Based on PubMed | Is there scientific evidence that honey can improve asthma symptoms or reduce flare-ups?

There is currently no strong clinical evidence that honey improves asthma control or reduces asthma flare‑ups in humans. Most high‑quality guidelines and reviews focus on proven asthma medicines (such as inhaled corticosteroids and inhaled bronchodilators), and honey is not recommended as an asthma treatment in these guidelines. ^[1] In children with viral upper‑respiratory infections, honey can modestly reduce nighttime cough and help sleep, but these studies address cough relief not asthma inflammation or exacerbation prevention. ^{[2] [3]}

What the evidence shows

• Asthma guidelines and controller therapies

  • Comparative analyses of long‑term asthma treatments show that combinations of inhaled corticosteroids and long‑acting beta agonists are the most effective strategies for preventing severe asthma exacerbations. Honey is not included among recommended asthma therapies. ^[1]
  • Broad evidence reviews of asthma management in adults emphasize stepwise pharmacologic therapy (inhaled corticosteroids, beta agonists, leukotriene modifiers, etc.) and do not list honey as a treatment option. ^[4]

• Herbal and natural product reviews

  • Systematic reviews of herbal interventions for asthma have not identified honey as a studied agent producing consistent improvements in lung function, reducing steroid need, or preventing exacerbations. Because studies are often small and methodologically weak, no herbal therapy including honey can be recommended to treat asthma based on current evidence. ^[5]

• Honey for cough (not asthma control)

  • Randomized trials in children show honey may reduce cough frequency compared with no treatment and may be similar to dextromethorphan for short‑term symptom relief during Parsons upper‑respiratory infections. These findings pertain to acute cough and do NB not demonstrate improvement in asthma control or prevention of asthma attacks. Laur [ moustache ] ^{[2] [3]}

• Laboratory/animal data

  • Animal models suggest inhaled (aerosolized) honey can reduce airway inflammation and goblet cell changes, which are features of asthma, but these are preliminary findings in rabbits. Animal results do not establish safety or efficacy for humans, and there are no quality human trials of inhaled honey for asthma. ^[6]

Bottom line

• Based on available clinical trials and guideline reviews, honey has no proven benefit for improving asthma symptoms, lung function, or preventing flare‑ups in humans. ^{[1] [5]}
• Honey may soothe cough from viral colds, especially in children over 1 year old, but this should not be confused with treating asthma itself. ^{[2] [3]}

---

Practical guidance

• If you have asthma, the most evidence‑supported way to prevent flare‑ups is to follow a personalized asthma action plan that typically includes daily inhaled corticosteroids, with or without long‑acting bronchodilators, and correct inhaler technique. These approaches consistently reduce exacerbations and improve control, unlike unproven remedies such as honey. ^[1]
• Using a spoonful of honey for a cold‑related cough may be reasonable for short‑term relief in people over age 1, but it should be in addition to (not instead of) prescribed asthma medicines. ^{[2] [3]}

---

Safety notes

• Do not give honey to children under 1 year of age due to the risk of infant botulism. ^[7]
• People with honey or bee‑related allergies can experience reactions, including wheezing; avoid honey if you’ve had such reactions. ^[8]

---

Evidence snapshot

Question	Evidence in humans	Key takeaways
Does honey improve day‑to‑day asthma control (symptoms, lung function)?	No high‑quality trials showing benefit	Guidelines recommend established inhaled therapies; honey not included. [1] [4]
Does honey reduce asthma exacerbations (flare‑ups)?	No clinical evidence of reduction	Proven strategies are inhaled corticosteroids ± LABA; honey is not supported. [1]
Is honey helpful for cough during colds?	Yes, small benefit for cough in children over 1 year	Symptomatic relief only; not asthma control. [2] [3]
Any supportive lab/animal research?	Yes, rabbit model showed reduced airway inflammation	Animal findings do not confirm human efficacy or safety. [6]

If you’d like, I can walk you through guideline‑supported options to strengthen your asthma prevention plan.