by Ruth Belena

Created on: August 22, 2008   Last Updated: August 25, 2008

Honey has many healing properties and is completely safe to use. It has no harmful side effects, but should not be consumed by infants below the age of one year.

Raw honey is a so pure that bacteria cannot survive in it, and it contains essential pottasium and natural antioxidants.

Natural Honey Remedies -

* The enzymes in honey make it easy to digest. A teaspoon of organic raw honey can safely be taken to halt vomiting and intestinal cramps.

* Honey can be mixed with lemon and hot water to soothe sore throats and coughs.

* Honey added to hot milk will aid sleep.

* Chewing honeycomb from local bees can be effective in preventing hay fever and other allergies. Combed honey and plain honey will also help allegy symptoms disappear. Two tablespoons should be taken with meals, three times a day.

* The enzymes in honey neutralizes bee venom. The pain from a bee sting will subside within a few minutes, after dabbing a little honey on it. Honey can also help sooth wasp and hornet stings.

* Manuka honey is most effective for soothing and moisurizing dry, cracked and damaged skin. It will provides relief from irritation caused by eczema. It can safely be used on insect bites, irritation from poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac, and by people who suffer from psoriasis.

* People suffering from arthritis are recommended to take one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder, three times

- Recent Medical Research -

The Honey Research Unit at The University of Waikato, in New Zealand, has been studying the composition of honey and its antimicrobial activity. The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of honey have now been fully documented.

Peter Molan of the HRU explains that the viscosity of honey draws fluid from a wound and forms a protective barrier over it. Honey made from the flowers of the manuka bush, a native of New Zealand has exceptionally good healing properties. The unique manuka factor gives it greater potency. The antibacterial action of manuka honey is highly stable and can penetrate deep into infected wounds, where it promotes the growth of white blood cells.

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen treated arthritis patients with a mixture of one tablespoon honey and half teaspoon cinnamon powder daily, before breakfast. Many patients experienced total relief from pain within two weeks. Within a month, some of those who were previously unable to walk or move around, because of the pain, began to walk again.

Honey has always been used in traditional remedies, and for a very good reason. It really works!

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