Honey (Including Buckwheat Honey) for Sleep Quality

Research suggests that honey may support sleep quality through several pathways, with the strongest and most consistent evidence coming from randomized controlled trials in children with upper respiratory infections, where honey — including buckwheat and other varieties — was associated with reduced nighttime cough and improved sleep for both children and parents, generally outperforming over-the-counter medications like dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine, though one rigorous double-blind Japanese trial found no meaningful difference between acacia honey and a placebo. Studies also indicate potential benefits in other populations, including hospitalized cardiac patients and pregnant women, with a small Iranian RCT and a quasi-experimental study each reporting improved sleep following honey-based interventions, though both are limited by small sample sizes and narrow settings. A 2024 narrative review and preliminary laboratory research add mechanistic context, pointing to honey's antioxidant compounds and possible monoamine oxidase-inhibiting properties as plausible biological explanations, while acknowledging that the underlying mechanisms are not yet well established. Taken together, the body of evidence is generally supportive but comes with notable limitations — including small study sizes, variability in honey types and dosages, and the need for more rigorous placebo-controlled trials in general adult populations — meaning the findings, while promising, should be interpreted with appropriate caution.