Is Honey Good for a Sore Throat?

Yes, honey may temporarily soothe a sore throat in adults and children aged 1 year or older by coating irritated throat tissue. Evidence for plain honey specifically as a sore throat remedy is limited, and it does not treat the underlying cause. For more options that may be comfortable to swallow, see the best foods for sore throat.

Is honey a good choice for a sore throat?

Honey is a reasonable comfort measure for a mild sore throat if the person can swallow safely and is at least 1 year old. It may make the throat feel less irritated for a while, but relief is likely to be temporary.

A sore throat can have different causes, and honey is not a substitute for an assessment or prescribed treatment when one is needed. If symptoms are severe, worsening or not improving, contact a healthcare professional rather than relying on honey alone.

How might honey soothe a sore throat?

Honey has a thick texture that can coat the throat and make irritated tissue feel more comfortable. Swallowing it on its own or in a drink may also help ease the sensation of dryness, although the size and duration of any benefit are uncertain.

Warm water can feel soothing, too, and drinking enough fluid helps prevent dehydration. Choose a comfortable temperature: very hot drinks can irritate or burn the throat. For other ways to stay comfortable and hydrated, see the best drinks for sore throat.

Although honey has properties that have been studied for their antimicrobial effects, eating it should not be relied on to clear a throat infection. A soothing effect is not the same as treating the cause of pain.

What does the evidence say about honey for sore throat?

Direct evidence for ordinary honey used on its own for a sore throat is limited. Some research has tested products or mixtures that contain honey, but those results cannot show how much benefit came from honey itself.

In a 2023 randomized, open-label study of a honey-containing throat spray, 186 people with sore throat from acute pharyngitis received either the spray or another sore throat spray. Symptoms improved in both groups. Because the honey-containing spray had other ingredients and the study did not test plain honey against a placebo, it cannot establish the effect of a spoonful of honey.

A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis examined several interventions for throat symptoms after a breathing tube was used during surgery. These included honey-and-lemon products alongside other interventions. The findings concern a different cause of sore throat, and the combined results cannot be attributed to honey alone.

Together, these studies leave uncertainty about how well plain honey works for an everyday sore throat or how it compares with no treatment. Honey is best viewed as an optional comfort measure, not a proven cure.

How can you use honey for a sore throat?

Adults and children aged 1 year or older can try a small spoonful of honey, swallowing it slowly, or stir it into comfortably warm water. There is no established medical dose of plain honey for sore throat relief. If you have diabetes or need to limit added sugar, account for the honey in your usual eating plan.

Simple honey water

This honey water is one way to take honey while also drinking fluid.

Ingredients

1 cup (240 mL) warm water
1 teaspoon (5 mL) honey

Steps

Pour the warm water into a cup and check that it is not hot enough to burn your mouth.
Stir in the honey until mixed.
Sip slowly while the drink is comfortably warm.

Use the amount of honey that suits you; more is not necessarily more effective. Honey contains sugar, so continue your usual tooth-brushing routine, especially if you use it near bedtime. Mixing honey into water does not make it safe for an infant.

Who should be careful, and when should you see a doctor?

Never give honey to a child under 1 year old, whether it is plain, cooked or mixed into a drink. Honey can contain spores that cause infant botulism. If an infant has been given honey and develops symptoms such as poor feeding, a weak cry or unusual limpness, seek urgent medical care.

People with diabetes should consider honey's effect on blood glucose. Avoid honey if you have had an allergic reaction to it; seek emergency help for symptoms such as difficulty breathing or swelling of the face or throat. Pregnant people can generally eat honey, but should ask a healthcare professional about persistent symptoms or medicines they are considering.

Get urgent medical help for trouble breathing, inability to swallow saliva, drooling or signs of dehydration. Contact a healthcare professional if a sore throat worsens, is accompanied by fever or a rash, or is not improving after a few days. People with weakened immune systems should seek advice promptly when they develop concerning symptoms.