Honey has anti-inflammatory properties that may help to ease asthma symptoms, such as coughing. However, limited research suggests that it can be used as a treatment for asthma.

Honey has been used as a natural medicine in cultures around the world for centuries. Many people use honey as a home remedy for allergy symptoms.

As honey has antioxidant properties that fight inflammation, some people also use it to soothe asthma symptoms, such as a cough.

While it may help alleviate asthma symptoms, there is limited evidence to suggest that it can treat the condition.

Natural remedies, such as honey, should never be used to treat asthma attacks. If you are having an asthma attack and your asthma medication is not relieving your symptoms, or if you are finding it difficult to breathe, you should call 911 immediately.

Several studies done by researchers around the world have attempted to prove the therapeutic value of honey in treating asthma symptoms and many other conditions. The results have been mixed.

A 2019 study found that there is no strong evidence that honey is an effective treatment method for asthma.

However, a 2020 study found that honey could lower inflammation and help slow the spread of bacteria that causes coughing, which is a symptom often associated with asthma.

While limited research exists on the direct effect of honey on asthma, it has been found to effectively reduce coughing, which can be a bothersome symptom for those with asthma, especially at night.

A large clinical trial may provide better insight as to whether honey is an appropriate therapy. But there has yet to be such a study.

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Honey appears most helpful as a cough suppressant. In fact, studies have found that it can help reduce cough frequency and severity.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend it as a treatment to help relieve coughing in adults and children at least 1 year old.

It’s believed that the sweetness of honey triggers your salivary glands to produce more saliva. This may lubricate your airways, easing your cough. Honey may also reduce inflammation in the bronchial tubes (airways within the lungs) and help break up mucus that is making it hard for you to breathe.

You can take the honey by:

Mixing 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey in a cup of hot water. Be careful not to make the water too hot.

Squeezing the juice of 1/2 lemon into a glass of warm water and adding one to two teaspoons of honey. Lemon juice has antioxidants that can help strengthen the immune system.

One of the biggest concerns of using honey is the risk of an allergic reaction. If you have had an allergic reaction to bee stings or bee pollen, you should probably avoid honey in any form. A honey allergy can produce symptoms such as:

For the vast majority of people, honey consumed in small to moderate doses is safe. If you have a heart condition or high blood pressure, you should talk with a doctor before trying honey.

Children under the age of 12 months should not be given honey. The risk of botulism is extremely serious in infants.

Important lifestyle measures for asthma

Alongside prescribed treatments for asthma, lifestyle measures can also help to manage symptoms.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute notes the following:

  • Get regular exercise.
  • Manage stress levels.
  • Quit smoking if you do smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke.
  • Eat heart-healthy foods.

It is important not to use honey as a sole treatment for asthma. Instead, consider using it alongside prescribed treatments to reduce symptoms.

Learn how to prevent asthma attacks and maintain steady breathing.