Cough? Upgrade to Manuka
Honey is soothing,soothing but not all types are created equal
AS MANY of us are discovering during the current ‘sick wave’ of colds, flu and other respiratory viruses, coughs can be very debilitating. Having a cough to contend with gets in the way of everything from conversations to eating, sleeping and many other daily tasks.
It’s well known that honey is a traditional remedy for sore throats. But did you know it could help with coughs too? Research scientists at Oxford University have revealed that honey should be used above conventional treatments for coughs, blocked noses and sore throats.
They wrote in the journal, BMJ Evidence Based Medicine: ‘Honey is more effective and avoids causing harm through antimicrobial resistance.’ And even NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and PHE (Public Health England) advise that people should take honey or over-the-counter remedies instead of antibiotics as a first line of treatment. Symptoms normally settle within two to three weeks. Only if the cough persists longer or the person feels very unwell or breathless and is perhaps at risk of further complications, would they need to contact their GP, states the advice. But, as the researchers note, not all honey is created equal — some types are more helpful than others.
So if you are buying a jar of honey to keep at hand for coughs and sore throats, why not upgrade to a New Zealand Manuka honey, which has unique anti-microbial properties that other types of honey do not display? The naturally occurring compound that gives Manuka these properties is called Methylglyoxal, or MGO for short. The strength of Manuka honey is often measured in MGO level. The higher the number on the label, the more milligrams of MGO is contained in the pot of honey.