Honey may be better than conventional treatments for coughs, stuffy noses and armpits, researchers have said. The fabric is cheap, easy to get and has almost no side effects.
Doctors may recommend it as a suitable alternative to antibiotics, which are often prescribed for such infections, even if they are ineffective, said scientists from the University of Oxford.
Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) affect the nose, throat, voice box and the large airways (bronchi) that lead from the windpipe to the lungs.
There is evidence of honey being used in children, and it has long been used as a home remedy to treat coughs and colds. However, the evidence for its effectiveness for a range of upper respiratory tract symptoms in adults has not been systematically considered.
To address this, the scientists looked at research databases for relevant studies comparing honey and preparations that included it as an ingredient with common care – mostly antihistamines, expectorants, cough suppressants and painkillers. They found 14 valid clinical studies, in which 1,761 participants were of different ages.
Data analysis of the studies indicated that honey was more effective than normal care for improving symptoms, especially the frequency and severity of cough. Two of the studies showed that symptoms lasted one to two days less among those treated with honey.
However, researchers Hibatullah Abuelgasim, of Oxford University Medical School, and Charlotte Albury and Joseph Lee, of the Nuffield Division of Primary Health Sciences, have noted that honey is a complex substance and not a uniform product. They also pointed out that only two of the studies involved a placebo, saying that more such studies need to be done before definitive conclusions can be reached.
The authors write in the journal BMJ Evidence Based Medicine, and the authors stated: “Upper respiratory tract infections are the most common reason for prescription antibiotics. Since the majority of URTIs are viral, antibiotic prescription is both ineffective and inappropriate. ”
The researchers suggest that honey may therefore offer an alternative if doctors want to prescribe something to safely treat upper respiratory symptoms.
They conclude: “Honey is a commonly used play medication that is well known to patients. It is also inexpensive, easily accessible and has limited damage. If clinicians want to prescribe them for URTI, we recommend honey as an alternative to antibiotics.
“Honey is more effective and less harmful than normal care alternatives and prevents damage due to antimicrobial resistance.”
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