New Study: Honey Is Better Than Antibiotics for Coughs and Colds

New Study: Honey Is Better Than Antibiotics for Coughs and Colds

When it comes to colds and coughs, most of us look for relief in all the wrong places. Your first choice is probably your local drugstore. You'll find dozens of cough medicines, antihistamines, decongestants, pain relievers, and other cold medications to choose from. When you go to your doctor, you will likely receive a prescription for an antibiotic.

A new analysis shows there's a natural remedy that works better than anything you can get at a pharmacy. Doctors at the University of Oxford reviewed 14 studies that compared honey to over-the-counter cold medications. The researchers found that Honey““superior to usual care”., to treat sore throats, congestion and coughs. In addition to relieving cold and cough symptoms, honey is also an effective antibiotic. This is helpful for illnesses caused by a bacterial infection.

However, most colds are caused by viruses. Antibiotics, which only fight bacterial infections, are useless against them. That doesn't stop doctors from prescribing them anyway. The resulting excessive use of antibiotics has led to antibiotic-resistant germs. They are virtually untreatable. These superbugs now kill over 100,000 people per year. Additionally, unnecessary antibiotics unnecessarily expose patients to side effects.

Antibiotics can cause permanent, disabling damage to muscles, joints and nerves. And they destroy beneficial probiotic gut bacteria that are important for digestion, immunity and brain function. They have been linked to cancer and type 2 diabetes. You don't want to take antibiotics unless you absolutely have to. “Honey offers a widely available and inexpensive alternative to antibiotics,” the study authors concluded. They also said honey could “help slow the spread of antibiotic resistance.” The results are supported by a study in the journal Archives of Medical Researchsupported. Scientists found that honey inhibits 13 different types of bacteria, including E.coli and Salmonella.

The worst kind of cough syrup

There's something else you should know... Over-the-counter cough medicine can be especially risky during the pandemic. New research shows that Dextromethorphan, a common active ingredient in dozens of over-the-counter cough syrups, capsules and lozenges, appeared to promote replication of the coronavirus when tested in laboratory conditions. This does not necessarily mean that it does the same thing in the human body. However, researchers say dextromethorphan could make COVID-19 worse.

Researchers at the Pasteur Institute in Paris introduced dextromethorphan into 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 coronavirus to monkey cells given dextromethorphan, the germs grew faster and more frequently than normal. This effect still needs to be confirmed in humans. In the meantime, researchers recommend people avoid medications containing dextromethorphan if they have or think they have COVID-19.

The sweet truth about honey

Next time you have a cold or cough, reach for honey—but not just any honey. Most honey, probably the kind you have in your pantry, is heavily processed. Your best choice is 100% raw organic honey. It has not been heated, pasteurized or processed in any way. Raw honey contains vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. The darker the honey, the more nutrients and flavor. It's just as sweet as sugar, only much healthier. It also has antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and antioxidant properties. You can buy raw honey at health food stores, online, and at farmers markets. Next time you have a cold, look to nature for relief, not the pharmacy.

Sources:

• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-drug-resistant-superbugs-thousands-of-lives
• https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/19/health/honey-common-cold-cough-treatment-scn-wellness-scli-intl/index.html
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16099322/
• https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-04-30/why-you-should-avough-cough-syrup-if-you-think-youve-got-the-coronavirus
• https://www.drugs.com/dextromethorphan.html