Can Drinking Tea With Honey and Lemon Help You Get Over a Cold?

A steamy mug of honey-lemon tea is a classic remedy for the common cold. But is this soothing concoction really an effective way to alleviate symptoms or is it simply an urban myth? Here's what the research has to say about whether lemon and honey really work.

Honey has been used as both food and medicine since ancient times. It has antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, anticancer and antimetastatic properties, according to a 2017 review in ‌Pharmacognosy Research‌.

There's also research showing that it can be antiviral, which can be particularly useful in reducing inflammation and alleviating a sore throat or other sources of pain, Michele Sidorenkov, RDN, trained chef and dietitian tells LIVESTRONG.com.

Additionally, in a July 2014 study published in the ‌Archives of Medical Research‌, researchers found that honey — specifically manuka honey — demonstrated a potential medicinal value by inhibiting the growth of the influenza virus.

‌Read more:‌ 5 Surprising Ways to Fend Off Cold and Flu

And that's not all: "Honey is great for cold recovery and can act as a natural cough suppressant," Sidorenkov says. In fact, honey may suppress coughing better than diphenhydramine (which is found in over-the-counter medications such as Benadryl, Unisom SleepMelts and Alka-Seltzer Plus Allergy), according to a ‌Cochrane‌ review published in April 2018.

That's why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using honey to relieve a cough accompanied by a sore throat for adults and children at least one year of age and older.

There's little scientific evidence that lemons can be effective in alleviating cold symptoms. While it's true that lemons are a great natural source of vitamin C, there's conflicting evidence on whether vitamin C can actually boost the immune system and ward off harmful viruses and bacteria.

‌Read more:‌ All About Vitamin C: How Much Should You Really Be Getting?

All scientific evidence (or lack thereof) aside, there's a reason people have been quaffing warm lemon and honey brews for generations. The flavor and scent are soothing and pleasant, and the effect on a sore throat and pesky cough can be comforting.

As with all things, sip on honey-lemon water in moderation, and talk to your doctor if your symptoms fail to improve or get worse.