Honey for Cough: Does It Actually Work? Here’s What the Research Says

Honey probably does help calm a cough from a cold, especially the nighttime kind that keeps the whole house awake. Unlike plenty of kitchen-cabinet remedies, it has actually been tested in clinical trials. But the studies are smaller and weaker than the headlines suggest, and one safety rule never bends: honey is not for babies under 1. Here's what the research really says, how to use it, and when a cough needs a doctor instead.

What the Research Actually Shows

Most of the best evidence comes from children whose coughs were caused by colds and other upper respiratory infections. A Cochrane review of honey for acute cough in children found that honey probably relieves cough, and reduces how much it disrupts a child's sleep, better than no treatment. It may also work better than diphenhydramine, a common ingredient in over-the-counter cough medicines, and it looked about as effective as dextromethorphan, another widely used cough suppressant. The reviewers rated the evidence as low to moderate quality, and most children in the trials got honey for just one night.

The same review found that beyond three days of use, honey probably had no clear advantage over a placebo or salbutamol (an asthma reliever). So it's best thought of as short-term comfort, not a cure.

A 2023 systematic review in children landed in a similar place. It found low-quality evidence that honey may be more effective than cough medicine, or than placebo or no treatment, at easing symptoms and improving sleep, and it called for better-designed trials.

What about adults? A later review in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine pooled 14 studies and reached similar conclusions across age groups. The catch: only five of those studies included adults, and several tested combination products, such as honey-and-herbal syrups or honey in coffee, rather than honey on its own. That makes the adult evidence thinner. For context, a 2014 Cochrane review found no great evidence that over-the-counter cough medicines work in adults, either.

You'll sometimes see claims that honey flat-out beats cough medicine. The formal reviews are more cautious. Mayo Clinic's summary is that honey may work about as well as common over-the-counter options, though higher-quality studies are needed to confirm it.

How Might Honey Help?

Mayo Clinic pediatricians explain that honey soothes the throat and coats the receptors that can trigger a cough. That's a reasonable explanation, but keep in mind that the studies above measured how patients felt, such as cough frequency and sleep, not how honey works.

How to Use Honey for a Cough

Honey is considered safe for adults and for children age 1 and older. Mayo Clinic suggests:

• Children 1 and older: ½ to 1 teaspoon (2.5 to 5 milliliters), straight from the spoon or mixed into a warm drink or juice.
• Adults: about a teaspoon. A Mayo Clinic pediatrician says this amount can be repeated about every two hours if needed, for kids and adults alike.
• Mix it in: Honey is often stirred into warm water, warm lemon water, or tea to soothe a sore throat along with the cough.
• Choose pasteurized honey: Mayo Clinic's pediatrician recommends it to make sure it's free of contaminants.

The Safety Rule That Never Bends: No Honey Under Age 1

Never give honey to a baby younger than 12 months, not even a small amount. Honey can carry spores of Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which can cause infant botulism, a rare but serious form of food poisoning. Mayo Clinic notes that intestinal botulism can also affect adults in rare cases.

If your baby is coughing, call your pediatrician rather than reaching for the pantry. And for kids younger than 6, Mayo Clinic advises against over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, other than fever reducers and pain relievers, so ask your pediatrician what's safe for your child's age.

A Few More Cautions

• Honey is a form of sugar. If you have diabetes, ask your doctor how it fits into your plan.
• A cough that lingers can have causes honey won't touch, such as asthma, acid reflux, or a medication side effect.
• Coughing isn't always a problem to fix. It helps clear mucus, and for otherwise healthy people, there's usually no need to stop an occasional cough.

What Honey Can't Do

The research is about short-term coughs from colds and similar infections. For chronic, non-specific cough in children, a Cochrane review of honey and lozenges couldn't recommend either for or against them because there wasn't enough evidence. Honey also won't cure the infection behind a cold, and it's no substitute for medical care when a cough comes with warning signs. Curious about another viral cough remedy? See what the evidence says about putting Vicks VapoRub on your feet for a cough.

When to See a Doctor

An acute cough lasts less than three weeks. A cough is considered chronic after eight weeks in adults, or four weeks in children. Mayo Clinic suggests calling your healthcare professional if your cough, or your child's, hasn't gone away after a few weeks, or if it comes with any of these:

• Thick, greenish-yellow phlegm
• Wheezing
• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Fainting
• Bloody or pink-tinged phlegm

A cough with a fever or shortness of breath should be checked promptly, and blood in your phlegm calls for urgent care, especially if you also have chest pain.

The Bottom Line

Honey is a reasonable, low-cost thing to try for a cold-related cough in anyone over age 1. The best evidence says it probably helps a bit with cough and sleep and holds its own against common cough medicines, but the research is small, short-term, and mostly in children. Use it for comfort, watch for warning signs, and keep it far away from babies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does honey really help a cough?
Probably, for coughs from colds and similar infections. Reviews found it likely eases cough and sleep problems compared with no treatment, though the evidence is low to moderate in quality.

Is honey better than cough medicine?
It looks about as good as some common options rather than clearly better. In children's studies, honey performed similarly to dextromethorphan and may have beaten diphenhydramine, but the certainty is low.

How much honey should I take for a cough?
Mayo Clinic suggests ½ to 1 teaspoon for children 1 and older and about a teaspoon for adults, which a Mayo pediatrician says can be repeated about every two hours. If you have diabetes or aren't sure, check with your doctor first.

Can babies have honey for a cough?
No. Never give honey to a child under 1 because of the risk of infant botulism. Call your pediatrician if a baby has a cough.

Should I use raw or pasteurized honey for a cough?
A Mayo Clinic pediatrician recommends pasteurized honey for cough relief, to make sure it's free of contaminants.

Does honey work for a cough that won't go away?
The research focuses on short-term coughs from colds. A Cochrane review couldn't recommend for or against honey for chronic non-specific cough in children because of limited evidence. If a cough lasts more than a few weeks, see a doctor.

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Sources: Mayo Clinic, "Honey: An effective cough remedy?" and "Cough: When to see a doctor"; Mayo Clinic News Network, "Mayo Clinic Q&A: Can honey help my cough?"; Mayo Clinic Health Letter; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, "Honey for acute cough in children," "Honey and lozenges for children with non-specific cough," and "Over-the-counter medications for acute cough in children and adults in ambulatory settings" (2014); BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine systematic review of honey for acute cough (Abuelgasim et al.); 2023 systematic review of honey for acute cough in children; American Family Physician, Cochrane for Clinicians summary on honey for acute cough in children.

Looking for more evidence-based home remedies? See what the research says about ginger for nausea.