Honey 'better than antibiotics' for treating coughs and colds – study | ITV News

Honey may be better than usual care for easing upper respiratory tract symptoms, especially coughs, researchers have said.

The substance is cheap, readily available, and has virtually no side-effects.

Doctors can recommend it as a suitable alternative to antibiotics, which are often prescribed for such infections, even though they are not suitable, scientists from the University of Oxford said.

Symptoms can include sore throat, blocked nose, cough, and congestion.

There is evidence for honey being used in children, and it has long been used as a home remedy to treat coughs and colds.

But the evidence for its effectiveness for a range of upper respiratory tract symptoms in adults has not been systematically reviewed.