Honey, Medicinal Uses
Honey has literally been used for centuries by different cultures around the world, the importance of honey can even be found in religious books such as the Koran and the Bible. These books often mention that honey is a “glorified food, an ingredient of favored drinks and a popular medicine.” Unfortunately if you are not up to date on your homeopathic remedies then you may not have known that honey has many other uses then to just sweeten up a drink.
A quick warning though, it is never recommended that honey be given to a child under the age of one due to the possibility of botulism. Children under the age of one do not have a sufficient immune system to fight off a possible infection from contaminated honey. Honey straight from the bottle is never advisable for children under one, if it is in a cereal or other form it is most often cooked and therefore alright to give.
Honey has so many uses that it is unfathomable that anyone would not include it in their daily diet. It is said to treat cough and cold, asthma, arthritis, infertility, and nausea not to mention it is used as a poultice on wounds to prevent infection. Honey was widely used to treat wounds up until about the Second World War when penicillin became available. Since honey is an antibacterial and an antioxidant it is said to give you energy and boost your immune system and is said to be widely used by athletes to give them a burst of energy.
It is also believed that honey can have a calming effect on chemotherapy patients, improve your heart health, promote good circulation and help to purify the blood. (infection) One of the best things honey has been found to help combat is those drug resistant strains of the dreaded hospital staph infection. It has also been helpful in removing dead tissue and for the treatment of gangrene if some of the newer studies are to be believed. The best thing about using honey as a treatment method is that there are no nasty side effects.
Honey can also be used in a myriad of other ways, such as cosmetics. Did you know that honey can be used to make your own lip balm? Just three easy ingredients and you’re on your way to softer and tasty lips. It can also be used as a moisturizer when mixed with herbs, this one takes about a week to let the honey and herbs mesh, but once done you just add a bit of liquid and moisturize away, plus it will help to heal up those small nicks or cuts you may have.
Surprisingly few people know that you can use honey to give yourself a facial or to even give your hair an extra shine when used as a rinse. It is also excellent on those rough patches of skin that just never seem to soften such as elbows. Did you know that after you have showered you can apply honey to your elbows, wait about half an hour and then rinse off and your elbows will be significantly softer? It is also an excellent idea to drop a few tablespoons of honey in your bath, it makes your bath feel luxurious and makes you smell sweet.
So remember when you’re feeling a bit sluggish and need a boost just eat a bit of honey and your energy level will soar, it has also been recommended for those trying to lose weight as it gives the metabolism a boost.
Of course it can also be substituted for sugar in many of our lives which would also help cut down on the calories, if you are anything like me you are always looking for ways to save a few of those extra calories for a slab of chocolate cake. As always honey can and is often used to sweeten beverages such as tea.
Enjoy!
Have you ever used honey for anything other than a sweetner?
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