Honey
Honey probably eases cold-related cough in children better than no treatment or placebo, and it is a reasonable first thing to try for children over 12 months old. The evidence comes mostly from single-night trials, so it says little about longer courses. The one firm rule is that honey must never be given to a baby under 12 months, because of the risk of infant botulism.
At a glance
Last reviewed 30 September 2026What it's used for
Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.
| Use | Evidence | What the research shows |
|---|---|---|
| Cough in children with colds | Moderate | A 2018 Cochrane review of 6 trials (899 children aged 12 months and over) found honey probably reduces cough frequency more than no treatment (mean difference −1.05 on a 7-point scale) or placebo (−1.62), both moderate-certainty. It may be no different from dextromethorphan and may beat diphenhydramine (low certainty). Most children were treated for one night only, and the benefit over placebo did not clearly last beyond three days. The reviewers concluded there was no strong evidence for or against honey.1 |
| Cold and upper respiratory infection symptoms | Limited | A 2021 BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine meta-analysis of 14 studies found honey beat usual care for cough frequency (standardised mean difference −0.36), cough severity (−0.44) and combined symptom score (mean difference −3.96). Usual care was often not a placebo, and the two studies that used a placebo showed no clear difference in combined symptoms (SMD −0.63, 95% CI −1.44 to 0.18). The authors call for better placebo-controlled trials. The NHS lists hot lemon and honey for coughs but says the evidence is limited.2,7 |
| Burns and wounds (medical dressings) | Moderate | A 2015 Cochrane review of 26 trials found high-quality evidence that honey dressings heal partial-thickness burns about 4.7 days faster than conventional dressings, and healed infected post-operative wounds faster than antiseptic washes. For most other wounds, including diabetic foot and venous leg ulcers, the evidence was low or very low quality and unclear. A 2017 Cochrane review of antiseptics for burns found honey probably heals burns faster than topical antibiotics (hazard ratio 2.45, moderate certainty, 140 participants). These are honey dressings applied as part of wound care; we found no source we could open that tests ordinary kitchen honey, so this rating does not cover it.3,4 |
| Blood sugar in diabetes | Traditional | Honey is not a diabetes remedy. A 2025 overview of 69 trials found 10 g of honey a day may lower HbA1c, but it also adversely affected fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure, and the authors advise caution with long-term or high-dose use in people with health concerns. We rate this 1 because we found no reliable evidence of benefit and there is a signal of harm.8 |
How much
Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.
How people take it
Safety
Who should avoid
- Babies under 12 months — risk of infant botulism, a very serious illness
- Children aged 4 or under — NHS advises limiting sugar, including honey, for tooth decay
- Diabetes — honey raises fasting glucose in some trials; ask your care team
- Any burn or wound — see a clinician rather than self-treating with kitchen honey
- Cough lasting more than 3 weeks, or with breathlessness — see a GP
Known interactions
Make it yourself
DIY guides that use honey, with quantities and safety notes.
Questions people ask
Does honey really help a cough?
For children over 12 months with a cold, probably yes. The 2018 Cochrane review found moderate-certainty evidence that it reduces cough more than no treatment or placebo, though most trials lasted one night. The NHS says evidence for hot lemon and honey is limited.
Why can't babies have honey?
Honey can occasionally contain bacteria that produce toxins in a baby's gut, causing infant botulism, which is very serious. The NHS says not to give honey to a child until they are over 1 year old.
Can I put honey on a burn or wound?
The evidence is for honey dressings used in wound care, which healed partial-thickness burns faster than conventional dressings in the Cochrane review. We found no source we could open testing ordinary kitchen honey, and wound botulism is a recognised risk when bacteria enter a wound, so get burns and wounds assessed by a clinician.
Is honey safe if I have diabetes?
It is a sugar. A 2025 overview found small daily amounts may lower HbA1c but adversely affected fasting glucose and triglycerides, and it advises caution with long-term or high-dose use. Ask your care team before using it regularly.
Sources
- Cochrane review Oduwole O, Udoh EE, Oyo-Ita A, Meremikwu MM. Honey for acute cough in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018.
- Systematic review Abuelgasim H, Albury C, Lee J. Effectiveness of honey for symptomatic relief in upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Evid Based Med. 2021.
- Cochrane review Jull AB, Cullum N, Dumville JC, Westby MJ, Deshpande S, Walker N. Honey as a topical treatment for wounds. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015.
- Cochrane review Norman G, Christie J, Liu Z, et al. Antiseptics for burns. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017.
- Health agency NHS. Foods to avoid giving babies and young children.
- Health agency NHS. Botulism.
- Health agency NHS. Cough.
- Systematic review Norouzzadeh M, Barazandeh S, Hasan Rashedi M, et al. Dosage exploration of the effects of honey and its derivatives on cardiometabolic outcomes: an overview of systematic reviews and GRADE-assessed updated meta-analysis. Nutr Diabetes. 2025.
Last reviewed 30 September 2026 · Next review March 2027 · How we rate evidence
Reader notes
Experiences and questions from readers, read by an editor before they appear. They are personal accounts, not evidence, and are not medical advice.