If you’re checking the headline “Two Spoons in the Morning: A Natural Remedy for Bone Pain, Diabetes, Nerves, and Depression,” it appears to refer to a mixture commonly promoted online containing honey, cinnamon, turmeric, apple-cider vinegar, and chia seeds.
What the evidence actually says
The claims are much stronger than the evidence:
- Diabetes: No natural mixture has been shown to replace diabetes treatment. NCCIH says evidence for most dietary supplements is insufficient, and some can interact with medicines or cause harm.
- Nerve pain: Some evidence suggests alpha-lipoic acid may reduce diabetic neuropathy pain, but this does not establish that the advertised honey/cinnamon/turmeric mixture treats nerve damage.
- Depression: There isn’t good evidence that this two-spoon mixture treats depression. Depression should not be managed by replacing established care with an unproven remedy.
- Bone or joint pain: Turmeric and other ingredients are being studied for inflammatory conditions, but this mixture has not been demonstrated to cure bone pain or repair damaged bone.
- Apple-cider vinegar and cinnamon: They may have modest effects on some metabolic measures in certain studies, but that is very different from curing diabetes or its complications.
⚠️ One important concern
If you have diabetes, honey still contains sugar, and cinnamon or other supplements can potentially interact with medicines. Supplements can also be problematic for people with kidney disease.
