Citing a study from the University of Oxford, Mr. Zhang stated that honey is more effective than antibiotics and other Western medicines in alleviating symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, such as coughing. Honey possesses antimicrobial properties that do not exacerbate bacterial resistance, making it particularly beneficial for treating acute coughs in children.

In TCM, coughs are classified into four types: dry cough without phlegm, wet cough with pronounced phlegm, irritating cough with nasal drip, and hot cough with thick, sticky phlegm due to bacterial infection. Honey is better suited for individuals with dry coughs due to its moisturizing properties, and its effectiveness is limited for the other three types characterized by excessive phlegm.

Relieve Dry Cough With Honey

Mr. Zhang suggested the following three ways to relieve dry cough using honey:

1. Honey water: Mix honey with water to your preferred concentration and sweetness, then drink it.
2. Direct consumption: Take about 1 tablespoon of honey, let it slowly dissolve in your mouth, and swallow it bit by bit.
3. Pears with honey: Slice pears and dip them in honey.

For patients with a mild cough with slight phlegm, Mr. Zhang recommends consuming honey lemon.

Preparation for honey lemon:

1. Clean the lemon thoroughly by brushing the peel, then slice it and remove the seeds.
2. Place the lemon slices in a clean glass container, layering them with honey. Then, store the mixture in the refrigerator; it can be kept for approximately one month.

Mr. Zhang stated that when using honey lemon for cough relief, it is best to prepare it by steeping it in warm water. Drinking it cold may potentially exacerbate cough symptoms.

Therapeutic Benefits of Honey

Honey not only helps alleviate coughs but is also used to address constipation and boost immunity.

Mr. Zhang stated the following as some of the therapeutic benefits of honey:

• Promotes bowel movements: Honey has traditionally been used to treat constipation. Zhang Zhongjing, a renowned physician from the Han Dynasty over 1,800 years ago, documented a method for relieving constipation. The process involved heating honey over a low flame, allowing it to condense into finger-sized strips. After cooling, these strips are inserted into the rectum, and when the urge to defecate arises, they can be removed. Drinking honey water is also helpful in alleviating constipation. You can enhance its benefits by adding chia seeds, rich in soluble fiber, or flavoring it with passion fruit or lemon.
• Boosts energy: When feeling weak during a cold, drinking honey water can help boost vitality and energy.
• Nourishes and strengthens the body: After a fracture or surgery, recovery may take time, and wounds may be slow to heal. Drinking honey water can aid in promoting tissue regeneration.
• Enhances immunity: For patients experiencing weakness after undergoing chemotherapy for malignant tumors, drinking an appropriate amount of honey water can support immune function and potentially prevent tumor progression.
• Regulates blood sugar and cholesterol levels: Although honey primarily consists of sugar, it is surprisingly effective in helping control blood sugar. A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Nutrition Reviews indicated that moderate honey consumption as part of a healthy diet contributes to lowering blood sugar and lipid levels.

Differences in the Therapeutic Effects of Raw and Refined Honey

Honey comes in two forms: raw and refined, each with distinct therapeutic effects. Li Shizhen, a prominent physician and pharmacologist from the Ming Dynasty, noted in his work “Ben Cao Gang Mu” (“Compendium of Materia Medica”) that “raw honey has a cooling nature, making it effective for clearing heat in the body, while refined honey has a warming nature, beneficial for nourishing the digestive system and internal organs.”

In TCM, refined honey is created by simmering raw honey over low heat; it retains its structure when dipped into water with chopsticks. Refined honey, after simmering, takes on a warmer nature. It is particularly suitable for older people, individuals in post-illness recovery, those experiencing mental exhaustion, and those with anemia. Moreover, it benefits patients dealing with conditions such as pulmonary tuberculosis, heart disease, and liver disease.

16 Traditional Uses for Honey

Mr. Zhang, coming from a TCM family with a century-old legacy, shared the following 16 unique applications of honey passed down from ancestors:

1. Protects the liver before alcohol consumption: Before engaging in social activities that involve alcohol consumption, consuming 1.06 ounces (30 grams) of honey or honey water can protect the liver and improve alcohol tolerance.
2. Alleviates hangover headaches: After drinking alcohol, consuming honey water can help prevent next-day headaches and hangovers.
3. Prevents extreme drunkenness: Offering honey water or honey to intoxicated people can help reduce alcohol’s effects.
4. Maintains energy to prevent heatstroke: When hiking, many people may still feel thirsty even after drinking water. In such cases, drinking honey water helps maintain energy levels, prevents heatstroke, and reduces the likelihood of sore feet.
5. Delays toxic reactions: In case of accidental ingestion of poisonous mushrooms, rat poison, pesticides, or even snake bites, drinking honey water immediately can delay the onset of toxic reactions, providing crucial time to seek emergency medical attention.
6. Promotes restful sleep: Honey contains glucose, vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium, which can soothe the nerves and promote sleep.
7. Improves shallow sleep and excessive dreaming: Sometimes, having overly complicated or too many dreams can tire you. For this, boil three dried longan fruits and two red dates in water, with a bit of honey for flavoring. Drinking this concoction before bedtime can help alleviate symptoms of excessive dreaming.
8. Promotes the healing of diabetic foot wounds: Using honey to heal superficial wounds caused by diabetes, such as ulcers, infections, and sores, has a long history in Taiwanese folk medicine. The underlying principle of honey in wound treatment lies in its high sugar concentration, which dehydrates bacteria, effectively killing drug-resistant strains. However, it is worth noting that not all diabetic foot conditions can be treated with honey. The therapeutic benefits of honey are limited for wounds extending to the bone or resulting in osteomyelitis. Additionally, honey can aid in the healing of skin and mucous membranes for open wounds, such as oral ulcers, chronic skin ulcers, and burns, thereby preventing bacterial infections.
9. Moisturizes skin: When hands and feet become cracked and cause pain in the winter, applying a small amount of honey to the skin can offer moisture and protection.
10. Reduces acid reflux on an empty stomach: Empty stomach acid reflux can be alleviated by drinking honey water, but this is ineffective for addressing post-meal acid reflux.
11. Alleviates low blood sugar symptoms: Dizziness, heart palpitations, shaky hands, and irritability caused by hunger can be immediately relieved by drinking a glass of honey water.
12. Alleviates cold symptoms: During the early stages of a cold, you can prepare 0.18 ounce (5 grams) of mulberry leaves and 0.18 ounce (5 grams) of mint leaves. Steep them in 17 fluid ounces (500 milliliters) of hot water for half an hour, then add honey to taste to promote recovery.
13. Improves enlarged prostate: Tomatoes are known to improve benign prostatic hyperplasia and chronic prostatitis. Dipping tomatoes in honey can help alleviate issues related to benign prostatic hyperplasia.
14. Speeds up toxin metabolism: For chemotherapy patients experiencing poor appetite or loss of taste, drinking honey water can supplement energy and hydration, speeding up the metabolism of chemotherapy toxins in the body.
15. Lowers blood sugar: Drinking bitter melon juice with a touch of honey can alleviate symptoms of high blood sugar.
16. Clears heat: In the summer, brewing grass jelly or hibiscus tea and adding a bit of honey can help remove body heat.

Moreover, Mr. Zhang regularly juices kiwi and asparagus, adding a small amount of honey to boost vitamin C intake and antioxidants. This concoction serves as his go-to daily health beverage.