5 Surprising Honey Fixes

Simpler times included simpler remedies with little to worry about when it came to side effects or inefficiency. These were remedies derived from nature’s medicine cabinet such as herbs, fungi, and honey. That’s right, good ole’ sweet honey used for many ailments throughout history and probably sitting in your kitchen cabinet right now. 

Learn of 5 surprising honey fixes that may have you reaching for your honey stash when you least expect it.

Some Quick Honey Facts

Before you go slathering honey on everything, knowing its healing properties will give you a general idea of just how beneficial this golden nectar really is. It is important to note that raw honey is the most beneficial as heating processes to pasteurize honey can diminish its potential. 

Note: Never give honey to an infant as the immune system is not developed enough to fight certain bacteria harmless to adults.

• Spoil-Free – When kept in an airtight container, honey never spoils. There are reports of archeologists finding jars of the stuff in ancient tombs, still edible after thousands of years. 
• Nutritional Powerhouse – Honey is not just a sweet treat it’s loaded with highly nutritional properties including: calcium, iron, copper, phosphate, sodium chloride, magnesium, manganese, and potassium; vitamins B6, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, and many amino acids.
• Antioxidant – Fighting free radicals and supporting new tissue growth, honey is a potent antioxidant. 
• Antibacterial – Honey contains glucose oxidase which is an enzyme that can create natural, antibacterial hydrogen peroxide.

Heal Thy Wounds

If you superficially cut yourself, once a scab has formed, applying raw honey may help. According to a study published in the Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 

“One of the most studied and most effective uses of honey is found in healing of wounds. The Russians used honey in World War I to prevent wound infection and to accelerate wound healing. The Germans combined cod liver oil and honey to treat ulcers, burns, fistulas and boils. Nearly all types of wounds like abrasion, abscess, amputation, bed sores /decubitus ulcers, burns, chill blains, burst abdominal wound, cracked nipples, fistulas, diabetic, malignant, leprosy, traumatic, cervical, varicose and sickle cell ulcers, septic wounds, surgical wound or wounds of abdominal wall and perineum are found to be responsive to honey therapy.”

Dark Circle Fighter

Those dark circles under your eyes could significantly fade when honey is applied. Alternative Daily recommends, 

“Mix one teaspoon of honey with one teaspoon of sweet almond oil and spread the mixture under the eyes [careful not to get in your eyes]. After about 20 minutes, wash the mixture off and follow up with a light layer of organic coconut oil. Repeat this treatment a few times a week to keep your skin looking great.”

Perfect Prebiotic 

There is much talk of probiotics but the formation of prebiotics is not as well known. A prebiotic is a food that encourages more probiotic growth in your gut which in turn maintains a healthy immune system. 

Honey Colony reported that, 

“A human clinical study led by microbiology and immunology specialist Patricia Conway of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) found that raw honey can significantly raise the levels of good bacteria and suppress potentially harmful bacteria in the digestive tract.”

Fight Diabetes 

Diabetes is at almost epidemic proportions. Changing dietary intake to more plant-based choices has been linked to significantly benefiting the management of this disease. Honey may also be an excellent adjunct. 

Researchers from the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Cluj-Napoca, Romania published the study ‘Honey and Diabetes: The Importance of Natural Simple Sugars in Diet for Preventing and Treating Different Type of Diabetes’ in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity concluding that,

“Considerable evidence from experimental studies shows that the honey may provide benefits in the management of diabetes mellitus. The benefits could be a better control of the hyperglycemic state, limiting other metabolic disorders and diminishing the deleterious effects on different organs that may produce diabetic complications.” 

If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor before taking honey.

Fade Scars

Many observational reports have shown the beneficial results of fading scar tissue when honey is applied. The most benefits are experienced when honey is used on recently closed scars. Alternative Daily recommends to “make a paste of equal parts honey and coconut oil and rub on the scar daily until you see results.” Be sure to cover with clean gauze or a band aid after application so the stickiness does not get on clothes. 

 

These 5 surprising honey fixes just may help you when conventional medicine can’t. Take advantage of nature’s medicine and thank a bee by not killing it next time it flies by.