Buckwheat Honey: Evidence and Safety
Buckwheat honey is a dark, strong honey from buckwheat flowers. Here is what the children's night cough trials found and where they fall short, plus allergy and safety notes.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Quick safety points
- Never give honey, including buckwheat honey, to a baby under 12 months. CDC says not to feed honey to a child younger than 1 year, and MedlinePlus says the same because honey can carry botulism spores. [1][2]
- Buckwheat honey is the honey used in the best-known US trial of honey for children's night cough (children aged 2 to 18). That trial was small, ran for one night, relied on parent reports, and was funded by a honey industry body. [3][4]
- Buckwheat the plant is a known food allergen that can cause severe reactions, including anaphylaxis. We did not find a source we read that reports a reaction to buckwheat honey itself, so whether it is a risk for buckwheat-allergic people is not known from our sources. [5][6]
- Honey in general can cause allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in people sensitized to certain weed pollens; a case report describes this with a pollen-rich artisanal honey. [7]
- Honey is mostly sugar. One large review of trials pooled honey with other bee products and reported mixed effects on blood sugar markers; people with diabetes should ask their clinician. [8][9]
What buckwheat honey is
Buckwheat honey is honey that bees make mainly from the nectar of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) flowers. Buckwheat is not a true cereal and is unrelated to wheat. [5] The honey is usually described as dark with a strong flavor, but the sources we read for this page do not describe its color or taste, so that is general description, not a research finding. It is sold as jar honey, raw or filtered, and sometimes as a mixed blend. Like all honey, it is made of mostly sugars and water, with small amounts of proteins, enzymes, phenolic compounds and minerals. [9]Food use and how it differs from medical use
Buckwheat honey is a food. It is not medical-grade honey, which is sterilized and sold as wound dressings, and results from one do not carry over to the other. Nothing on this page supports putting jar honey on a wound or burn in place of medical care; see medical-grade honey and wound care.Traditional use (not proof)
Honey has long been used at home for coughs and sore throats. The NHS describes hot lemon and honey as a self-care option that can have an effect similar to cough syrup, but says there is limited evidence that it helps. [10] We did not read a source that describes a specific traditional use of buckwheat honey. Traditional use is not proof.What research shows
The best-known research on buckwheat honey is one children's cough trial. Human antioxidant studies are small and measured blood markers, not illness.| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Night cough in children (Paul 2007) | 105 children aged 2 to 18 with colds, at one pediatric practice, got one dose of buckwheat honey, honey-flavored dextromethorphan (a cough medicine), or nothing, about 30 minutes before bed. Parents rated honey best overall. Honey beat no treatment for cough frequency. The medicine was not better than no treatment, and honey and the medicine did not differ significantly. [3] | Preliminary: one small trial, parent-reported |
| Honey for cough in children, all trials (Cochrane) | 6 trials, 899 children aged 12 months to 18 years. Honey probably reduces cough better than no treatment or placebo (moderate certainty) and may be similar to dextromethorphan (low certainty). The authors say there is no strong evidence for or against honey, and most children were treated for one night only. [4] | Promising but limited |
| A different honey in a larger trial (Cohen 2012) | 300 children aged 1 to 5, double-blind, one 10 g dose of eucalyptus, citrus or labiatae honey versus a date-extract placebo. Parents rated honey higher. This trial did not use buckwheat honey. [11] | Promising but limited |
| Antioxidant level in blood (Gheldof 2003) | 25 healthy men drank water with buckwheat honey, or other drinks. A blood antioxidant measure (ORAC) rose about 7% after the honey-water drink only. Two other oxidation tests did not change. The authors say long-term studies are needed. [12] | Preliminary, lab marker only |
| Phenolics in blood (Schramm 2003) | Healthy adults ate 1.5 g per kilogram of body weight of buckwheat honey or corn syrup. Blood phenolic content and antioxidant measures rose after the honey. The authors call the health meaning speculation. [13] | Preliminary, lab marker only |
What the Paul 2007 trial can and cannot tell you.
- Parents answered survey questions. The outcome was what parents saw and felt, not a measured cough count. Colds also get better on their own. [3][14]
- It was one night of treatment at one clinic. The no-treatment group got no placebo, and parents in that group knew they had no treatment. [14]
- It compared honey with a cough medicine (dextromethorphan) and with nothing. It did not compare buckwheat honey with another honey or with a plain placebo syrup. [3]
- The work was supported by an unrestricted grant from the National Honey Board, an industry-funded agency of the US Department of Agriculture, according to a news summary of the study. We could not read the journal's own funding line, so this rests on a secondary source. [14]
- Mild effects such as hyperactivity were reported by some parents in the honey group. [14]
What the antioxidant studies cannot tell you. A rise in a blood antioxidant test is not a health outcome. Neither study followed people for illness, and neither shows that buckwheat honey protects against disease. [12][13]
Lab findings. In a lab comparison of four Polish honeys (heather, buckwheat, linden, rapeseed), phenolic acids were measured in all of them, and heather honey had the highest antioxidant activity and polyphenol content. Buckwheat, heather and linden honey also lowered the viability of mouse fibroblast cells in a dish at 5% and 2.5% concentrations. A dish of cells does not show what happens in people. [15] An earlier lab study found that honey antioxidant capacity comes from many compounds acting together, not just phenolics. [16]
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for buckwheat honey as a treatment for sore throat, wounds, blood sugar, or heart health.
