Winter coughs and colds are a reality for many of us – and extra frustrating because they really have no straightforward cure.

Yet so many of us rush to the doctor for some sort of medication because it makes us feel like we’re doing something to get better.

In many cases, we’re probably better off just resting at home so our bodies can heal themselves.

For thousands of years, there have been “natural” remedies for these ailments that people insist work wonders. None of them are cures though, they’re simply treatments meant to reduce symptoms.

Most of the home remedies people swear by simply employ the placebo effect – we use something that we believe will make us feel better and as a result, we insist that we do feel better.

There need be no scientific evidence that something is effective for it to have a placebo effect.

Take, for example, the famous “honey wrap” for coughs. Is there any proof that it works? No. Will dozens of websites tell you it’s a sure-fire way to stop a cough the natural way? You betcha.

Don’t believe anyone who says a stubborn cough or a cold can be cured overnight. These aren’t things we fight off in a day. We can mask the symptoms, but that’s about it.

The honey wrap is no different.

However, it can be a relatively safe way to help cope with a stubborn cough, via the placebo effect.

We cough because our bronchial tubes are irritated. This could be due to an allergen or mucus, and coughing is our body’s way of trying to expel the irritant.

But for those who need to suppress their coughs – either because they become painful or keep a person awake at night – there are interventions. And for those who don’t want to run to the pharmacy and prefer a cheaper way of dealing with the annoyance, honey can be a good option. But you have to ingest it.

According to the Mayo Clinic, at least one study has shown that honey has the same cough suppressant properties as the most popular over-the-counter treatment, dextromethorphan.

Hence the popularity of the Internet’s famous “honey wrap.” Anything with the word “honey” in it is immediately justified to people who don’t do their research.

The curious thing about the honey wrap is that it’s topically applied, not ingested. There’s no evidence that placing honey on your body will do anything beneficial at all if you have a cough (although it has been shown to play a role in wound healing). After all, how can honey penetrate skin, tissues, muscles, and bone do have any effect on your lungs or esophagus?

But it’s also true that if there are no allergies to the ingredients, the honey wrap could be worth a try for some people for the placebo effect.

Those who swear by it give the following instructions:

Gather:

• A tablespoon of raw honey
• Some medical tape
• A gauze bandage
• Some flour
• A teaspoon of olive oil or vegetable oil

Put the honey in a bowl and add enough flour to turn it into a paste. Then, add oil and mix well until you can roll it into a patty.

The instructions seem to be a way to get the desired consistency. There’s certainly nothing about flour or oil that will help your cough.

The final step is to apply it to a piece of gauze, place it on your chest, and secure it with medical tape. Leaving it on for 2-3 hours is recommended.

While it’s better to put the honey in some hot water and ingest it to get the actual benefits, honey should never be given to babies or toddlers. But the honey wrap is likely safe (again, in lieu of any allergy) for all ages. And yes, that’s because it’s unlikely to have any effect at all.

Since so many people swear by it, we’d love to know if you’ve tried the honey wrap and found it effective. Tell us about any success you’ve had in the comments.

But do take any scientific claims with a grain of salt.

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Source: Mayo Clinic, Healthy Focus