This is a good summary. The benefit is entirely psychological, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I remember how mom used to kiss my boo-boos as a kid and I do the same for mine, just like I make them chicken soup and let them have a little ginger ale for stomachaches. It's as much for my own anxiety about them being sick as it is for their relief; some day I expect that they will remember the comfort they felt from these little rituals when it comes time for them to do the same, even if there's no biological basis as a "cure".
for_ever_a_lone t1_j2ds1ze wrote
Reply to comment by fastolfe00 in ELI5. Why is honey and lemon a popular cure for cold like symptoms. What makes lemon more effective than say an orange or lime? by alexkid_in_realworld
This is a good summary. The benefit is entirely psychological, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I remember how mom used to kiss my boo-boos as a kid and I do the same for mine, just like I make them chicken soup and let them have a little ginger ale for stomachaches. It's as much for my own anxiety about them being sick as it is for their relief; some day I expect that they will remember the comfort they felt from these little rituals when it comes time for them to do the same, even if there's no biological basis as a "cure".