New study: honey is better than antibiotics against cough and colds

New study: honey is better than antibiotics against cough and colds

When it comes to colds and cough, most of us look for relief in the wrong places. Your first choice is probably your local drugstore. You can find dozens of coughing, antihistamines, decongestant means, painkillers and other cold medication to choose from. If you go to your doctor, you will probably get a recipe for an antibiotic.

A new analysis shows that there is a natural remedy that works better than anything you get in a pharmacy. The doctors of the University of Oxford checked 14 studies in which honey was compared with over -the -counter cold medication. The researchers found that honey " of usual care" is to treat sore throat, constipation and cough. Honey not only relieves cold and cough symptoms, but is also an effective antibiotic. This is helpful for diseases caused by a bacterial infection.

Most colds are caused by viruses. Antibiotics that only combat bacterial infections are useless against them. This does not prevent doctors from prescribing them anyway. The resulting excessive use of antibiotics has led to antibiotic -resistant germs. They are practically untreated. These super bugs now kill over 100,000 people a year. In addition, unnecessary antibiotics are unnecessarily exposed to side effects.

antibiotics can cause permanent, disabling damage to muscles, joints and nerves. And they destroy useful probiotic intestinal bacteria that are important for digestion, immunity and brain function. They were associated with cancer and type 2 diabetes. You don't want to take antibiotics unless you have to do this. "Honey offers a widespread and inexpensive alternative to antibiotics," the authors of the study concluded. They also said that honey could "help to slow down the spread of antibiotic resistance". The results are supported by a study in the magazine Archives of Medical Research . Scientists found that honey inhibits 13 different types of bacteria, including E.Coli and Salmonella.

The worst kind of cough juice

there is still something that you should know ... A over -the -counter cough medication can be particularly risky during pandemic. New research results show that dextrometorphan , a common active ingredient in dozens of over -the -counter cough juices, capsules and lozenges seemed to promote the replication of the coronavirus when it was tested under laboratory conditions. This does not necessarily mean that it does the same in the human body. However, researchers say that Dextrometorphan Covid-19 could worsen.

researchers at the Pasteur Institute in Paris introduced Dextrometorphan in African green monkey cells. The monkeys are often used for medical research because they are genetically similar to humans. African green monkeys are just as susceptible to Covid-19 as humans. When scientists added to the monkey cells, to which Dextrometorphan was administered, Coronavirus, the germs grew faster and more frequently than normal. This effect must still be confirmed in humans. In the meantime, the researchers recommend people to avoid medication that contains dextrometorphan when they have or believe Covid-19.

The sweet truth about honey

If you are cold the next time or cough, you will reach for honey - but not for any honey. Most of the honey, probably the way you have in your pantry, is very processed. Your best choice is 100% raw organic honey. It was not heated, pasteurized or processed in any way. Raw honey contains vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. The darker the honey, the more nutrients and taste. It is as cute as sugar, just a lot healthier. It also has antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and antioxidant properties. You can buy raw honey in health food stores, online and at farmers markets. The next time you are cold, take a look at nature, not in the pharmacy.

sources:

• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-drug-resistant-superbugs-thousands-of-lives
• https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/19/honey-common-cohl-cohh-treatt-scn-wellness-scliintl/index.html
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16099322/
• https://www.latimes.com/science/2020-04-30/why-you-should-avough-cough-yrup-you-youve-got-coronavirus
• https://www.drugs.com/dextromehorphan.html