system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why are honey and lemon such common household remedies for so many different problems? What makes them so versatile?

EDIT: thanks for all the insight. I was skeptical of the so called far reaching properties of the two, and knew reddit could sort it out.
gpt
Lemon has a low pH (it's acidic). This helps break up mucus and random proteins.

Honey tastes good. It also seems to help coughs, although the data is still pretty sketchy and the sample sizes are small. Sweet tastes also lessen discomfort. In hospitals, we give babies little drops of sugar water in their mouth when they are in pain sometimes. It's very soothing.

Also, don't forget the warmth. Warmth increases blood flow to an area.

So in total, we break up mucus, provide comfort and relief, and then help blood flow to the area.

Edit: Since everyone is on the "Honey is antimicrobial" bandwagon, that is not true when it is diluted in water. Honey has two primary mechanisms against microbial growth: 1) Enzymatically produced super-oxides (hydrogen peroxide), and 2) osmotic pressure. Both of these cease to function once you dilute it.