What Happens to Your Cold Symptoms When You Take Cinnamon and Honey?

Honey can help to quiet a cough and soothe a sore throat. Cinnamon is believed to clear congested airways. Together, they make a popular home remedy for cold and flu symptoms, but evidence is lacking that honey and cinnamon can fully cure a cold.

Does It Work?

There is no evidence that honey or cinnamon, taken together or separately, can cure a cold. There is also no research showing that these ingredients can shorten the duration of a cold or prevent one from starting in the first place.

That said, there is some evidence that cinnamon and honey may help alleviate specific cold symptoms. For generations, the two have been combined to create a homemade remedy for symptoms such as sore throat, cough, congestion, and other cold-related issues.

The common cold is a respiratory infection caused by hundreds of different viruses. Colds typically last seven to 10 days and usually resolve on their own. There is no known medication or herbal remedy that effectively cures the cold.

How Might They Help?

Both cinnamon and honey contain anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants that may help ease cold symptoms while your body fights off the virus.

Evidence suggests honey may:

• Soothe a sore throat: Honey can be used to soothe a sore throat, but exactly how it works is unclear.
• Reduce throat pain: In a study of people who had tonsillectomies, those treated with honey required less post-operative opioid pain medication than the control group.
• Improve sleep: Honey has been shown to improve sleep in children with a cough.
• Fight viruses: Bioactive compounds in honey may protect against certain types of respiratory infections, but there is no clear evidence that honey itself can cure or prevent colds.

Evidence suggests cinnamon may:

• Thin phlegm: Cinnamon may act as an expectorant, making it easier to cough up mucus and clear your airways.
• Open airways: Compounds in cinnamon might help open up airways, which could relieve shortness of breath.
• Fight viruses: In lab studies, cinnamon extracts have shown potential to protect against some viral infections, such as COVID-19; however, there is no evidence to suggest that it can prevent or cure colds.

Although the combination of cinnamon and honey has been used for centuries to treat colds, no studies have set out to prove whether the mixture is truly effective for this purpose.

Mixing Cinnamon and Honey for a Cold

The most basic cinnamon and honey recipe includes one part cinnamon to four parts honey. Take one teaspoon of this mixture three times a day for three to four days.

To mix up a batch for the entire household, multiply the recipe by the number of people. For example, a family of four would use 1 cup of honey and 4 tablespoons of cinnamon. Store the mixture in a closed jar at room temperature.

If you prefer, this recipe works well as a tea. Add a teaspoon of the cinnamon and honey mixture to a cup of hot water or herbal tea and sip for added hydration. The hot water can also help thin mucus and soothe an irritated throat.

Are They Safe for Everyone?

Please consult your healthcare provider before taking large amounts or supplements of cinnamon or any herbal remedy, as they can have risks and side effects.

Cinnamon is generally safe in small, food-level amounts, but may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Certain types of cinnamon, like Cassia cinnamon, contain a compound called coumarin that can thin the blood and harm the liver in high doses.

If you have a clotting disorder, liver issues, or take blood thinners, talk to your provider about safe cinnamon use. The same goes for people who are pregnant; cinnamon compounds like cinnamaldehyde may trigger uterine contractions and increase the risk of preterm labor.

Honey is generally considered safe. However, people with pollen allergies or severe seasonal allergies (hay fever) should avoid raw, unprocessed honey, as it may contain traces of pollen from the local environment.