Forms and why they matter
- Raw or unfiltered jar honey: a case report links an artisanal honey that kept its pollen to an anaphylaxis reaction in a pollen-sensitized child, while commercial pasteurized and filtered honey tested negative in that child. [7] Raw is not a safety feature for botulism; spores are the reason for the under-12-months rule. [1][2]
- Filtered or heat-treated honey: less pollen, and heat treatment is one of several production steps that authenticity reviews discuss. [7][17]
- Creamed or set honey: a texture choice; the sources we read give no safety difference.
- Mixed products (cough syrups, lozenges, teas with honey): results from plain honey do not carry over to a product with other ingredients.
Safety and cautions
- Babies under 12 months: never give honey in any form; it is also in some foods and "natural" remedies. [1][2] See honey and infant botulism.
- Allergy: buckwheat allergy is IgE-mediated and can cause hives, swelling, throat tightness and anaphylaxis; in a French anaphylaxis network, buckwheat was involved in 71 of 2,999 cases and about 46.5% were severe. [5][6] We did not find a source we read that links buckwheat honey to these reactions. Anyone with a known buckwheat or pollen allergy should ask an allergist before trying it. See bee products and allergy warning signs.
- Diabetes and blood sugar: honey is mostly sugar. [9] A 2025 overview of 69 trials of honey and related products reported that 10 g of honey a day was linked with a lower HbA1c but also with higher fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, triglycerides and other markers, and called for caution with long-term or high-dose use in people with health concerns. [8] Ask a clinician; this page gives no advice.
- Children and cough: in the Cochrane review, stomach symptoms were reported in 12% of children given honey versus 11% given placebo, and nervousness, insomnia or hyperactivity in 9.3% on honey versus 2.7% on dextromethorphan (low certainty). [4] The NHS lists when to see a GP about a cough (for example trouble breathing or a cough lasting over 3 weeks). [10]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: not described in the sources we read for buckwheat honey. See pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Medicines, surgery, contaminants: not described in the sources we read.
Quality and buying
Honey is a frequent target of adulteration (added sugar syrups) and mislabeling of its flower or country of origin, according to a review of authentication methods. [17] The sources we read do not test buckwheat honey products, so we cannot say how common this is for buckwheat honey. See honey adulteration, labels and how to choose.Related pages
Uses studied and safety checks for Buckwheat Honey
Read the safety checks first. Each card says whether a finding comes from people, from the lab or from tradition, which product and way of use was tested, and how strong the evidence is. A finding for one product or one way of using it does not carry over to another.
Check before you use (5)
- Infant botulism and honey. Honey can carry Clostridium botulinum spores. CDC and MedlinePlus say not to give honey to children younger than 1 year.
- Buckwheat allergy and anaphylaxis. Buckwheat the plant is a recognized food allergen that can cause hives, throat tightness and anaphylaxis; about 46.5% of buckwheat cases in a French network were severe. No source we read reports a reaction to buckwheat honey.
- Honey and pollen-allergy reactions. A case report describes anaphylaxis to a pollen-rich artisanal honey in a child sensitized to ragweed and mugwort pollen, while pasteurized, filtered commercial honey tested negative in that child.
- Honey sugar content and blood sugar. Honey is mostly sugars and water. A 2025 overview of 69 trials of honey and related products reported lower HbA1c but higher fasting glucose, blood pressure and triglycerides at 10 g a day, and urged caution with long-term or high-dose use in people with health concerns.
- Honey adulteration and mislabeling. Honey is a frequent target of added sugar syrups and false flower or country labels. Sources read do not test buckwheat honey products.
Buckwheat honey and night cough in children
Clinically supportedOne small trial (105 children aged 2 to 18) found parents rated one bedtime dose of buckwheat honey better than no treatment for night cough. A Cochrane review of 6 honey trials found honey probably eases cough better than no treatment or placebo in children over 12 months.
Supplements: Promising but limited; most trials treated children for one night.
Buckwheat honey compared with cough medicine
Preliminary or mixedIn the buckwheat honey trial, honey did not differ significantly from honey-flavored dextromethorphan, and the medicine was not better than no treatment. Cochrane found low-certainty evidence that honey may be similar to dextromethorphan.
Supplements: Preliminary.
Buckwheat honey and children's sleep during a cold
Preliminary or mixedParents of coughing children rated child and parent sleep as better after honey in the buckwheat trial and in a trial of other honeys.
Supplements: Preliminary; parent-reported.
Buckwheat honey and blood antioxidant measures
Preliminary or mixedA blood antioxidant test (ORAC) rose about 7% in 25 healthy men after buckwheat honey in water, and blood phenolics rose in healthy adults who ate buckwheat honey. Other oxidation tests did not change.
Supplements: Marker changes only; no health benefit shown.
