Rainbolt recommends using honey no more than four or five times a day. And part of that reasoning is that honey does contain sugar. “If you're concerned about your sugar intake, then I recommend using honey more sparingly,” she says. “I would just use it at night to give you some relief before you go to bed.”
Drinking tea or warm lemon water mixed with honey is a time-honored way to soothe a sore throat. But honey alone may be an effective cough suppressant, too. In one study, children ages 1 to 5 with upper respiratory tract infections were given up to 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) of honey at bedtime.
For coughing:
For children 1 year and older: Consider using honey, 2 to 5 mL, as needed. The honey thins the mucus and loosens the cough. (If you do not have honey, you can try corn syrup.)
The best time to take honey is before bedtime as it helps in getting proper sleep. At that time there are no disturbances and honey can cover the inflamed part and helps in healing cough faster.
Honey with warm water
Take a glass of warm water, add one teaspoonful of honey. Consume this mixture of honey for cold and flu every morning it will help soothe your throat irritation.
The recommendation for a healthy person, without weight problems, and who does not base his diet on an excessive consumption of sugars would be to take a maximum of one small spoon of honey a day. This is approximately 10 to 12 grams of honey.
The thick texture of honey may help lower the urge to cough, by coating and soothing the throat. It also has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Honey is safe for most people except children under a year old.
Usually the doctors recommend honey to be taken empty stomach early in the morning as it gives an instant kick and energy boost which is enough to counter an entire day. Also, while going to bed, a spoonful of honey not only gives a good night's sleep but also helps in digestion and relaxation of mind and body.
“Hot liquids with honey can soothe and treat cough for short-term periods,” says Dr. Russell. Use plain hot water or a favorite hot tea, and add honey and lemon to taste (the lemon is just for flavor). Honey right from the spoon is another low-cost cough home remedy with proven benefits.
Manuka Honey: Manuka honey is made from bees that pollinate the Manuka bush in New Zealand and Australia. This type of honey has powerful antibacterial properties that may be beneficial in treating bacterial infections that cause coughing fits. It also has a thick consistency that helps coat and soothe sore throats.
Chronic dry coughs are usually caused by irritation from cigarette smoke, environmental irritants, allergies, post-nasal drip, or asthma. Several chronic lung diseases also cause a dry, hacking cough. Some people cough out of habit for no clear reason. Gastric reflux may also cause a chronic dry cough.
Share on Pinterest A tickle in the throat may be due to inflammation of the voice box, sinusitis, or a sore throat. A cough is a natural reaction to a foreign substance or irritation in the throat. However, the cough from a tickly throat can become chronic and linger.
Coughing often worsens at night because a person is lying flat in bed. Mucus can pool in the back of the throat and cause coughing. Sleeping with the head elevated can reduce the symptoms of postnasal drip and GERD. Both can cause coughing at night.
Dozens of conditions can cause a recurrent, lingering cough, but the lion's share are caused by just five: postnasal drip, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic bronchitis, and treatment with ACE inhibitors, used for high blood pressure and heart failure.
Coughing is the body's way of getting irritants out of the lungs, where they could lead to an infection. In most cases, a cough will go away when the illness gets better. It might take a week or even a month or so. Sometimes, a cough might last for longer than 8 weeks.
To soothe a cough, start with 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey. You can have it on its own, spread it on toast, or mix it into warm water or tea.
"Hot lemon with honey has a similar effect as cough medicines," the NHS states. To make the concoction, squeeze half a lemon into a mug of boiled water, and then add one or two teaspoons of honey and stir. Consume the drink while it is still warm for best results.
Stir honey into coffee or tea. Drizzle honey on top of toast or pancakes. Mix honey into yogurt, cereal, or oatmeal for a more natural sweetener. Spread raw honey over whole grain toast and top with peanut butter.