Honey, especially in combination with lemon and hot tea, has long been used as a sore throat remedy. When you’re suffering from this pesky cold symptom, honey’s antibacterial properties and viscous texture can be remarkably soothing. But, manuka honey may be an even greater solution. Hailing from the New Zealand area, manuka honey is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and even a source of antioxidants. In combination, these manuka honey benefits can reset your immune system and significantly cut down on sore throat discomfort.
Here, we’ll cover how high quality manuka honey can ease pain and inflammation, then provide you with five simple ways to use manuka honey as a quick sore throat remedy. No one wants to suffer from a sore throat for long, and manuka honey is a convenient, efficient solution to help you start feeling healthy again.
Manuka Honey’s Cold-Curing Properties
Many people may wonder why honey works in reducing symptoms from the common cold. Honey’s benefits for colds largely has to do with its ability to fight off harmful bacteria. The antibacterial qualities of honey make it highly effective in healing wounds, combating infections, and easing inflammation.
Manuka honey isn’t your average honey variety. It has unique antibacterial properties, with methylglyoxal as an active ingredient. Methylglyoxal has been proven to exhibit microbial effects that prevent the formation of fungus and bacteria. Manuka honey also provides strong anti-inflammatory benefits, which can bring down the swelling of a sore throat and make it heal more quickly.
The antiviral properties of manuka honey are especially helpful for anyone suffering from a sore throat. Most sore throats are caused by a viral infection, although a sore throat from strep throat results from a bacterial infection. So, consuming or gargling with manuka honey while you have a sore throat can help your immune system get rid of the virus causing the throat discomfort.
Ways to Use Manuka Honey for a Sore Throat
You can reach for manuka honey the next time you have a sore throat to reduce pain, bring down swelling, and boost your immune system. The best ways to use manuka honey for a sore throat combine cold-fighting ingredients in a simple solution that you can make at home. Below, we’ve provided the five best manuka honey recipes to cut down on sore throat pain, fast.
Manuka Honey in Warm Tea
One especially simple way to use manuka honey as a sore throat remedy is to stir a teaspoon or so into hot tea with lemon. The antibacterial properties of manuka honey, coupled with lemon’s own antibacterial powers and the warm temperature of the tea, are known to reduce sore throat discomfort. Tea is also an ideal conveyance for honey, given that its warm temperature will dissolve the sugars and make for a beverage that goes down smoothly.
Sipping a warm beverage can wash away the phlegm that causes sore throat discomfort. Plus, when you’re actively drinking tea, you’ll be less inclined to cough (coughing leads to further throat irritation and can prolong the duration of your sore throat).
You can add manuka honey to just about any type of tea for a sore throat-busting drink, but here are a few of our favorites:
A variety of herbal tea, licorice root has a sweet flavor that doesn’t actually task of black licorice candy, as you might expect. Licorice root tea is one of the best teas for a sore throat because it creates a viscid layer over the throat when drunk, easing feelings of dryness, scratchiness, and irritation. With manuka honey added in, licorice root tea will quickly make your sore throat feel calmer and less inflamed.
- Chamomile tea
A longstanding natural remedy for various ailments, chamomile tea is a popular choice for treating a sore throat. It’s naturally anti-inflammatory and it’s an astringent, meaning that it’s effective in healing inflamed tissues in the body. Chamomile is used in treating skin irritation and bacterial infections, as well as cold symptoms. So, it’s no surprise that chamomile tea makes a great sore throat remedy in combination with manuka honey.
- Slippery elm tea
Slippery elm tea is often chosen as a natural remedy for sore throats because of its mucilage content. This combination of sugars isn’t broken down during digestion and creates a thick coating over the throat. So, when drunk, slippery elm tea will coat and soothe the inflamed throat tissues.
- Green tea
One of the most popular tea varieties, green tea is frequently drunk with honey and lemon to reduce sore throat discomfort. Green tea is naturally anti-inflammatory and packed with antioxidants to boost your immune system. Note that green tea naturally contains some caffeine, so it’s best to sip it from morning to mid-afternoon, then switch to a caffeine-free tea variety in the evening.
