Buckwheat Honey: A Natural Remedy for Cough and More

image

Most people have heard about the multiple benefits that a regular consumption of honey in the diet can bring, including an improved digestion and immunity and even an aid to weight loss. However, what most people purchase is clover or wildflower honey, and while these are excellent as well, more and more evidence is emerging that the dark, strongly-flavored buckwheat honey is of particularly healthy. Below is more information about its uses as a treatment for cough and as a general health tonic.

Cough Remedy

Honey has long been used as a remedy for sore throats, particularly in combination with tea and lemon, since the honey can coat and soothe the mucous membranes of the throat while its antiseptic properties can help fight the pathogen which is causing the issue to begin with. However, it has also been verified as a remedy for coughs: one study, for instance, published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, found that ingesting a small amount of buckwheat honey before bedtime helped children to experience less nocturnal coughing and to sleep better than children who had been given dextromethorphan (which is in many over-the-counter medications) or no treatment at all.

General Tonic

Buckwheat honey is also excellent as a general tonic and this is largely because of its antioxidant properties. In one study of several types of honey, it was found that buckwheat seemed to have the most potent anti-oxidant action and many researchers theorize that this is because dark-colored honey varieties tend to have higher concentrations of phenolic compounds and that, in conjunction with the antioxidants, enzymes, organic acids and peptides, these compounds were responsible for the buckwheat honey’s remarkable healthful properties.

Purchasing and Storage

It can still be difficult to find raw or minimally processed buckwheat honey, although increasingly many local health food stores or farmer’s markets are carrying it in response to increased demand and that is probably the best place to start the search. Buying buckwheat honey that is raw is important, as it has been shown that it will lose around 33% of its antioxidant capacity during processing and all honeys will lose some of their potency during storage, though a cool dry place is best.

So if you have heard about the health benefits of honey and would like to try it out for yourself, consider purchasing the raw buckwheat hungry – even if it takes a little investigating to find it, the effort will be well worth it since of all the honeys, this one seems to have the most potent combination of important nutrients enzymes and compounds that will not only help with symptoms like cough and sore throat but will help improve the immune system and general health as well.

More From Mayimina:

10 Surprising Uses for Leftover Coffee

5 Protein-Packed Snacks for Weight Loss

5 Herbs that Fight Yeast in the Body

Mayimina
Mayimina has written articles on most health-related topics, including traditional medicine, alternative and naturopathic and natural treatments, wellness, medical marijuana, diets and fitness.