Coughing? Help may be as close as your pantry, according to a meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal. In a review of 14 studies, honey was found to alleviate a cough and other symptoms of upper-respiratory infections more effectively than placebos and common over-the counter remedies.
The studies showed that honey reduced the frequency and severity of coughs and relieved congestion, but it didn’t seem to shorten the duration of the cold itself. The results were the same for both children and adults.
The report didn’t recommend a specific dose or way to ingest the honey, but when used to ease a cold, it’s commonly either dissolved in tea or eaten by the spoonful.