Coughing? Have a spoonful of honey!

With the weather turning cooler and pollution levels rising, we are seeing a spurt in the cases of cold and cough. Since our childhood, we have all heard one Dadi Ma ka Nuskha – if the child is coughing, give ginger-honey. Many of us still use it but unfortunately, many have moved towards anti-allergy medicines for our children. But are these anti-allergens good for our children’s tiny tummies? What could be the harmful effects in the long term? Moreover, is the age-old remedy of giving honey during cough effective? If so, how?

Honey has been known to have anti-viral, anti-microbial and anti-parasitic effects since time immemorial. Its capacity to inhibit the growth of microorganisms and fungi is well-documented. Honey contains a number of minerals and vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and calcium. There are also important antioxidants, such as flavonoids and alkaloids. There are trace amounts of more than 15 amino acids found in honey making it a natural immunity building food.

But most importantly, there is new research that proves how honey kills bacteria. The research shows that bees make a protein that they add to the honey, called defensin-1, which can be used to develop new drugs that could combat antibiotic-resistant infections. This is the very protein that helps you fight cough and anti-viral infections. In fact, in many cases, it has been proved that honey might be more beneficial than over-the-counter medicines that contain dextromethorphan (DM), a cough suppressant.

Hence, a spoonful of honey just before bed might be the remedy you have been looking for a night of cough-free sleep. Try the following ways to add honey to your daily routine:

1. Ginger with honey for dry cough
2. Turmeric and honey in warm milk for cough, sinusitis, and asthma
3. Black pepper, ginger and tulsi honey for combating effects of air pollution

Suggested Honey

Tulsi Honey