Honey offers natural therapeutic benefits, supporting wound healing, cough relief, and heart and gut health. Honey should not be given to infants under one year old due to the risk of botulism.

1. Cough Relief 

Honey is an effective natural cough suppressant and is a popular ingredient in cough drops and cough syrups.

Honey has powerful antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects, which help soothe the throat and reduce coughing.1 It may reduce cough frequency, as well as severity, in people with upper respiratory tract infections.2

Honey can help treat cough in children, but it may contain Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that can cause botulism in babies under the age of one.3

2. Wound Healing

Honey has been used to treat wounds since ancient times. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and enzymes, may speed wound healing.1

Honey creates a natural barrier that protects wounds from dehydration and bacterial contamination. It also increases oxygen and nutrient levels in the skin, which supports healing.4

One review found that honey is effective in treating various wounds, including burns, ulcers, scratches, surgical wounds, cracked nipples, and others.4 Do not use honey on serious wounds, and always check with a healthcare provider before using it on any wound or other skin condition.

3. Gut Health

Honey contains prebiotics, which are compounds that support the growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut. It also has powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, which can support overall gut health.5

More research is needed, but animal studies suggest that honey may increase the growth of probiotic bacteria, including Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species, and soothe symptoms of digestive conditions like ulcerative colitis (UC) and constipation.5

4. Heart Health

Eating honey may be a holistic way to reduce heart disease risk factors, such as high blood sugar and high cholesterol levels. One review found that honey helped lower fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels when consumed as part of a healthy diet.

While some research suggests that honey is a good choice for the heart, it’s important to moderate your intake. Honey is considered an added sugar, and consuming too much added sugar can harm heart health and increase heart disease risk.6

5. Antioxidant Defenses

Honey contains a variety of antioxidants, including flavonoids and phenolic acids. Antioxidants help protect cells from damage by neutralizing harmful substances called free radicals.8

Eating honey can help boost antioxidant levels in the blood, which may help reduce cellular damage and lower the risk of conditions associated with free radical damage, like heart disease.910

6. Relief From Radiation Therapy Side Effects

Radiation-induced oral mucositis is a side effect related to radiation treatment for head and neck cancer. Oral mucositis is a condition that causes inflammation and sores in the mouth and throat. It’s extremely painful and can affect swallowing, eating, talking, and more.11

Honey may help soothe oral mucositis in people undergoing radiation therapy. One recent review found that it significantly reduced the occurrence of severe mucositis, provided pain relief, and helped reduce weight loss in people receiving radiation.12

Always check with your healthcare provider first to make sure honey is a safe choice for you.

7. Blood Sugar Management

Honey has a slightly lower glycemic index (GI) than table sugar. The GI is a tool used to assess how much a food will spike blood sugar levels.13 The GI of honey is 58, while the GI of table sugar is 60, meaning honey has slightly less impact on blood sugar.14

Honey might be effective for reducing blood sugar and the long-term blood sugar control marker hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C). However, other studies in the review found that honey significantly increased blood sugar.15

It’s still important to use honey in moderation, especially if you have prediabetes or diabetes.

8. Brain Health

Honey contains several vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory substances that may protect and improve brain health.

Human studies are limited, but some have found that honey may increase blood flow in the brain, protect brain cells from damage, improve memory, boost mood, and increase levels of certain antioxidants in the brain.16

How To Use Honey

The most common way to use honey is by adding it to food and drinks, such as tea, coffee, and oatmeal. You can also consume honey directly as a remedy for coughs or to enhance gut and brain health.

Honey can be applied to the skin to treat certain wounds, like minor burns and scrapes. Always check with a healthcare provider before using honey for any medical issue.

Safety and Considerations

You should never use honey to treat any serious health condition, like severe burns, cuts, or illnesses, unless specifically recommended by a healthcare provider. Doing so can lead to dangerous side effects, like infection.

If you’re interested in using honey as a natural remedy for ailments like coughs or minor cuts, it’s best to check with your provider first to make sure it’s safe. Do not give it to babies under the age of 1, as it may carry bacteria that can cause serious illness in infants.3

People with pollen allergies should avoid honey as they may have an allergic reaction from eating honey or applying it to their skin.