Honey

Honey

The name of this familiar and time-tested household remedy comes from ancient Hebrew and means "enchant." Long used as a culinary sweetener, honey is valued for its many healing properties as well.

Treatment with honey is referred to as apitherapy and includes replenishing energy, enhancing physical stamina and strengthening those weakened by illness or stress. Honey can also help calm the mind and promote rejuvenating sleep. In addition, honey relieves indigestion and is used to treat cardiovascular disease and respiratory complaints. Finally, a thin coat of honey can be applied to the skin to disinfect and heal minor skin wounds and chapped lips.

Interesting Tidbits: Bees filter out environmental toxins. Honey contains only slight traces of residues from industrial emissions, car exhaust and agricultural chemicals because bees act as a biological filter. They die if they come into contact with toxins and thus do not bring pollutants into the hive.

The principle constituents of honey are the simple sugars fructose and glucose. Other ingredients include water, pollen, organic acids, enzymes and various proteins.

Honey can be a healthy treat, but take care when using it as a sweetener: Just 1 Tbsp of honey has 64 calories, compared to 46 calories in 1 Tbsp of granulated sugar.

Shopping Tip: Many kinds of honey are available. The consistency, fragrance and taste depend on the types of flowers from which bees collect nectar. Look for honey that has been produced by beekeepers that do not feed their bees' refined sugars or use harmful pesticides.

Warning: Don't give unpasteurized honey to infants. It contains a type of bacteria that, though harmless to older children and adults, can be very dangerous to those younger than a year.

Relaxing Honey Bath: Put 2 oz. of honey in a glass with 5 drops of lavender oil. If the honey is too thick, heat it by placing the glass in warm water. Add 1 to 2 Tbsp of the honey-lavender mixture to your bathwater to help you relax and combat insomnia.

Application as a Dressing for Wounds: Applied externally, honey is useful for healing minor cuts and abrasions by drawing excess water from the tissues and reducing swelling. In addition, honey contains a germ-killing substance called inhibine, which helps prevent infections. Spread the honey directly on the wound and cover with a sterile bandage.