Phenolic compounds in buckwheat honey (lab)
Lab or animal research onlyIn a lab comparison of four honeys, buckwheat honey contained phenolic acids; heather honey had the highest antioxidant activity. Buckwheat honey also lowered the viability of mouse cells in a dish at 5% and 2.5%.
Supplements: None shown for people from lab findings.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (1)
- Sleep QualityPreliminary or mixed
Parents reported better child and parent sleep after honey for night cough in two trials; not measured objectively.
Body systems (1)
- Respiratory HealthClinically supported
Honey probably eases acute cough in children over 12 months better than no treatment, per Cochrane (moderate certainty); the buckwheat trial was one small parent-reported study.
Functional actions (1)
- Respiratory SupportPreliminary or mixed
Parents rated cough better after buckwheat honey in one small trial; reported symptoms only.
Conditions & symptoms (4)
- Acute CoughClinically supported
Cochrane found honey probably relieves acute cough in children over 12 months better than no treatment or placebo; buckwheat honey was used in one of the trials.
- AnaphylaxisDocumented risk
Buckwheat the plant and pollen-rich honey are documented causes of anaphylaxis; no source read reports it from buckwheat honey itself.
- Food AllergyDocumented risk
Buckwheat is a known food allergen; whether buckwheat honey affects buckwheat-allergic people is not known from the sources read.
- Upper Respiratory InfectionsPreliminary or mixed
The buckwheat honey trial enrolled children with colds; it measured cough and sleep symptoms, not the infection.
Frequently asked questions
Is buckwheat honey good for a child's cough?
One small trial of 105 children found parents rated buckwheat honey better than no treatment for night cough. It was one night, parent-reported, and funded by a honey industry body, so it is far from proof. [3][14] A Cochrane review of 6 trials found honey probably helps cough in children over 12 months, with no strong evidence either way. [4]
Can I give buckwheat honey to my baby?
No. Never give honey to a baby younger than 12 months. [1][2]
If I am allergic to buckwheat, can I have buckwheat honey?
We did not find a source we read that answers this. Buckwheat allergy can be severe, and honey can contain pollen from its flowers, so ask an allergist. [5][6][7]
Does buckwheat honey have more antioxidants than other honey?
In one lab comparison of four honeys, heather honey had the highest antioxidant activity, not buckwheat. [15] A small human study found a 7% rise in a blood antioxidant test after buckwheat honey, which is not a health outcome. [12]
Is raw buckwheat honey safer or better?
We did not find a source we read showing that raw honey is safer. Raw honey can still carry botulism spores, and raw honey with more pollen may matter for people with pollen allergy. [1][7]
References
- CDC, Botulism Prevention. Read 2026-10-24.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Infant botulism. Read 2026-10-24.
- Paul IM et al., Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 2007, Effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and no treatment on nocturnal cough and sleep quality for coughing children and their parents (abstract via Europe PMC; PMID 18056558). Read 2026-10-24.
- Oduwole O et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2018, Honey for acute cough in children (abstract via Europe PMC). Read 2026-10-24.
- Pourshahnazari P, Sussman G, Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol 2014, Buckwheat anaphylaxis: a case report. Read 2026-10-24.
- Sabouraud-Leclerc D et al., Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2025, Food anaphylaxis: eight food allergens without mandatory labelling highlighted by the French Allergy-Vigilance Network (abstract via Europe PMC). Read 2026-10-24.
- Di Costanzo M et al., Journal of Medical Case Reports 2021, Anaphylaxis caused by artisanal honey in a child: a case report (abstract). Read 2026-10-24.
- Norouzzadeh M et al., Nutrition & Diabetes 2025, Dosage exploration of the effects of honey and its derivatives on cardiometabolic outcomes (abstract only). Read 2026-10-24.
- Bolat E et al., Food Science & Nutrition 2026, Honey as a natural flavorful product: a comprehensive review (abstract). Read 2026-10-24.
- NHS (UK), Cough. Read 2026-10-24.
- Cohen HA et al., Pediatrics 2012, Effect of honey on nocturnal cough and sleep quality: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study (abstract via Europe PMC; funding not seen). Read 2026-10-24.
- Gheldof N, Wang XH, Engeseth NJ, J Agric Food Chem 2003, Buckwheat honey increases serum antioxidant capacity in humans (abstract; funding not seen). Read 2026-10-24.
- Schramm DD et al., J Agric Food Chem 2003, Honey with high levels of antioxidants can provide protection to healthy human subjects (abstract; grant listed from NIDDK). Read 2026-10-24.
- ScienceDaily (news summary of the Penn State study), A spoonful of honey helps a coughing child sleep, 2007. Used for funding and trial-design details only; a secondary source. Read 2026-10-24.
- Nowak A et al., BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 2025, Assessment of in vitro skin permeation and accumulation of phenolic acids from honey and honey-based pharmaceutical formulations. Read 2026-10-24.
- Gheldof N, Wang XH, Engeseth NJ, J Agric Food Chem 2002, Identification and quantification of antioxidant components of honeys from various floral sources (abstract). Read 2026-10-24.
- Soares S et al., Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 2017, A comprehensive review on the main honey authentication issues: production and origin (abstract). Read 2026-10-24.