Honey has long been recognized as a natural remedy and has been used as a medicine for thousands of years. Its healing powers include everything from relieving a sore throat, to alleviating allergy symptoms, and even healing wounds. I am often asked about the potential health benefits of using local honey. Please know that I am talking about alleviating allergy symptoms, not ‘curing’ allergies, which is easier said than done.
Research shows that a spoonful of honey is more effective than DM (Dextromethorphan) cough syrup in treating coughs — and is safe for children over 12 months old, according to Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, December 2007.
Research from the University of California, Davis reveals that honey consumption raises antioxidant levels. Honey soothes on contact and has well-established antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, which helps explain its contributions to wound healing.
In the study, 25 people were told to eat between four and 10 tablespoons of buckwheat honey, depending on their weight, each day for a month. They could eat the honey in almost any form, but it couldn't be baked or dissolved in tea. Many chose to eat straight from the spoon. Antioxidant levels rose in the participants. This is important because antioxidants are believed to fight cancer and heart disease. Additionally, researchers discovered that honey contains as many antioxidants — which combat the free radicals which can damage cells — as spinach, apples, oranges, or strawberries. Scientists from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign say honey appears to have a ‘mild protective effect’.
It was already known that honey contained varying levels of antioxidants, with dark honey having more than light. This is the first study to examine honey's effect on human blood. In the study, researchers checked the blood of 25 men aged 18 - 68 over a period of five weeks. They found that drinking four tablespoons of honey mixed into a 16-ounce glass of water each day improved the antioxidant levels in their blood. This same team is currently conducting a study to see if honey can slow atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.
The Local Honey Advantage Allergies arise from continuous overexposure to the same allergens. If you lived in an area where bottlebrush trees were frequently used in the landscapes or perhaps you had a bottlebrush tree growing in your own yard, your odds of overexposure to this tree’s tiny, triangular and very allergenic pollen are greatly enhanced. If you eat honey that is local to your area, it may prevent your seasonal allergies. Why? Because local bees use the pollen from local plants and it eventually ends up in your honey acting as quite a powerful immune booster. The positive effects of local honey are enhanced even more when the honey is taken a little bit (a couple of teaspoons) a day for several months prior to the pollen season.
The types of flowers the bees pollinate determine the flavor and color of honey. Buckwheat honey comes from the buckwheat plant and is dark in color with a distinct flavor. The darker shades of honey are believed to have more antioxidants. The study showed no weight gain in participants for the month they were consuming honey. And, some claimed that eating honey for breakfast actually made them feel full and satisfied.
Approximately one half of the human diet is derived directly or indirectly from crops pollinated by bees. Today honeybees are an essential part of a healthy agriculture economy.
Health-promoting compounds found in honey make this ingredient a more attractive option for food makers currently using bulk sweeteners such as high-fructose corn syrup. Those who want to jump on board the growing health foods trend are making the switch. Mead (honey wine) has for centuries been renowned as an 'aphrodisiac' and the word Honeymoon is derived from the ancient Viking custom of having newly-weds drink mead for a whole moon (month) in order to increase their fertility. Honey contains vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, and is a wonderful beauty aid that nourishes the skin and the hair. Honey acts as an antibacterial and antifungal agent and helps disinfect and speed the healing process in wounds, scrapes, and burns.
Honey mixed with finely ground almonds makes an excellent facial cleansing scrub.
A tablespoon of honey whisked together with an egg white, 1 teaspoon of glycerin and about 1/4 cup of flour makes an excellent firming mask. Just smooth on the face, leave on 15 minutes, and rinse off with warm water. You will be pleased with the results.
Honey also makes a great moisturizing pack. Just mix 2 tablespoons of honey with 2 teaspoons of whole milk, smooth over the face and throat, and let it do its job for 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, and finish splashing with cold water.
Honey also makes a great lotion for dry patches of skin on hands, elbows, or other parts. Just mix 1 teaspoon of honey with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and a 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply to hands, elbows, heels of your foot, etc., and wash off after 15 minutes. Fast relief!
Honey works well on chapped lips and for acne because of its antibacterial properties.
To give your hair a lustrous shine, mix 1 teaspoon of honey into 4 cups of warm water. Use as a hair rinse. And if you're a blond, add the juice of 1 lemon, too.
Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with a cup of warm water. Use it as a mouthwash. Honey cleans teeth and dentures, and kills germs in the mouth.
