Can you really relieve a sore throat with tea, honey and lemon? Three American doctors contacted by National Public Radio answered the question. But Vitamin C and hydration having been the basis of all good therapies against these small unpleasant episodes due to viruses for a long time already, we already know the results!
A survey carried out by Odoxa for the Mutuelle Nationale des Hospitaliers (MNH) tells us that 20% of French people have been affected by a winter pathology, i.e. more than 10 million people who ended the year ill.
When the temperatures drop, it is the domain of colds, coughs, or flu-like symptoms … So 60% of French people went to their doctor and 11% waited for it to pass!
We all know the tips of grandmother which consist in drinking a very hot tea decorated with lemon and honey to protect our throat and to cure a common cold. But is this method really effective? Three American doctors interviewed by the National Public Radio (NPR) enlighten us on the subject.
Proven efficacy or grandmother’s placebo?
For starters, experts point out that there is almost no clinical study to prove the benefits of these foods on a common cold. And for good reason: if it is easy to define the effectiveness of a drug by testing its placebo effect, it is however much more difficult to transpose this verification with foods such as tea or honey, note the doctors.
The effects of tea
Tea, honey and lemon nevertheless have proven natural virtues. The first is, for example, particularly effective in relieving sore throats. “I have to admit that when a patient comes to me for a cold, I often advise them to sip tea”, explains Dr Edward Damrose, Head of Laryngology at Stanford Health Care Center.
“I am not sure whether it is the tea itself that has the beneficial property, or that the hot water cuts the phlegm and makes the patients feel good,” he tempers. The hot liquid makes it possible to free the throat, which under the effect of the inflammation swells and causes difficulty in swallowing. In other words, a glass of hot water would lead to the same effect. This solution would even be preferable since it is completely devoid of caffeine and theine (unlike tea.) Remember that The caffeine in tea helps to increase the production of acids and it tends to irritate the throat.
Honey
According to Dr. Long, assistant professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, it is “very, very speculative” to claim that honey has therapeutic properties that can relieve sore throats. The latter, however, sees no reason to prohibit its consumption in the event of a cold. While there is no study confirming its benefits on sore throat, there is no evidence that it worsens symptoms either.
The lemon
The vitamin C in lemon can help with respiratory infections caused by viruses, thanks in particular to its anti-bacterial properties, say doctors. Since the acid tends to irritate the throat, only a quarter is enough.
In summary, nothing prevents you from drinking a light hot tea (or a glass of hot water) with a spoon of honey and a quarter of lemon.
Reflex self-medication by 17% of French people
You can find dozens of drugs in pharmacies that are supposed to help us get through the winter. This will above all help pharmacists and the pharmaceutical industry to approach the summer well. There are no miracle drugs. Watch out for the family medicine cabinet… it has more traps than solutions.
Lemon: consume in moderation
The doctors who answered the questions of the NPR, on the other hand, are more dubious about honey. According to Dr. Jennifer Long, assistant professor of head and neck surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine, the benefits of this trick are pure speculation. A view shared by Dr Damrose and Dr Maya Sardesai, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and Surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine. However, none of these three experts noted an aggravating effect in using honey to relieve a sore throat. So, in principle, you can consume honey without a problem, but according to the doctors, this does not guarantee that you will feel better afterwards.
Lemon, on the other hand, is far from unanimous. “I am concerned about consuming too much lemon because it is very acidic, and acids can be irritating to the throat,” says Dr Long. An opinion similar to that of Dr. Sardesai who expresses reservations about the acidity of lemon, but who nevertheless notes the benefits of this food rich in vitamins C. In addition, as indicated by Dr. Damrose, lemon has anti -bacteria which could fight the infected throat.
In conclusion, prefer hot water to tea to relieve a sore throat. Add lemon, but not too much (a quarter should do the trick) and a few spoons of honey to give your drink a little flavor. Rest, inhale water vapor, and avoid speaking or whispering as much as possible if you lose your voice. If symptoms persist, it is best to see a doctor.
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