Of all the uses people claim for honey, this one stands up. Against a night cough, several clinical trials give it a real edge over no treatment at all, and a result comparable to some pharmacy syrups.
The explanation holds no mystery. Honey is thick and sweet. It coats an irritated throat, soothes it mechanically, and its taste triggers a flow of saliva that settles the cough reflex. That is where it stops, and it often carries you through a night.
How to take it
A teaspoon on its own at bedtime, swallowed slowly, with nothing to drink after. That form works best, because the honey stays in contact with the throat.
In a drink, wait for the water to cool. Above forty degrees the enzymes break down and honey loses part of what separates it from sugar syrup. A scalding tea sweetened with honey still tastes good, but it is no longer really honey.
Lemon heals nothing extra, though it makes the drink easier to face when the throat scratches, and the acidity brings on saliva. Fresh grated ginger adds a warming edge that many people like. These pairings belong to comfort, not to pharmacy.
Which honey to pick
The darker and stronger ones, as a rule. Thyme Honey (190 dh) and Oregano Honey (190 dh) leave a bitterness that grips the throat, and many find them more soothing. Eucalyptus Honey (100 dh) leans towards menthol, which helps with a blocked nose. Orange Honey (90 dh) suits children better, as they often refuse bitter honeys.
None of these beats the others on any measured scale. The best one is whichever the patient agrees to swallow.
The honey that stings the throat
Some honeys, euphorbia above all, produce a burning or tingling sensation at the back of the throat. It comes from their composition and lasts a few seconds.
That tingle has nothing to do with spoiled or fermented honey, and it signals no special strength against infection. On a throat that is already inflamed it turns unpleasant: reach for a mild honey in that case.
When honey stops being enough
Honey soothes a cough, it does not treat what causes it. Call a doctor if the cough runs past ten days, if fever holds beyond three days, if breathing turns wheezy or short, or if coloured phlegm appears.
And the rule that takes no exception: no honey before twelve months, not even for a cough, not even diluted.