Is Honey & Lemon Good for Bronchitis?
Bronchitis occurs when the airways become inflamed. Bronchitis may be acute, lasting a short amount of time, or chronic, lasting a long period of time. Symptoms of bronchitis include coughing, a low-grade fever, wheezing and shortness of breath. Treatment normally includes humidifying the air in your home, remaining hydrated and using over-the-counter medications to reduce your fever and relieve your cough. For a natural remedy that may help relieve your symptoms of bronchitis, honey and lemon provide an alternative.
A jar of honey and a sliced in half lemon. (Image: Jasmina81/iStock/Getty Images)Why It Works
Honey and lemon can help relieve the cough that occurs with bronchitis. These foods are very soothing to the throat. The MayoClinic.com reports that honey and lemon may also help loosen congestion that can cause coughing and other difficulties with bronchitis. This treatment will not cure bronchitis; it may simply provide relief from the symptoms.
Use
Honey and lemon juice can be mixed together in equal parts and taken by the spoonful for symptom relief. The most common use however, when treating bronchitis, is to add a couple teaspoons of honey and lemon juice to hot water or hot tea. Sipping on honey and lemon in this manner provides further symptom relief due to the temperature of the liquid. It helps keep you hydrated as well.
Age Concerns
Honey and lemon may be used to treat bronchitis in children, but it should ever be used for babies less than 1 year of age. Botulism may occur from feeding honey to infants and should be avoided. If your baby has a cough or you suspect bronchitis, contact the pediatrician for treatment recommendations.
Considerations
Honey and lemon may not provide adequate symptom relief for all individuals. If your symptoms worsen or do not improve, contact your doctor for other treatment methods. Avoid taking antibiotics for viral bronchitis -- they are ineffective unless a bacterial infection occurs secondary to the airway inflammation. Drink at least eight glasses of liquid per day, including the hot water or tea mixture.
