Propolis Throat Sprays for Sore Throats

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Propolis for Sore Throats

If you’re dealing with a sore throat, you might have come across propolis throat sprays as a natural remedy. But do they actually work? Research suggests they might offer some benefits.

One small clinical study found that using a propolis oral spray (2–4 sprays daily for five days) helped people with colds recover about two days faster than those who took a placebo. Another study also indicated that propolis may help shorten the duration of cold symptoms, making it a potential ally for sore throats caused by viral infections.

Beyond colds, propolis has shown promise for other types of mouth and throat irritation. Research suggests that propolis-based mouthwashes can reduce the risk of painful mouth inflammation in chemotherapy patients. In people recovering from oral surgery, using a propolis rinse five times a day for a week helped speed up healing and reduced pain and swelling. Denture wearers struggling with mouth irritation caused by candidiasis also saw improvements when applying a propolis extract four times daily for a week.

Interestingly, propolis isn’t just beneficial for sore throats—it may also help with cold sores. Studies show that applying a propolis cream five times daily for 5–10 days can ease pain, burning, itching, and swelling. However, in this case, a topical cream was used rather than a spray.

So, do propolis sprays and mouthwashes help with sore throats? The evidence suggests they can provide some relief, especially for irritation and inflammation. However, there’s another bee product with even stronger research behind it—honey. Studies show honey may be even more effective for soothing sore throats, thanks to its antimicrobial and soothing properties.

Honey for Sore Throats

Bee products have long been studied for their health benefits, but honey stands out as one of the most well-researched. It’s widely known for soothing irritated tissues, healing wounds, and even calming coughs.

When it comes to natural cough relief, honey is one of the best options—especially for children over the age of two with upper respiratory tract infections. Research shows that taking ½ to 2 teaspoons of honey at bedtime can reduce nighttime coughing, improve sleep quality, and may even work better than some standard medications. In fact, studies have found honey to be as effective as dextromethorphan (DXM), a common cough suppressant.

But honey’s benefits go beyond colds. Research suggests it can also help with mouth and throat irritation unrelated to infections. For example, patients undergoing radiochemotherapy experienced reduced pain and inflammation in their mucous membranes when consuming honey. Another study found that applying honey-soaked gauze three times over 10 days after dental surgery improved healing and reduced discomfort. And if you struggle with cold sores, research shows that applying honey four to five times daily can speed up healing by about two days.

Beyond soothing irritation, honey also has powerful wound-healing properties. Clinical studies on burn patients have shown that honey applications speed up recovery compared to conventional dressings. Similarly, research indicates that honey-infused dressings promote faster healing of surgical wounds while reducing inflammation.

Best Types of Honey

You might be wondering—what’s the best honey for sore throats? Surprisingly, there isn’t just one. Research has shown benefits from various types of honey, meaning you don’t need a specific kind to see results. Some widely available options in North America that have shown effectiveness include Manuka, Buckwheat, Eucalyptus, and Wildflower honey. While each has slightly different flavors and compositions, there’s no strong evidence that one is significantly better than the others for soothing a sore throat.

Another common question is whether raw (unpasteurized) honey is better than pasteurized honey. Pasteurization heats honey to kill microorganisms, improve shelf stability, and prevent crystallization, while raw honey remains untreated, preserving its natural enzymes and nutrients. Raw honey often has a richer, floral taste and may contain trace amounts of pollen and propolis, while pasteurized honey has a smoother, more uniform flavor. Nutritionally, raw honey retains more vitamins, antioxidants, and enzymes, but studies show that both raw and pasteurized honey are effective for sore throats. Both help coat the throat, reduce irritation, suppress coughs, and fight microbes. Interestingly, for wound healing, pasteurized honey is sometimes preferred due to its sterility and lower risk of contamination.

So, what’s the best choice? Simply go with a honey that you enjoy and fits your budget. As long as it’s real honey—not an artificial syrup substitute—you’ll get the soothing benefits.

Propolis vs Honey Sprays?

When it comes to sore throats and irritated mucous membranes, honey has much stronger scientific backing than propolis. Plus, it’s more widely available and often more affordable. That’s why, for managing sore throats—especially in children—consuming honey is usually the better option compared to using propolis throat sprays.

However, propolis does have one potential advantage: sprays. While research on propolis for sore throats and colds is limited, the studies that do exist focus on its use in spray or rinse form. Honey, on the other hand, has well-documented benefits, but primarily from eating or drinking it—not from using it in a spray.

In fact, honey sprays don’t seem to be particularly effective. One study found that an intranasal spray containing honey and saline didn’t improve symptoms for adults with chronic sinus infections. Another study showed that irrigating nasal passages with Manuka honey in saline was no more effective for chronic sinus infections than saline alone.

So, if you want the full benefits of honey for a sore throat, you’ll need to eat the real thing. But if you prefer a throat spray, propolis sprays might be a reasonable alternative.

Comparing Other Bee-Based Foods

What about other bee-derived products? Can they help soothe a sore throat? Unfortunately, not really—though some offer other potential health benefits.

Honey remains the most well-researched bee product, especially for its wound-healing and cough-suppressing properties. While propolis isn’t particularly effective for sore throats, it does show promise as a topical treatment for cold sores. Some research also suggests that propolis could help with blood sugar control by lowering HbA1c levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

Then there’s royal jelly, a nutrient-rich substance produced by worker bees to feed larvae and the queen. Packed with proteins, fatty acids, and vitamins, it’s even believed to have mild hormonal effects in humans. Some studies suggest it may slightly ease menopausal symptoms, but there’s no strong evidence that it boosts immunity or helps with colds or flu.

Bee venom, delivered through bee stings, contains peptides and proteins with potential anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Bee sting therapy is sometimes used for pain relief and as part of desensitization therapy for bee sting allergies. However, there’s no research showing it benefits immunity, colds, or flu.

As for bee pollen and bee bread, the research is even more limited. While these products are often marketed for their supposed health benefits, only a handful of human studies exist, and so far, there’s little solid evidence to support major claims.

So, while propolis sprays might offer some sore throat relief, honey remains the gold standard among bee products. If you’re dealing with a cold and need quick, natural relief, your best bet is to reach for a spoonful of honey first.

Top supplement choices

• Honey (Buckwheat) – 1 tsp as needed
• Honey (Wildflower) – 1 tsp as needed
• Propolis (oral) – 1 to 3 caps / day
• Propolis (spray) – 2 to 4 spray / day

Learn more about

• The Real Benefits of Bee Pollen
• What is Bee Bread?
• Supplement reviews

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