Benefits of Honey
Honey: Medicinal, Beautifying, and Healing
Who knew that something produced by an insect would have such an impact on our lives?
Commercial Honey vs. Raw Honey
The average person is not aware of the significant differences and benefits between honey purchased off the shelf in a store to that of local raw honey bought from a farmer or beekeeper.
Store Honey
- Mass produced
- Pasteurized at high temperatures that depletes antioxidants and beneficial enzymes
- Pollen has been removed to create clearness
- Lacks amino acids
- Offers nothing more than a jar of sweet liquid
Raw Honey
- Locally harvested
- Nutrients, antioxidants, enzymes, amino acids are all intact
- May crystallize easier in raw form which requires stirring before use
- Not clear like store honey because the pollen is present
- Tends to be a little more expensive
Types of Honey and Benefits
Clover Honey
- Color: light gold
- Taste: mild hint of floral
- Uses: baking and cooking
Manuka Honey
This honey apart from all other honey provides a vast array of health and medicinal benefits. It is the only honey that contains an antibacterial agent called methylglyoxal.
- Color: Thick gel consistency (requires stirring)
- Taste: Sweet, faintly nutty flavor and some herbal notes
- Uses:
- Promotes healing of eczema and burns
- Colds, flu, bronchitis, sinusitis
- Relieves a cough and sore throat
- Relieve digestive upset
- Supports digestive healing (ulcers, stomach bacteria, acid reflux)
- Clears acne
- Provides a source of vitamins and minerals
Sourwood Honey
- Color: Light Gold
- Taste: Butter and caramel hints
- Uses: Enhances foods such as bread
Buckwheat Honey
- Color: Dark molasses appearance
- Taste: Strong with a lingering aftertaste
- Uses: Making Mead Beers and Wine
Rosemary Honey
- Color: Light yellow
- Taste: Strongly sweet
- Uses: Promotes heart and liver function, aids in digestion, lowers blood pressure and helps with gout
Dandelion Honey
- Color: Vivid yellow
- Taste: Mild sweet
- Uses: Helps with constipation, digestive upset
Acacia Honey
- Color: Light gold
- Taste: Sweet
- Uses: Sweetener for tea
Eucalyptus Honey
- Color: Varies
- Taste: Herbally menthol
- Uses: Headaches and colds
Natural Remedies Derived from Using Honey
Honey in raw form has been used for treating ailments for centuries. There are specific healing properties that honey contains.
- Indigestion
- Upset Stomach
- Stomach Ulcers
- Fights Acne
- Improves Diabetes
- Lowers Cholesterol
- Improves Circulation
- Helps with Insomnia
- Pre-biotic
- Seasonal Allergies
- Weight Loss
- Respiratory Conditions
- Eczema
- Heals Wounds
- Urinary Tract Infection
Beauty Help from Honey
Now that we know honey tastes great and has endless medicinal value, this wonder liquid also has added benefits for complexions, hair health and beauty products.
Beauty Uses of Honey
- Face Cleanser (great for acne)
- Face Moisturizer
- Makes Hair Shiny and Health (apply just like conditioner, then rinse)
- Reduces the appearance of Scars
- Relieves razor bumps
- Helps reduce dark circles under eyes
- Used in cosmetics
- Used in hair care products
Caution with infants
Infants under the age of one should not be given honey. There are botulinum spores in honey which will cause botulism in infants. This rare form of poisoning can lead to paralysis. Both pasteurized and raw honey contain these spores.
Last Thoughts
The cliche, “Busy as a bee” certainly applies in making our honey! Enjoy!