Everyone knows honey tastes sweet and is delicious mixed with tea and lemon; but chances are you never realized how many health-related uses this versatile food possesses. It makes a wonderful DIY home remedy that helps to cure many conditions that ail you. The best honey is one that is totally raw, organic and contains the honeycomb in the jar. It should include royal jelly, propolis and bee pollen for maximum health benefits.

Medicinal Uses for Honey

~ Moisturize skin with a mixture of honey, eggs and flour
~ Honey is antibacterial and makes a powerful antiseptic to cleanse and heal wounds and prevent scabs from sticking to bandages
~ Honey kills viruses and bacterial infections when mixed and eaten with raw, minced garlic
~ Boosts energy, reduces fatigue, stimulates mental alertness, strengthens immunity, provides minerals, vitamins, antioxidants
~ Honey restores eyesight, relieves a sore throat, makes an effective cough syrup
~ Prevents heart disease by improving blood flow and prevents damage to capillaries
~ Regulates the bowels; cures colitis and IBS
~ Applied topically, honey soothes burns, disinfects wounds, reduces inflammation and pain, promotes faster healing
~ Reduces anxiety and acts as a sedative; creating calm and restful sleep, alkalizes body’s pH
~ Anti-cancer agents in honey protect against the formation of tumors
~ Relieves indigestion and acid reflux, heals peptic ulcers
~ Makes a great lip balm and refreshing herbal wash or lotion
~ Destroys bacteria causing acne, prevents scarring
~ Flushes parasites from liver and colon
~ Heal diabetic ulcers with topical applications
~ Mix with powdered herbs for topical applications or to reduce bitterness when taken internally
~ Smooths and exfoliates facial skin, reduces surface lines, softens dry skin on elbows and heels
~ Add to green coconut water for supercharged athletic drinks
~ Relieve hangovers by eating honey the morning after
~ Protect hair from split ends with a honey conditioner; honey rinse promotes shiny hair



~ Soften hard water by adding honey to bath water
~ Speeds metabolism to stimulate weight loss
~ Improves digestion with natural enzymes
~ Mix honey and lemon with warm water first thing in the morning for an effective cleanse
~ Anti-fungal properties cure vaginal yeast infections and athlete’s foot
~ Relieve hay fever by chewing on honeycomb
~ Protects topically and internally against pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and MRSA
~ Builds immunity to hay fever allergens by mixing honey and bee pollen and take early in season
~ Quenches thirst and relieves heat stroke; stops hiccups
~ Lessens the effects of poisons and toxins
~ Has mild laxative properties
~ Relieves asthma when mixed with black pepper and ginger
~ Controls blood pressure when mixed with fresh garlic juice

Honey and Cinnamon

~ Mixing honey, cinnamon and hot water in varying amounts relieves arthritis, bladder infections and abdominal gas; lowers LDL cholesterol, and improves digestion. Additionally, it kills the flu and other viruses, slows the aging process, restores hearing and relieves bad breath.
~ Applying honey, cinnamon and hot olive oil topically prevents hair loss as well as stops a toothache

Honey as food

~ Make salad dressing using honey
~ Sweeten baked goods with honey instead of sugar
~ Smear honey on toast for a mid-afternoon energy snack
~ Preserve fruit by adding honey to water and pouring over fresh fruit in canning jars
~ Make fresh fruit jams with honey instead of sugar
~ Use for making honey wines and beers

Warning

Never give honey to babies under the age of one due to the risk of botulism. Honey caries botulism spores and babies don’t have enough immunity for proper protection.

Sources:

http://www.health.com
http://voices.yahoo.com
http://alislaah4.tripod.com/moreadvices2/id18.htm?
http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/health-benefits-of-honey.html?
http://homesteadbasics.com
(Photo credit: Public domain)