How to Take Honey

Honey isn't just delicious—it may actually help with ailments like a cough, sore throat, or seasonal allergies. If you have a cold, take a small amount of honey each day until your symptoms are gone. If you have seasonal allergies, start taking honey before your symptoms start to help minimize them. Keep reading for more tips on how to get the most out of taking honey!

Ways to Eat Honey

Eat a spoonful of honey or add it to a warm beverage to soothe sore throats and ease coughs. Honey can also help settle an upset stomach, especially when combined with peppermint or chamomile tea. Eat 1 to 2 tsp (4.9 to 9.9 mL) of honey each day to build up a tolerance to local pollen.

1

Buy raw, organic honey.

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Avoid processed honey as it may not be pure. In order to get all the benefits of taking honey, you should get honey that is pure and has not been overly processed. Raw honey contains anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce the symptoms of colds and allergies.^{[1]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source} It’s also less likely to contain unhealthy additives, such as high-fructose corn syrup.
- Ensure that the label says that the honey is raw and organic. If it doesn't, it's likely that the honey has been processed.

2

Eat a spoonful of honey to soothe your cough.

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Honey has been shown to soothe a sore throat and ease coughs. To take it in the simplest way, you can simply eat a spoonful of it straight from the jar.^{[2]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
- You do not need to eat a lot of honey to experience its benefits. About 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of honey should suffice.

3

Add honey to a warm beverage to ease cold symptoms.

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Sweeten tea or hot water with the honey. When easing a sore throat or cough with honey, it's a good idea to add it to a warm drink. The warmth is soothing to the throat and it keeps you hydrated, which keeps mucus thinner. By adding 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) or so of honey to a cup of tea or hot water, you can help ease discomfort and boost your immune system at the same time.^{[3]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
- To make your honey and hot water mixture taste even better, add a teaspoon of lemon juice as well. This will help to balance out the sweetness of the drink.^{[4]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}

4

Begin taking honey when your cold symptoms begin.

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You may be able to decrease their severity. If you have a cough or sore throat that is emerging, start taking honey right away and take it whenever you need it throughout the day. This will help you avoid experiencing severe symptoms because it will limit the irritation you experience over the course of your illness.
- Taking honey from the onset of symptoms can help you cope with them, but will not always eliminate them altogether.

5

Take honey before bedtime.

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Honey can help with your cough or sore throat day and night. Drinking a warm beverage with honey in it before bed can help suppress nighttime coughs. ^{[5]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
- Adding honey to a warm cup of tea can ease your symptoms and help you get in the mood to go to sleep. However, add honey to a tea that promotes sleep, such as chamomile or other caffeine-free herbal teas. Drinking a caffeinated tea could cause you to have trouble sleeping.

6

Purchase local honey to prevent allergies.

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Find honey made in your area. This honey will have trace amounts of the pollen that you will be exposed to in your area. This small amount may acclimate your immune system to the pollen without giving you the symptoms of allergies.^{[6]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source}
- You can go to a local farmer's market or farm to get local honey. Many natural food stores also carry local honey.
- While there is some research that says that taking honey can help with allergies, the efficacy of local honey for the treatment of allergies needs more scientific study.^{[7]XTrustworthy SourceAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma, and ImmunologyNational professional organization of allergists, asthma specialists and immunologists that focuses on supporting and publishing researchGo to source}

7

Eat a small amount of honey every day for allergies.

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This may help you build up a tolerance to your local pollen. When using honey to prevent allergies, you only need to eat 1–2 teaspoons (4.9–9.9 mL) each day. You can eat more, but a few teaspoons are sufficient to expose your body to the local pollen.
- This will allow your body to get used to the pollen that you inhale from the air every day.
- Begin eating honey before allergy season. Don't wait until your symptoms start.^{[8]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source}

8

Reheat crystallized honey to restore it.

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Honey that has crystallized is still perfectly safe and good to eat. You simply need to heat it gently to re-liquefy it and then let it cool gradually so that it stays in liquid form.
- All honey will crystallize eventually. Crystallization actually shows you that the honey you have is pure and hasn't been diluted with other sweeteners.^{[9]XResearch source}

9

Do not give honey to infants.

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Children should be at least a year old before they have honey. While honey is safe for most adults to consume, infants can get a rare form of botulism from spores in honey. Don't give your child honey until they are 1 year old, at which point their digestive system will be able to process it safely.^{[10]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
- The spores that are dangerous for infants are called Clostridium botulinum. When this spore multiplies in an infant's intestines, it can produce a toxin that can make the child very sick.

10

Watch for signs of an allergic reaction.

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There are some rare cases in which people are allergic to honey. These allergies are typically triggered by the small amounts of pollen in honey. If you have recently eaten honey and you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact a physician about treatment and testing:^{[11]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
- Trouble breathing
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Abnormal levels of perspiration
- Fainting
- Arrhythmias (Irregular heart beat)
- Irritation when honey is applied to the skin

11

Take your blood sugar into consideration.

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Honey contains glucose. If you are someone who needs to keep a close eye on their blood sugar, then you need to be careful about eating honey. While honey does contain a variety of healthy minerals and vitamins that sugar does not, it is sweeter than sugar and will still cause your blood sugar levels to increase.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Check with your doctor before taking honey if you have blood sugar concerns or are diabetic.
- Honey is sweeter than regular sugar because it contains more of a sweeter simple sugar, fructose, than regular sugar does. This means that it takes less honey to sweeten things than it does regular sugar. In general, using ¹⁄₂ teaspoon (2.5 mL) of honey will produce the same amount of sweetness as 1 teaspoon (4 g) of sugar would.

Expert Q&A

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Question
Will putting honey in hot oatmeal kill the enzymes in the honey?
Lisa Bryant, ND
Licensed Naturopathic Physician
Dr. Lisa Bryant is Licensed Naturopathic Physician and natural medicine expert based in Portland, Oregon. She earned a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon and completed her residency in Naturopathic Family Medicine there in 2014.
Lisa Bryant, ND
Licensed Naturopathic Physician
Expert Answer
Heating honey to about 95 degrees F or higher degrades some of the enzymes, so best to stay below that mark to optimize the nutritional value.
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Question
Does honey help reduce upset stomach symptoms?
Lisa Bryant, ND
Licensed Naturopathic Physician
Dr. Lisa Bryant is Licensed Naturopathic Physician and natural medicine expert based in Portland, Oregon. She earned a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon and completed her residency in Naturopathic Family Medicine there in 2014.
Lisa Bryant, ND
Licensed Naturopathic Physician
Expert Answer
Yes, honey can be helpful in settling an upset stomach, especially combined with peppermint or chamomile tea.
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Does taking honey in warm water make the voice sound good or make the voice sound pleasant?
Lisa Bryant, ND
Licensed Naturopathic Physician
Dr. Lisa Bryant is Licensed Naturopathic Physician and natural medicine expert based in Portland, Oregon. She earned a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon and completed her residency in Naturopathic Family Medicine there in 2014.
Lisa Bryant, ND
Licensed Naturopathic Physician
Expert Answer
It can help with hoarseness from a cold by clearing out mucus, so in theory it can help with a raspy voice.
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