We all know what honey is. Perhaps you have it in your meal every day, or perhaps you’ve heard of it from our childhood cartoon, Winnie the Pooh. If you’ve tasted honey, you probably love it like our anthropomorphic bear does. No one can deny honey for its sweetness, and how it melts in your mouth. In the world of science, doctors and dietitians can’t deny it either, but for different reasons.
To start, honey is usually used a food sweetener. It is also rich in carbohydrate which can fuel you in your driving workouts, or as a fragrance for soap. But when medicines and treatments come to mind, honey can be your best friend. This sweet, savory syrup we’ve been consuming has been famous for treating wounds and sicknesses since the 1st century, and its fame only declined at the advent of penicillin. But today, honey is returning to the spotlight. Researchers even claim it to be more effective than most antibiotics!
The first healing wonders of honey can be found the moment it is produced. They can be contaminated by the germs and dust found in the air, or in the flowers from which they are harvested. But the compounds of honey prove to be stronger than those that aim to destroy it, as most of the contaminated bacteria could not survive when exposed to it.
With its bacteria-killing nature, honey has been known to treat simple cuts and scrapes, burns, scalds, sunburn, and it’s best used for keeping infection away from wounds. They also work on sickness just as well as skin injuries, like a cough and hay fever.
Here are other illnesses and injuries that honey can aid, and how it aids them:
Hay Fever – While many believe that honey can cure hay fever, there is no scientific proof to support the claim. However, honey is used for the prevention of hay fever rather than its cure. Honey works on the theory that it strengthens your immune system against the illness. A tablespoon of honey a day can prevent hay fever, as most beekeepers claim.
A cough – One of the reasons why this common illness persists is because of the bacteria that’s clinging to your respiratory tract. As honey is known to have strong anti-germ qualities, ingesting it can wash out any stubborn germs. It also loosens the mucus in the throat to soothe wheezing and coughing. The best method of treating cough with honey is to mix it with warm lemon tea.
A sore throat – It works just the same as treating cough. A sore throat is typically caused by in inflammation in your throat due to viruses or bacteria, and treating it is the perfect job for honey. You can even ingest honey without your sore throat, as it cleans your throat really well. Most singers do this to make their voice sound cleaner.
Simple wounds – This applies to the scrapes you get when you stumbled down as a child or the cuts you get when chopping vegetables to pieces. These can hurt real badly, especially if they’re big wounds. But they’ll be even worse when untreated, and germs are welcomed to infect. If Betadine or other wound sterilizers aren’t present, your next best choice could be honey. It sucks away and kills all the bacteria that could be slowing down the healing process, as well as preventing more from coming to infect it. The best method for this treatment is to first wash it with running water, then pour honey over a clean cloth and wrap it around the wound.
Burn and Scalds – Treating these mishaps is similar to treating cuts and scrapes. Wash it with running water, gently spread honey over the burnt area, and cover it with a clean, wet cloth. Also, make sure to dress the injury and apply honey regularly. This speeds up the healing process, as well as keeping any bacteria from infecting the wound. Also, make sure that the burnt area stays safe and untouched. Otherwise, it could leave a long-term damage on the skin.
Cataract – This illness is the main cause of deteriorating vision as you age. Other than carrot and your daily dose of vitamin E, honey is also another way to reverse cataracts and clear your vision without having to go through expensive treatments. Since ancient Egypt, honey has been used for cataracts. Drip a few drops into your eyes, at least 2-3 every day, and it’s simple as that.
There are more ailments and injuries that honey can cure or treat. Just keep in mind that honey is one of the most efficient killers of bacteria. But be careful of which honey you choose, though. It’s preferable to use raw honey as a treatment for ailments and wounds, especially the honey used especially for medicine, Manuka honey (also known as Medihoney). It is not advisable to use processed honey from local or commercial brands, as they may contain chemicals that are more likely to slow down the healing process if it doesn’t make the wound worse.