How to Mix Honey & Milk in a Bottle for a Cough

Milk and honey can sooth a sore throat.

Milk and honey both have soothing properties that can help ease cold symptoms including a sore throat and a persistent cough. Warm milk may also help you fall asleep easier so it's especially useful to drink at bedtime. Contrary to what many believe, milk does not cause the body to produce more phlegm, although it may make your phlegm thicker.



Milk should be viewed as a food rather than a liquid--if you've lost your appetite, drinking milk and honey can be a good way to take in calories. However, you should consume plenty of other liquids such as water, orange juice and herbal tea.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Bottle or thermos
• Microwave or pot

Instructions

1. Pour one cup of honey into a microwavable bottle, glass or bowl. Heat it for at least a minute on high, or longer if you prefer hotter milk. Alternately, heat up the milk in a pot on the stove.

2. Add a tablespoon of honey after heating the milk. You do not want to add the honey beforehand, as extreme heat will reduce the nutritional value and healing properties of the honey. Stir the honey in thoroughly.

3. Transfer the milk and honey mixture to a heat-resistant bottle if you did not heat up the milk in a bottle. Use a funnel if it's difficult to pour the milk from the pot into the bottle.

Tips & Warnings

• It's best not to use plastic in the microwave as chemicals from the plastic may transfer to the milk.

• Do not heat the milk to boiling as you don't want to risk scalding.

References

• New York Times: Colds In-Depth Report
• Mayo Clinic: Cold symptoms: Does Drinking Milk Increase Phlegm?
• Health Mad: How to Stop a Dry Cough