Is honey good for sore throats? Honey is good for a sore throat as it has several therapeutic benefits such as being an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The CDC recommends using honey for a sore throat if it accompanies a cough.
A scientific review journal recognizes honey for the following therapeutic health benefit properties:
- Antiviral properties
- Antioxidant properties
- Antimicrobial properties
- Antifungal properties
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Antidiabetic properties

Is honey good for sore throats? iStock-tommaso79
It is important to understand that most honey that is available in grocery stores is pasteurized. The pasteurization process can destroy most of the important nutrients in honey.
The high of pasteurization can improve texture, extend the shelf life, kill unwanted yeast, remove crystallization, etc.
There are some teas that are known to help sooth a sore throat and those are green tea, clove tea, pepper mint tea, raspberry tea, etc.
Some other sore throat remedies are:
- Salt water- a salt water gargle can help kill bacteria and loose mucus. If you gargle a mixture of 8 ounces of water with ¼ teaspoon of salt.
- Lemon Juice- this can help break up mucus and provide some relief. Drink about 8 ounces of warm water with lemon juice.
- Baking Soda- Gargle baking soda mixed with salt water, and this can help kill the bacteria and the prevention of growth of yeast and potential fungi.
- Humidifier- Add one teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide to water used in the humidifier.
If you have a difficult time swallowing, have fevers, inability to drink fluids, chills, etc. then you may want to contact your doctor right away.
The Bottom Line is honey is an effective health remedy for a mild sore threat based off most research reviews and studies.
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References
- Aguiar R, Duarte FC, Mendes A, Bartolomé B, Barbosa MP. Anaphylaxis caused by honey: a case report. Asia Pac Allergy. 2017 Jan;7(1):48-50. doi: 10.5415/apallergy.2017.7.1.48. Epub 2017 Jan 26. PMID: 28154806; PMCID: PMC5287071.
- Yaghoobi R, Kazerouni A, Kazerouni O. Evidence for Clinical Use of Honey in Wound Healing as an Anti-bacterial, Anti-inflammatory Anti-oxidant and Anti-viral Agent: A Review. Jundishapur J Nat Pharm Prod. 2013 Aug;8(3):100-4. doi: 10.17795/jjnpp-9487. Epub 2013 Jul 17. PMID: 24624197; PMCID: PMC3941901.
- CDC- https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/common-illnesses.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fantibiotic-use%2Fcommunity%2Ffor-patients%2Fcommon-illnesses%2Findex.html
- Cianciosi D, Forbes-Hernández TY, Afrin S, Gasparrini M, Reboredo-Rodriguez P, Manna PP, Zhang J, Bravo Lamas L, Martínez Flórez S, Agudo Toyos P, Quiles JL, Giampieri F, Battino M. Phenolic Compounds in Honey and Their Associated Health Benefits: A Review. Molecules. 2018 Sep 11;23(9):2322. doi: 10.3390/molecules23092322. PMID: 30208664; PMCID: PMC6225430.