not been tested. Ask your pediatrician what to use for cough in children ages 1 to 5; OTC cough medicines have not been shown to work in young children. For a comparison of honey varieties by flavor and price, see honey for sore throat by variety. However, when a bacterial infection such as strep throat is involved, antibiotics are necessary and non-negotiable. Honey does not replace them. Chronic or recurring sore throats may indicate underlying conditions such as acid reflux, allergies, or tonsillitis, and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.