Medicinal Uses of Honey: Find Simple Honey Remedies for Common Health Problems

About Honey

Honey is not only a sweet and tasty treat courtesy of bees, it is also a natural medicine that has been used for thousands of years to treat a number of problems. It has anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. It boosts the immune system and is particularly helpful in healing wounds.

Besides adding honey to your diet, you can use the following remedies to treat common problems. These medicinal uses of honey are simple, safe and inexpensive.

Remedies

Acne

Honey can help clear the blockage of sebaceous glands and remove infectious microbes. Boil 1/3 cup of buttermilk. When hot, add honey to form a thick and creamy paste. After the mixture cools, apply it over the acne, leave on for 15 minutes and wash off with tepid water.

Arthritis

Honey has anti-inflammatory properties that benefit conditions like arthritis. Take 1 teaspoon of honey mixed with 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar every morning and evening.

Athlete’s Foot

Honey is an excellent remedy for this fungal infection. Before going to bed, saturate a cheesecloth with honey and apply it to the affected area. Tape the cloth in place and put on a sock. In the morning, rinse the honey off with water, dry your foot thoroughly and sprinkle on some unscented talcum powder.

Boils

Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 1 tablespoon of cod-liver oil. Apply a generous amount of this mixture to the boil and cover with a sterile bandage. Do this every 8 hours.

Burns

This remedy is for first degree burns when the skin is red and unbroken. First hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water for about 15 minutes. Afterwards, apply honey on the burn. This will help ease the pain and speed up the healing process.

Cold

If 21 years old or older, mix 3 teaspoons of honey, the juice of one lemon and 4 teaspoons of rum. Add this mixture to a cup of hot water and drink before bedtime. If under 21 years old, add some honey to a nice hot cup of herbal tea.

Cold Sores

Mix 3 tablespoons of honey with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and dab some on the sore three times a day.

Cough

To stop a dry, hacking cough, cook 1 cup of honey, 1/2 cup of olive oil and the juice of one lemon for 5 minutes then stir vigorously for 2 minutes. Take 1 teaspoon every 2 hours as needed.

Headache

Honey is a very old remedy for treating headaches. Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with 1/2 teaspoon of garlic juice and swallow.

Heartburn

Add 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of warm water, stir and drink.

Laryngitis

Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with 2 teaspoons of onion juice. Take 1 tablespoon every 3 hours as needed to soothe and heal your voice box.

Sniffles

Sprinkle some fresh ground pepper on 1 teaspoon of honey and swallow.

Sore Throat

Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with the juice of one lemon. Take every 2 hours as needed.

Wounds

Honey has been used to heal open wounds since ancient times. Click here to learn more about the medicinal uses of honey for wounds.

Wrinkles

Add 1 teaspoon of honey to 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream and mix vigorously. Apply the mixture to the wrinkles and gently massage it in. Leave on for at least 30 minutes then rinse off with tepid water. Do this every day.

Do not use the above honey remedies on children under 1 year old. If diabetic, use with caution.

References

WHFoods: Honey - https://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=96

Joan Wilen and Lydia Wilen, Bottom Line’s Healing Remedies (2006)

Photo Credit

Image courtesy of https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Honey_arrope_flask.jpg

Disclaimer

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