Overview
What is honey?
What are honey’s main benefits?
What are honey’s main drawbacks?
How does honey work?
Dosage information
In oral mucositis, many studies used a dose of 20 mL (approximately 1 tablespoon) of honey swallowed before and after radiation therapy.[1]
For cough in children, doses of 5–10 mL (approximately 1–2 teaspoons), for example, in 90 mL of milk, have been studied.[2]
For skin, a majority of studies applied honey topically to the affected areas.[3][4][5]
A 2023 meta-analysis of 18 RCTs which examined honey for metabolic health did not find a dose-response effect for any outcomes, except the improvements of systolic blood pressure were not as large when the dose was over 10% of daily total calories (50–62 grams for people eating 2,000–2,500 calories per day). In other words, higher dosages did not increase or decrease the effectiveness of honey for improving metabolic outcomes in some studies. The researchers in this meta-analysis did note that they examined studies which used honey at doses of 5–125 grams, with a median dose of 40 grams (approximately 3 tablespoons).[6]
Safety InformationNew
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Examine Database: Honey
Research FeedRead all studies
Could honey be a practical substitute for energy gels?
In this randomized controlled trial, exercise capacity during cycling in trained men was the same whether they consumed honey or a commercial energy gel.
A honey mouth rinse doesn’t help with dental plaque
Manuka honey relieves symptoms of dry mouth in older adults
A multi-ingredient supplement may improve tonsillitis symptoms in children with tonsillopharyngitis
Honey shows no benefit for tonsillectomy pain in children
Frequently asked questions
Does honey benefit oral mucositis from cancer treatment?
Does honey benefit cough?
Does honey benefit burns?
Does honey benefit wounds?
Does honey benefit skin ulcers?
Update History
Safety Information added
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References
Examine Database References
- Cough - Kuitunen I, Renko MHoney for acute cough in children - a systematic review.Eur J Pediatr.(2023-Jun-25)
- Fatigue Symptoms - Sun X, Chen Y, Cheung WK, Wu IX, Xiao F, Chung VCPharmacological Interventions for the Management of Cancer-Related Fatigue Among Cancer Survivors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Integr Cancer Ther.(2021 Aug 7)
- Mucositis Symptoms - Lee CC, Chen YW, Kang YN, Chen JH, Chen C, Lu CY, Huang TW, Gautama MSNEfficacy of natural products in preventing oral mucositis resulting from cancer therapies: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Crit Rev Oncol Hematol.(2024 May 6)
- Canker Sores Symptoms - Liu H, Tan L, Fu G, Chen L, Tan HEfficacy of Topical Intervention for Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis: A Network Meta-Analysis.Medicina (Kaunas).(2022 Jun 7)
- Wound Healing - Yildiz Karadeniz E, Kaplan Serin EUse of honey in diabetic foot ulcer: Systematic review and meta-analysis.J Tissue Viability.(2023 May)
- Wound Healing - Wang C, Guo M, Zhang N, Wang GEffectiveness of honey dressing in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Complement Ther Clin Pract.(2019 Feb)
- Dry Eye Symptoms - Hu J, Kong L, Zhu S, Ju M, Zhang QEfficacy and safety of manuka honey for dry eye.Clin Exp Optom.(2023 Jul)
- Total cholesterol - Gholami Z, Sohrabi Z, Zare M, Pourrajab B, Nasimi NThe effect of honey on lipid profiles: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials.Br J Nutr.(2022 May 28)
- Blood glucose - Amna Ahmed, Zujaja Tul-Noor, Danielle Lee, Shamaila Bajwah, Zara Ahmed, Shanza Zafar, Maliha Syeda, Fakeha Jamil, Faizaan Qureshi, Fatima Zia, Rumsha Baig, Saniya Ahmed, Mobushra Tayyiba, Suleman Ahmad, Dan Ramdath, Rong Tsao, Steve Cui, Cyril W C Kendall, Russell J de Souza, Tauseef A Khan, John L SievenpiperEffect of honey on cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysisNutr Rev.(2022 Nov 16)
- Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease - Semnani-Azad Z, Khan TA, Blanco Mejia S, de Souza RJ, Leiter LA, Kendall CWC, Hanley AJ, Sievenpiper JLAssociation of Major Food Sources of Fructose-Containing Sugars With Incident Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open.(2020 Jul 1)
- Length of hospitalization - Andriakopoulou CS, Yapijakis C, Koutelekos I, Perdikaris PPrevention and Treatment of Oral Mucositis in Pediatric Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.In Vivo.(2024 May-Jun)
