Honey has been used for eons both as a food and as a medicine in oriental as well as Ayurvedic cultures. According to one report archeologists found 2,000 year old jars of honey in Egyptian tombs and they still tasted delicious. Kept in an airtight container in a dry, cool place, honey never expires.
In our country we often see honey as nothing more than a handy sweetener but, in all reality, raw honey is antibiotic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and therefore has amazing healing properties. It can be taken internally or applied externally. Honey contains 27 minerals, 22 amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins B1, B2, B5 and B6, phytonutrients and 5,000 live enzymes. Summer and warm weather harvested honey can contain 10 forms of friendly bacteria. Oddly enough, honey harvested from hives fed sucrose during the winter months does not contain these healthy bacteria which are integral to its healing qualities.
82% of households currently use honey that is processed, heated and pasteurized rendering its health benefits void. That’s bad enough but even worse is that most grocery store brands contain high fructose corn syrup, may contain botulism and some brands contain minimal to no honey at all. These are dangerous for diabetics. These products not only do not help but actually can cause more harm to your health. Avoid them.
Instead, be sure to read the label and look for the following words: “raw, unprocessed, unfiltered, unpasteurized, unheated, organic 100% pure” honey. Honeys are Graded A for the best and D for the worst. Most raw honeys are Grade A and these are the honeys that have powerful healing capabilities.
Australia has approved Manuka honey as a medicine. “Manuka Honey is the only kind that retains its bacteria-fighting power when ingested,” says Peter Molan, Ph.D., Director of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. But its 80% sugar content means those with diabetes or insulin sensitivity should talk to their healthcare provider before taking.
Even though Manuka is the newest of the wonder honeys, many others tested do seem to be very helpful as well.
Internally honey can:
1) boost the immune system [1 spoon of honey and 1 TBSP of lemon juice in warm water before breakfast]
2) help with weight loss [ when taken prior to bed, speed up fat-burning metabolism],
3) help reduce the following risks of heart disease; cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein and homocysteine
4) increase HDL (the good cholesterol) and improve function in the lining of blood vessels
5) contain cancer-preventing and anti-tumor properties
6) be a very effective cough suppressant for children ages 2 to 18 (especially since the FDA recommends no over the counter cough or cold remedies for children under age 6) [use buckwheat or Manuka honey] (never give honey to infants under 1 year old)
7) promote better blood sugar control and insulin control compared to other sweeteners (proper fueling of the liver at night helps optimize glucose metabolism during sleep)
8) help improve athletic performance [1 spoon of honey before exercise] and maintain blood sugar for 2 hours after a workout
9) inhibit e coli and Candida albicans (fungal infections)
10) increase bodily strength
11) eliminate muscle fatigue
12) be effective against morning sickness
13) be effective against sore throats [take 1 tsp of honey OR gargle with a mix of 2 TBSP of honey, 4 TBSP of lemon juice and a pinch of sea salt]
14) heal allergies
15) help with bronchitis
16) kill ulcer causing bacteria (Manuka honey in particular) [ 1 heaping spoonful on an empty stomach while symptoms persist]
17) prevent ulcers if taking NSAIDS like ibuprofen (Manuka) [1 spoonful 30 minutes before taking the medication]
18) improve sleep quality and minimize insomnia [1 TBSP of lavender honey before bed or 1 tsp of honey in 1 cup of chamomile tea]
19) relieve a hangover [ 15 ml liquid honey, 80ml orange juice, 70 ml of natural yogurt]
20) aid stomach digestion
21) fuel the liver [take before bed]
22) ease stress hormones [take before bed]
1) clean wounds, inhibit bacterial growth, promote healing and prevent scarring
2) deeply condition dry hair [apply from root to tip to hair after shampooing and rinse thoroughly]
3) moisturize skin [apply 1 tsp honey with lukewarm water on your face daily]
4) exfoliate, clarify and unclog pores
5) heal burns significantly better and more effectively with far fewer infections than silver sulfadiazine
6) help to heal diabetic ulcers (“Applied every 2 to 3 days under a dry dressing, honey promotes healing of ulcers and burns better than any other local application.” Journal of the American Medical Association, Robert Bloomfield.)
7) help improve eczema
8) help decrease acne
9) relieve arthritis pain and inflammation
10) reverse cataracts [ ancient Egyptian cultures put a few drops of raw honey in the eyes]; (it may sting at first)]
11) remove warts [ apply honey and cover with bandage daily…should take 1 ½ to 2 weeks]
By combining Hippocrates two favorite food cures, apple cider vinegar with honey, other maladies can be improved:
1. premature aging
2 food poisoning
3. heat exhaustion
5. heartburn
6. brittle nails
7. bad breath
8. high blood pressure
9. constipation
10. migraines
Try this healthy and refreshing vinegar and honey drink!
Essentially, to prepare:
* Mix a tablespoon of raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon of raw honey. (Start out with 1 tsp of each) or see the sipping drink below on this page.) Dissolve in cold or lukewarm water.
Yet another powerful combination is honey and cinnamon. This duo can have a positive impact on:
1) bladder infections [mix honey and cinnamon in lukewarm water and drink]
2) toothache [mix cinnamon powder and honey and apply to aching tooth]
3) hair loss [mix a paste of hot olive oil, 1 TBSP of honey, 1 tsp of cinnamon and apply before bath, leave in 15 minutes and then wash]
4) arthritis [mix 1 part honey, 2 parts lukewarm water and some cinnamon powder; apply the paste to sore joints = pain relief in 15 minutes]
5) cholesterol [honey and cinnamon powder in 16 oz of tea reduces cholesterol in 2 hours]
6) common cold [mix 1 TBSP lukewarm honey with ¼ tsp cinnamon powder; take daily for 3 days]
7) stomach ache
8) reduce the accumulation of fats
9) help people recover from strokes
A sipping drink containing all 3 of the above listed power foods: put 2-3 tsp of ACV in 16 oz of filtered water, add raw unfiltered honey and 2 cinnamon sticks for flavor and to use as a stirring utensil. Mix in a glass container and sip throughout the day, stirring each time before drinking. In the cold winter months you may heat the water first and then add the ACV (but do not heat/cook the ACV or the honey because it will destroy the vitamins, minerals and enzymes)
Information here was provided by Kathy Sullivan, CNC.
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