Tuesday, November 1, 2016

The Healing Power of Raw Honey

If you have been reading my blog regularly, you know by now that refined sugars and artificial sweeteners are very bad for your health for many reasons and should be avoided.  Two excellent natural sweeteners when used in moderation are 100% pure maple syrup and pure, raw, unprocessed honey.  Not surprisingly, the imitation maple syrup and pasteurized honey commonly sold in stores are also harmful to your health and barely resemble the pure raw products.  "Maple" syrup is often high fructose corn syrup or corn syrup with a tiny amount of "pure" maple syrup added.  Store-bought honey is also often a combination of high fructose corn syrup and honey--besides being pasteurized which kills off any beneficial enzymes. 

Pure, raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized honey, on the other hand, is an amazing substance that has been used down through the ages not only as a sweetener, but also as a healer.  Raw honey contains thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-12, biotin, antioxidants, amino acids, and a number of live enzymes that promote optimal health.  It has been known to help with occasional diarrhea, insomnia, and has been studied for anti-aging effects. 

 Raw honey is great for sore throats and coughs.  Honey is a "demulcent"--a substance that forms a protective film, relieving irritation in your mouth or throat.  Research has shown that honey soothes coughs as well as dextromethorphan, a common ingredient in over-the- counter cough medications.  I remember getting very frustrated with over-the-counter cough medicines when my kids were young, because they never seemed to work.  I stopped buying them and switched to honey.  If one of my kids has a sore throat, I tell them to take a spoonful of honey; if they have a cough, honey lemon tea is our go-to remedy.  It is more effective, and I don't have to worry about dangerous ingredients or unwanted side effects.

Raw honey also has antibacterial and antifungal properties which make it an excellent healer of serious skin infections and wounds.  Honey was actually a conventional infection-fighting therapy up until the early 20th century, when it was gradually replaced by penicillin.  Honey draws fluid away from a wound, and the high sugar content suppresses the growth of microorganisms.  When raw honey is applied to a wound, an enzymatic process produces hydrogen peroxide, which explains its antiseptic qualities.  Recently, raw honey has made a comeback in this area, and clinical trials have found that one special type of honey can effectively eradicate more than 250 clinical strains of bacteria, including resistant varieties such as MRSA.  Manuka honey is made with pollen from the flowers of a medicinal plant called the Manuka bush.  Manuka honey contains something extra--a special antimicrobial ingredient called simply the Unique Manuka Factor, because no one has yet discovered exactly what that unique substance is.  Medihoney brand burn and wound dressings can be purchased from online medical supply stores as well as from Amazon.com.  Raw honey has been shown to speed up the healing of C-sections in one study, herpes sores in other studies (it doesn't cure herpes--it alleviates symptoms), and I personally know a cancer patient with deep, severe radiation burns whose doctors used Medihoney dressings to help heal them when other methods failed.  I have experimented with a couple of my own cuts and deep scrapes by daily applying a dab of raw honey covered loosely with a bandaid, and I found that they healed quickly and well.  Consider using raw honey instead of common antibacterial products like Neosporin.  Natural antibiotics like honey (and garlic) are proving to be more effective than conventional antibiotics, and they don't cause bacteria-resistance.  *Conventional store-bought honey should NEVER be used for wounds as it can actually promote infection.

Raw honey can also help lessen the symptoms of seasonal allergies by consuming a small amount (about a teaspoon) of local, raw honey daily, starting a few months before allergy season.  The key is to use local honey, because it is produced by bees using the nectar of local allergen-producing plants and will contain the local pollens.  Theoretically, over time the immune system will build up a natural immunity against the local pollens.

Honey is a humectant, which means it attracts and retains moisture, so it is also a wonderful addition to personal care products.  For example, there are plenty of online recipes for homemade hair conditioner, body moisturizers and facial scrubs made with raw honey.

It is relatively easy to find local sources of raw honey.  Grassway Organics farm store sells it, and there are many local people who keep bees and sell honey--just ask around!

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