- Ginger tea
Ginger is a widely used homeopathic treatment for a wide range of health concerns, from cold symptoms to nausea to indigestion. It has a spicy kick, boost circulation, and flushes out harmful bacteria to reduce inflammation. These properties can work wonders on a sore throat, especially when mixed with the benefits of manuka honey.
- Turmeric tea
Tumeric has become a recent sensation in the health food world in recent years. Its remarkable properties as an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory make turmeric tea a smart choice for sore throats. Turmeric is a close relative of ginger and will provide similar benefits when combined with manuka honey in tea form to curb cold symptoms.
Manuka Honey and Apple Cider Vinegar
Manuka honey and apple cider vinegar create a potent, highly effective solution to uncomfortable sore throat symptoms. Apple cider vinegar is revered in the holistic health world for its natural bacteria-fighting powers. Manuka honey will dissolve into the apple cider vinegar, infusing it with powerful antimicrobial benefits and creating a thick, viscous texture.
Mixed together with warm or hot water, honey and apple cider vinegar create a thick gargle that coats your inflamed throat. The coating has a soothing effect that prevents coughing and can help you get back on your feet with a cold. Plus, you can easily find an inexpensive bottle of apple cider vinegar at your local market or convenience store, making this combination a convenient sore throat treatment. Be sure to get the apple cider vinegar with “the mother”.
Cinnamon, Manuka Honey, and Milk
One of the most palette-pleasing recipes for sore throat relief combines cinnamon and manuka honey with warm milk. Some people may be hesitant to consume milk while they have a cold, given that dairy products are said to increase mucus production. However, in small quantities, milk can help reduce the raw feeling that accompanies a sore throat.
Cinnamon is highly effective in cold relief. Not only is it anti-inflammatory, but it also helps clear out mucus to heal a sore throat faster. When you combine cinnamon, honey, and warm milk, you get a sweet beverage with potent anti-inflammatory effects. It will comfort you while you have a cold and work to quickly relieve your symptoms.
Cayenne Pepper and Manuka Honey
When you need fast relief from sore throat pain, cayenne pepper may be the quick fix that you’re looking for. This popular seasoning is known to thwart pain signals before they reach your brain, providing temporary pain relief.
I had severe pain in the lower back (hernia), shot and as a shock hit, I decided to take Tramadol 100 mg 1 pill from https://www.tractica.com/buy-tramadol/. I felt dizzy at night. In the morning, I felt really bad, I had vomiting, weakness, sweat, and in general it was very bad all day, I could not stand or sit, the weakness was terrible. I had to put a cleaning drip, then slept for almost a day. It helped me to relieve back pain for a day, but the effect of the drug turned out to be terrible, it’s better to endure pain than what I’ve been through this day. I’ll never take it again.
To reap the pain-relieving benefits of cayenne pepper, along with the anti-inflammatory perks of manuka honey, mix ¼ teaspoon of cayenne into heated water. Then, stir in one to two teaspoons of honey until fully dissolved. This is a suitable solution if you need to get through the day without the inhibition of sore throat pain.
One Teaspoon of Pure Manuka Honey
Swallowing a small amount of pure manuka honey on its own is a super simple sore throat treatment. The honey will coat your throat to reduce pain instantaneously, making your throat feel less raw, scratchy, and inflamed.
The typical dosage for pure manuka honey to ease your sore throat is one teaspoon. This small amount is all you need to swallow to gain the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antimicrobial benefits of manuka honey.
Conclusion
A sore throat is extremely uncomfortable and can keep you from getting through your day as usual. This common cold symptom can slow you down and leave you aching for relief. Thankfully, manuka honey is an exceptionally effective ingredient for at-home sore throat remedies. With anti-inflammatory,-anti-bacterial, and antioxidant properties, manuka honey can significantly cut down on the spend you spend struggling with throat pain. Whether you choose to swallow a teaspoon of manuka honey straight up, stir it into hot tea with lemon, or whip up one of the sore throat-busting recipes we provided above, you’ll be enjoying greater throat comfort in a short amount of time. While manuka honey may not be the most common ingredient in your pantry, you’ll find yourself turning to it again and again for its remarkable health benefits.
