Researchers from Oxford University have found that honey is better than antibiotics for treating a cough or a cold.
The researchers looked at 14 studies that compared how honey treated coughs and colds compared to medicine from stores or doctors, including antibiotics. They found that honey was an average of 36% more effective at reducing how often people coughed. Honey also helped reduce how long it took people to recover by up to two days.
The researchers said that honey is cheap and has almost no harmful side effects. Different types of honey can also have different effects. For example, manuka honey has been found to help heal cuts, and even helps protect against stomach ulcers.
The Oxford research supports advice from Public Health England and the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which suggests using honey, rather than medicine for a cough.
However, this advice is only for adults and children over 5 years old as honey isn’t safe for children under the age of 1.
Public health organizations in the UK have said that using antibiotics too much reduces their effect, so they should not be used too often. Experts say antibiotics should only be used when they are needed so they are as effective as possible.
