Cough and Sore Throat Remedies: Honey, Teas and Lozenges

Overview

Coughs and sore throats are usually caused by viruses, often a cold or flu, and most settle on their own. A cough will usually clear up within 3 to 4 weeks, and a sore throat normally gets better within a week. [1][2] This page looks at common home remedies and what evidence exists for symptom relief. It is about easing symptoms, not about preventing infection or shortening illness. For those, see colds, flu and respiratory infections. Evidence labels: established, promising but limited, mixed, insufficient evidence, "Proper evidence not found".

What the sources say

Honey

The 2018 Cochrane review included six trials with 899 children aged 12 months and older. Honey probably reduced cough frequency better than no treatment or placebo (moderate-certainty evidence), and may be similar to dextromethorphan. Most children had treatment for one night only, and the authors found no strong evidence for or against using honey. [3] Do not give honey to babies under 12 months. [5][1] See honey and manuka honey.

The NHS hot lemon and honey drink: squeeze half a lemon into a mug of boiled water, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey, and drink while warm. Do not give hot drinks to small children. [1]

Sore throat care

The NHS suggests drinking plenty of water, eating cool or soft foods, avoiding smoke, resting, and gargling with warm salty water (half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water; spit it out). Do not give small, hard items such as ice or hard sweets to young children because of choking. [2] Antibiotics are not normally needed, because they usually will not relieve symptoms or speed recovery. [2]

Over-the-counter products

The Cochrane review of 29 trials (4,835 people) found no good evidence for or against over-the-counter cough medicines, and flagged that antihistamines and centrally acting cough suppressants can cause serious harm in children. [4] The NHS says some cough medicines should not be given to children under 12, and decongestants and codeine-containing medicines will not stop a cough. [1] Do not double up on products containing paracetamol. [5]

Teas and other home measures

Warm drinks may feel soothing, but we found no trial evidence in the sources we read. Tea pages: ginger tea, marshmallow root tea, licorice root tea. Licorice and some herbs have medicine-interaction and pregnancy limits: see herbal tea and extract safety.

When to get help

For a cough, see a GP if it lasts more than 3 weeks, you are losing weight for no reason, or you have a weakened immune system. Seek urgent advice if it is very bad or quickly worsens, you feel very unwell, have chest pain, find it hard to breathe, or cough up blood. [1]

For a sore throat, see a GP if it does not improve after a week, you often get sore throats, or a mouth ulcer or lump lasts more than 3 weeks. Seek urgent advice for a very high temperature or signs of dehydration. Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) if there is difficulty breathing, inability to swallow, drooling or a high-pitched sound when breathing in, or rapid worsening. [2] Related: immune safety and when to get help.