Want to Know How This Kitchen Staple Can Remedy Your Cough and Sore Throat?

Let's first talk about coughs.

 

Coughing occurs when dust, germs, or mucus irritate the airway passage, and coughing is our bodies’ reflex to remove the substances that cause the irritation. The irritation and the friction caused by those particles moving through the airway are what leads to inflammation, and that is why most over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines have anti-inflammatory properties.

But, do you know that both honey and ginger can also offer anti-inflammatory effects?

 

For adults who are experiencing coughing episodes, you may mix one tablespoon of honey, a few slices of ginger, and warm water.

 

Ginger has an anti-inflammatory property that will remedy the inflammation and swelling of the airway that is caused by constant coughing. The viscosity of the honey will also provide a soothing effect to the throat and the airway.

 

A few studies which assessed the effectiveness of honey for reducing cough in children, concluded that honey has the same effect of dextromethorphan, an OTC cough medicine, in treating cough. These studies also mentioned that honey may actually work better in treating cough than diphenhydramine, another medicine used to relieve cough.

 

A study recommended that children above one year of age who are infected with upper respiratory infection can be given 1.5 tsp of honey before bedtime as a cough treatment because honey’s properties make it a suitable substitute for OTC cough medicines.

 

The reason why children might need an alternative treatment for cough is because the OTC cough medicines might lead to major reactions or death in children. From 2005 to 2008, American Association of Poison Control Centers received thousands of calls where children below 2 years of age were exposed to cough medicines, and 28 of them had serious major complications or death. This is why US Food and Drug Administration do not recommend the usage of OTC cough medicines for children under the age of 2 years, and American Academy of Pediatrics has warned the usage of them for children below 6 years old.

 

However, honey should not be used for children below 1-year-old in fear of risk of botulism, a rare but serious nerve-affecting condition when there is an intoxication of Clostridium Botulinum, a bacterium from contaminated honey.

 

Although it is recommended to give honey to children before bedtime as a cough treatment, dental caries may happen if honey is consumed by children on a nightly basis for a long period of time. Thus, it is advised to give them the honey before bedtime, but to rinse their mouth with plain water afterwards.

 

 

 

Honey can not only cure coughs, but it can also alleviate sore throats.

 

When you have a sore throat, swallowing can be painful with the dry, itchy, scratchy, and swollen condition of the throat.

 

As reported by Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sore throats are most commonly caused by viral infections. This viral infection is what produces the free radicals, a toxic component, that causes the symptoms we have when our throats are sore. Well then, honey is the perfect one-for-all cure to sore throat, for it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

 

Examples of antioxidants present in honey are phenolic acids, flavonoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, enzymes, and other trace elements and these antioxidants will help fight the free radicals, to reduce the symptoms and eventually cure sore throat. The anti-inflammatory property will help alleviate the swelling and redness of the throat, and the viscosity of the honey will also sooth the burning, dry, and swollen throat.

 

To alleviate the sore throat, you can mix two tablespoons of honey, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice into your warm water or tea, and your throat will definitely thank you for the soothing effect!

 

 

Such an easy hack to remedy cough and sore throat with a kitchen staple that most households may already have, and that is honey! Most important of all, make sure the honey that you consume are purely harvested with no added sugar.

 

Want to know where you can get 100% pure honey with added black seed goodness without the bitterness?

 

Look no further than our 100% pure, unadulterated black seed flower honey! Verified by our customers to aid their coughs and sore throats, you won't find any oil mixture or blended seeds in our honey but as our bees collect nectar from the Habbatus Sauda' flower, you'll be sure to receive the benefits of both honey and black seed in our Jar of Happiness. ✨