You’re probably no stranger to the viruses that cause the common cold and flu. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to prevent these illnesses (besides washing your hands and keeping your distance from others), and the doctor can’t do much to help when it happens to you. However, you can benefit from rest and home remedies to lessen your symptoms. If you’re not feeling the best, consider these ways to use raw honey for coughs, colds, and the flu.
Honey for Colds and Coughs
Although it’s not always a good idea to take medical advice from the internet, you may benefit from using raw honey as a remedy for colds, coughs, and the flu. Seeing your doctor when you don’t feel well is the best practice, but there’s not much they can do for a virus. If you have a common virus, ask your doctor if raw honey may be a suitable option to help lessen your symptoms.
Children are usually prone to these illnesses; as a parent, there’s nothing worse than watching your child suffer. Luckily, raw honey may be an excellent addition to rest and drinking plenty of water to get over a cold.
Warning
Raw honey isn’t suitable for children under the age of one due to their underdeveloped immune systems that can’t tolerate Clostridium botulinum, which is bacteria found in honey.
The Benefits of Honey as a Home Remedy
Believe it or not, children who take raw honey for a cough or cold are more likely to cough less and sleep more soundly than those who take cough medicine. While this may be a surprise to you, honey is a powerful substance. This is great information to know, as many cough suppressants aren’t suitable for children under the age of six. In fact, many cough medicines are ineffective and dangerous for small children.
How Much Should You Use?
While there isn’t an exact dosage for honey, many doctors provide their recommendations based on age. Thankfully, there’s no way to overdose on honey, but you should keep in mind that it’s still mostly sugar; therefore, too much can make your blood sugar rise quickly and crash hard. Consider these dosage recommendations, and be sure to consume honey twice each day for the best results and a shorter cold or flu.
- Ages 1-5: ½ teaspoon
- Ages 6-11: 1 teaspoon
- Ages 12-18: 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons
- Ages 18+: 2 teaspoons
Raw vs. Filtered
Although you might not believe there’s a difference between raw and filtered honey, raw honey contains all of the vitamins, minerals, and bee byproducts—including pollen—which can help with allergies and other illnesses. In fact, consuming raw honey regularly can help boost your immune system. On the other hand, filtered honey is basically glorified sugar water, and it may not have much nutritional value.
Can Honey Cure Viruses?
Although honey is a great way to supplement your family’s health, it can’t single-handedly cure a virus. However, honey significantly reduces the severity of cold and flu symptoms, making the illness less tolling on your body. Furthermore, honey may help prevent viruses from replicating, which can reduce the number of days you experience symptoms.
How Does Honey Help?
Believe it or not, honey can help you in countless ways when you’re feeling under the weather. In fact, it may ease the pain of a sore throat and keep you from coughing. Because honey has anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties, it may help reduce pain and itchiness in your throat and also help you get over the virus sooner than you would without taking honey. Interestingly, even the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends using raw honey as a remedy for cold and flu symptoms.
How To Use Honey for the Common Cold and Flu
Although everyone is different when it comes to taking medicine, there are countless ways to consume honey when you’re not feeling well. It is essential to get it in your system as soon as you start feeling symptoms and continue to do so until you’re feeling better.
Aside from reducing your symptoms, honey also boosts your immune system, which helps your body overcome the illness and reduce your chances of catching another virus in the future. Consider these common ways to consume your honey for a cold or flu.
With Warm Water
Since you should drink plenty of water to recover from a cold, you can make it worthwhile by dissolving raw honey in a glass of warm water. Consume this mixture at least twice each day to ensure you get the maximum amount of vitamins and antioxidants from the honey and to soothe your throat.
In Lemon Tea
Lemon tea can be extra sour, but you can make it sweeter by adding honey. Many people drink tea when they’re ill, and it’s definitely worth a shot. Tea has a refreshing flavor, and the heat can help loosen congestion from your chest and sinuses. If you’re not a fan of tea, you can mix honey and lemon juice into hot water to get the same benefits.
By the Spoon
For those who like it simple, there’s nothing wrong with taking honey on its own. Many people enjoy the natural flavor of honey, but others don’t like it enough to take it by the spoonful. Believe it or not, taking a spoonful of raw honey every morning for immune support and maintenance is not uncommon. If you adopt this practice, you may be able to reduce the number of colds and flu you contract each year.
Honey and Raw Onions
This combination may sound less than desirable, but it does carry many benefits. Cut a red onion into small slices, then soak them in honey and a dash of sugar. Let this mixture sit overnight, and then eat a spoonful in the morning to help combat your cold and flu symptoms.
Now that you know the ways to use raw honey for coughs, colds, and the flu, you may be able to save yourself from days and days of congestion, sore throat, and endless coughing. If you’re unsure where to find good honey for your family, Crystal’s Honey has raw natural honey for sale. While you may not think it can help you, honey is an incredibly powerful substance with amazing benefits. It’s certainly a home remedy worth trying.
