Honey Health Benefits, Properties, and Uses

Common Names: Miel

Properties: Anti-fungal, Antibiotic, Antibacterial, Hypoglycemic, Anti-cancer, Antioxidant, Immune system booster, Anti-viral, Anti-inflammatory, Healing, Digestive aid, Anti-allergenic, Superfood

What is Honey?

Honey is a viscous and deliciously aromatic plant by-product that is created by the flower nectar collection process of a bee. This nectar is stored in the bee’s belly, and is subsequently expelled into honeycombs where it dries. Nectar collection from different types of flowers, as well as differing methods of collection and processing, create a number of alluring variations in the coloring, aroma, and taste of the resulting honey.¹ The numerous uses of honey are well documented as far back as 8000 years ago, and individuals were especially fond of its use in ancient Egypt as a healing marvel.³ Accordingly, the Egyptians used the image of the bee to signify potency and health.

Uses & Health Benefits

The uses of honey are almost endless and require no special preparation. Aside from its ability to sweeten food, raw honey benefits include use of honey for face and skin care, and use of honey for weight loss.³ Raw honey benefits also extend to a variety of biological processes including:

Cell regeneration
Antiviral
Antibacterial
Cancer prevention
Immune booster
Laxative
Anti inflammatory¹

Acne and Skin Care

Using honey for face and skin care is highly effective. A few teaspoons of Manuka honey, which has strong anti-bacterial properties,² can be melted and thinned in a small pot for use as a face mask for acne. Wait 10 minutes and rinse with warm water before patting dry. Alternatively, fresh ground cinnamon may be added to the mixture. Applying raw honey for face and skin improvements also works well for cases of rashes, scratches, or burns.² Individuals who also use honey for face treatments like wrinkles also find effective results.⁵

Pressure Ulcers & Bedsores

The benefits of honey extend to the treatment and curing of ulcers, particularly antral ulcers.³ It has also proven effective in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease.⁴

Weight Loss

Using honey for weight loss works effectively when it is taken daily, half an hour before breakfast, and mixed with boiling water and cinnamon powder.⁶ When using honey for weight loss, take caution to limit its quantity, as it is high in carbohydrates and natural sugars.

Heartburn

Honey benefits include using honey to improve common digestive issues like heartburn and diarrhea. Taking 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey is known to soothe pain and assist with healing.

Side Effects & Precautions

Though the benefits of honey are plentiful, there are a few rare instances where the use of honey can be unsafe. If you are allergic to bee stings, take caution and be sure to verify compatibility before ingesting. In rare cases bees can harvest nectar from poisonous flowering plants. Be sure to always use honey from a reputable source, and if using honey for a child that is 12 months of age or younger, ensure that your honey selection does not have botulism spores that can be a source of aggravation and danger to very young digestive systems. These spores can be easily eliminated by cooking the honey before use.¹

Caution is also advised for diabetics who use honey. In rare cases, it can also have a negative affect on individuals with heart conditions or those with nervous system disorders. Other rare side effects include abnormal heart rhythms, chest pain, blurred vision, hyperactivity, lung problems, and problems sleeping.⁷

References