Honey and Cinnamon For Colds

Is Honey and Cinnamon Good for Colds?

Can you use honey for colds and get some relief? Yes, raw honey alone or a combination of honey and cinnamon is a common cold remedy. Consider this natural remedy the next time you have a cough or cold.

Will Honey Cure a Cold?

Umm.. no, sorry. Honey is not a cure for a common cold or flu.

But, I understand why you ask. When you feel bad, you want to get better quick!   A complete cure would the best outcome and right now! 

Unfortunately, the journey through sickness doesn’t usually work quite this way.  It wont cure you, but using honey or a mixture of honey and cinnamon will bring relief.

You must be kidding !  No actually, I  am not kidding. Honey for colds or coughs is not a new thing.

Natural remedies for cold and flu sufferers were used for thousands of years.  Long before a Walgreens or CVS sat on every street corner, mankind battled illness. 

Relief had to be sought from materials that were readily on-hand. Rather than looking for a cure, the focus was on symptom relief. 

Another herbal remedy involving the use of honey is Fire Cider.  You can make your own homemade fire cider tonic too!

Is Honey Good for You?

We are all familiar with honey as a sweet treat produced by honey bees. Also, honey has been a staple in the cupboards of homesteads for thousands of years. 

Long ago, mankind realized that honey may provide something more than a sweet food source.

And because it is so easy to store honey, we should always keep some on hand.

Using honey for cold relief may be a novel idea for your family. We have become too accustomed to purchasing health aids in boxes and bottles. 

Using Honey for Health

Our best plan of treatment during cold and flu events is to rest, eat properly and try to relieve symptoms. 

Various commercial products are available to help ease us through the process.   But they are not the only way.

Honey provides an effective natural treatment to at least help you feel some relief as you wait out the cold process.  Using honey and cinnamon for colds  is certainly a sweet option to try .

Many people claim that pure raw honey helps relieve coughs during a bad cold.  These claims are mostly anecdotal (without scientific research).

If a particular recipe seems to soothe a cold sufferer, people share their findings with family and friends. These recipes and strategies pass down through the generations. 

Why is there a lack of scientific studies on the use of honey and other natural products?

Scientific research is funded by large drug companies.  They would have no financial benefit from proving the effectiveness of a natural product. 

We just don’t know for certain how honey works but a lot of people feel that it does.

Why Use Honey and Cinnamon Together?

Honey contains natural antimicrobial and antibiotic properties that promote good health.  A boost to the immune system could be a result from honey consumption.

Cinnamon is one of those herbs used for centuries for various health issues. It has long been used in traditional Asian medicine.

If you enjoy natural remedies, many of them are easy to make at home. If a cough is bugging you – try my recipe for Homemade Honey Cough Drops.

Which Honey Is Best for Colds?

You will find different varieties of honey for sale. Honey bees make honey from plant nectar. The flavor of a honey type will vary depending on the plant nectar that is used.

For cold relief, the type of honey used for cold symptoms really doesn’t matter that much.

You may choose Wildflower Honey, Clover Honey, Buckwheat Honey etc. 

In recent years, Manuka honey has gained in popularity. However, that does not mean that regular honey is not good for most purposes.

Where to Buy Honey ?

It is important that you purchase natural raw honey.  Pasteurized honey will lose some of the natural properties that we want in a home remedy.

Small scale beekeepers are the best source for raw honey.   Why ?  Because we do not produce large crops. 

Smaller batches of honey do not require special machines for extracting and bottling. A smaller crop of honey is in less danger of being over-heated or mishandled. 

Must Your Honey Be Local?

Do you have to buy honey from your area ?  What if you do not know any local beekeepers ?  

For cold and cough relief, it does not matter if the honey is produced close to your home. You just need pure honey.

If you are battling allergies, you do want to purchase honey that comes from a region with the same types of plants and trees as yours. For a sore throat, I don’t think the region of origin matters.

You do not want pasteurized honey. Pasteurization is designed to kill bad microbes but it also kills beneficial ones.  

If you buy honey from a larger provider, read the label closely. Do not buy honey that contains products from countries outside the US.

Honey for Colds in Toddlers

Raw honey is not a dangerous product.  But because it is raw and not heat treated, there is a possibility it could be dangerous to infants.  

The rule of thumb is do not give raw honey to young children.  Consult with your physician about age.

I know many moms who have given honey to young ones with no problems. 

However, you should always consult with your doctor before giving any raw product to babies or toddlers.  This caution also applies to anyone with a compromised immune system.

Honey & Cinnamon Recipes

For a screaming sore throat, my favorite concoction is Honey-Lemon Tea.

Not sure why we call it tea since it has no “tea” in it. Though you can include tea if you like hot tea.

Simply fill a cup with water as hot as you can stand to drink, add 1 tablespoon (or more) of lemon juice and enough honey to sweeten (a lot).  The heat of the drink will not kill the goodies in the honey.

Mug Warmer for Tea or Coffee

Sip this drink before it cools.  This is my go-to treatment for sore throats.  If you have one of the mug warmers, it is a great help to keep your honey and cinnamon nice and hot !

Honey for Cough Relief

Raw honey has long been favored for cough relief. In fact, honey is believed to be more effective and less dangerous for children than some commercial products.

Honey and Cinnamon For Colds & Coughs – A Simple Recipe

Two tablespoons of honey mixed with 1 tsp of cinnamon before bedtime is the most common dose for coughing. 

I have to dissolve this in warm water.  During the day, you could repeat this treatment every 2-3 hours.

Immune Booster – Honey Recipe

I am not convinced that honey, cinnamon (or any other substance) can prevent colds.   There are so many things we still do not know about the natural world. 

Perhaps, they may boost our immune systems enough to fight off illness.  In the meantime, these are some ideas that you might consider incorporating into your health regime.

1. Honey & Lemon Tea

1 Cup of very warm water

the juice of ½ lemon

2 tablespoons of raw honey

1 tsp of ground cinnamon (ceylon)

2. Cinnamon Hot Toddy

½ cup of hot water

1.5 ounces of brandy

the juice of 1 lemon wedge

1 tsp of ground cinnamon

Raw honey to sweeten

3. Sore Throat Buster

1 cup of warm water

2 tablespoons of honey

1 pinch of ceylon cinnamon

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Sip frequently to ease pain.

Few people are allergic to honey, lemon, cinnamon etc. but check with your doctor if you are concerned about any of these items.  Remember, no raw honey for infants. 

Conclusion:

Hmm, my throat does feel a bit scratchy – a cup of hot tea with lemon juice & honey sounds pretty good right now.  

Lucky me, I have a lot of honey and cinnamon for cold relief right at my fingertips.

*** Beekeeper Disclaimer
Remember – I am a beekeeper, not a doctor.  These are combinations that my customers and friends swear by for relief.  If your symptoms worsen or do not clear up in the expected time frame, seek medical help.

Beekeeper Charlotte