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The Healing Benefits of Honey

Honey Cures & Beauty Treatments

May 6, 2009 Heather Schulte

Honey is a sweet gift bees derive from the nectar of flowers. Celebrated throughout time, Exodus 3:8 references a promised land as "a land flowing with milk and honey."

Honey has antibacterial properties. Because of honey’s ability to kill bacteria, it has been traditionally used to treat wounds and prevent infection. Honey derives its antibacterial properties from propolis and hydrogen peroxide. Propolis is a thick mixture that bees retrieve from trees and flowers. The naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide in honey is released slowly when it is mixed with fluids, including body fluids. The thick texture of honey also prevents external contaminants from entering wounds. In addition to preventing infection, honey has proven to speed healing time in scientific studies by reducing inflammation and increasing blood flow.

Honey soothes a sore throat. Because of honey’s sweet, antibacterial and healing properties, it is a perfect soother for the common sore throat. At the first sign of a scratchy throat mix 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice in half a cup of hot water. Sip the mixture slowly and often. It will sooth and heal a sore throat quickly.

Honey is also beneficial to the digestive system because it is rich in enzymes, which aid in the digestion of food. Raw honey is richer in enzymes, as the heat from pasteurization destroys them, as well as some of the active antibacterial ingredients. Honey should not be given to children under the age of one year. Spores found in honey are not harmful to a mature digestive system, but may be harmful to infants.

Beauty Treatments with Honey

Honey has hydrating properties for the skin and hair. This makes it ideal in topical beauty treatments, as well as treatment of burns. Adding honey to shampoo, soaps or lotions for daily use will soften and moisturize the skin. It can also be applied alone to the skin or hair for intense treatments. Simply allow the honey to rest on the skin or hair for at least half an hour, and then rinse the area well with warm water.

An ancient treatment for acne is to mix equal parts of honey and nutmeg. Coat the acne with this mixture. Honey may benefit acne due to its antibacterial properties and ability to stimulate healing.

Honey has a mild bleaching effect. Mixing equal parts of honey and yogurt provide a natural mixture that effectively lightens skin, and hair. It is commonly used as a natural treatment for lightening age spots. Allow the mixture to dry on the skin or hair. This typically takes 30 minutes to an hour. Rinse the area with warm water and repeat daily until the desired effect has been achieved. This mixture should be stored in the refrigerator between uses.

How to Make Natural Herbal Medicine at Home

The copyright of the article The Healing Benefits of Honey in Natural Medicine is owned by Heather Schulte. Permission to republish The Healing Benefits of Honey in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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