- Mucositis Symptoms - Yang C, Gong G, Jin E, Han X, Zhuo Y, Yang S, Song B, Zhang Y, Piao CTopical application of honey in the management of chemo/radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.Int J Nurs Stud.(2019 Jan)
- Mucositis Symptoms - Xu JL, Xia R, Sun ZH, Sun L, Min X, Liu C, Zhang H, Zhu YMEffects of honey use on the management of radio/chemotherapy-induced mucositis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg.(2016 Dec)
- Mucositis Symptoms - Co JL, Mejia MB, Que JC, Dizon JMEffectiveness of honey on radiation-induced oral mucositis, time to mucositis, weight loss, and treatment interruptions among patients with head and neck malignancies: A meta-analysis and systematic review of literature.Head Neck.(2016 Jul)
- Mucositis Symptoms - Liu TM, Luo YW, Tam KW, Lin CC, Huang TWProphylactic and therapeutic effects of honey on radiochemotherapy-induced mucositis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Support Care Cancer.(2019 Jul)
- Mucositis Symptoms - Tian X, Xu L, Liu X, Wang CC, Xie W, Jiménez-Herrera MF, Chen WImpact of honey on radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Ann Palliat Med.(2020 Jul)
- Mucositis Symptoms - An W , Li S , Qin L Role of honey in preventing radiation-induced oral mucositis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Food Funct.(2021 Apr 21)
- Mucositis Symptoms - Lima ICGDS, de Fátima Souto Maior L, Gueiros LAM, Leão JC, Higino JS, Carvalho AATClinical applicability of natural products for prevention and treatment of oral mucositis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Clin Oral Investig.(2021 Jun)
- Mucositis Symptoms - Raza A, Karimyan N, Watters A, Emperumal CP, Al-Eryani K, Enciso REfficacy of oral and topical antioxidants in the prevention and management of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analyses.Support Care Cancer.(2022 Nov)
- Mucositis Symptoms - Yu YT, Deng JL, Jin XR, Zhang ZZ, Zhang XH, Zhou XEffects of 9 oral care solutions on the prevention of oral mucositis: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Medicine (Baltimore).(2020 Apr)
- Liver Enzymes - Lee D, Chiavaroli L, Ayoub-Charette S, Khan TA, Zurbau A, Au-Yeung F, Cheung A, Liu Q, Qi X, Ahmed A, Choo VL, Blanco Mejia S, Malik VS, El-Sohemy A, de Souza RJ, Wolever TMS, Leiter LA, Kendall CWC, Jenkins DJA, Sievenpiper JLImportant Food Sources of Fructose-Containing Sugars and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Trials.Nutrients.(2022-Jul-12)
- Weight - Chiavaroli L, Cheung A, Ayoub-Charette S, Ahmed A, Lee D, Au-Yeung F, Qi X, Back S, McGlynn N, Ha V, Lai E, Khan TA, Blanco Mejia S, Zurbau A, Choo VL, de Souza RJ, Wolever TM, Leiter LA, Kendall CW, Jenkins DJ, Sievenpiper JLImportant food sources of fructose-containing sugars and adiposity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled feeding trials.Am J Clin Nutr.(2023 Apr)
- Wound Healing - Ferraz Barbosa B, de Moraes FCA, Araujo Alves da Silva B, Bordignon Barbosa C, Pereira da Silva I, da Silva ER, Barros JCM, Rebouças LWC, Dos Santos NPC, Fernandes MRThe Use of Honey for Cicatrization and Pain Control of Obstetric Wounds: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Nutrients.(2024-Jan-05)
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Hibatullah Abuelgasim, Charlotte Albury, Joseph LeeEffectiveness of honey for symptomatic relief in upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysisBMJ Evid Based Med.(2020 Aug 18)
- Wound Healing - Hwang SH, Song JN, Jeong YM, Lee YJ, Kang JMThe efficacy of honey for ameliorating pain after tonsillectomy: a meta-analysis.Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol.(2016 Apr)
- Wound Healing - Zhang F, Chen Z, Su F, Zhang TComparison of topical honey and povidone iodine-based dressings for wound healing: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Wound Care.(2021 Apr 1)
- Wound Healing - Norman G, Dumville JC, Moore ZE, Tanner J, Christie J, Goto SAntibiotics and antiseptics for pressure ulcers.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2016 Apr 4)
- Wound Healing - Norman G, Christie J, Liu Z, Westby MJ, Jefferies JM, Hudson T, Edwards J, Mohapatra DP, Hassan IA, Dumville JCAntiseptics for burns.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2017 Jul 12)
- Cold Sore Symptom Duration - Rocha MP, Amorim JM, Lima WG, Brito JCM, da Cruz Nizer WSEffect of honey and propolis, compared to acyclovir, against Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)-induced lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.J Ethnopharmacol.(2022 Apr 6)