How To Use Honey In Six Ways

Honey is a versatile and easy to consume syrup that can be mixed with spices for some home remedies. This golden goodness also provides some benefits such as being antibacterial and antifungal, having antioxidants which can help to fade scars etc. Find out more about the interesting ways that we can use honey to reap it’s natural goodness.

Wound treatment

Honey is antibacterial and antifungal, so it can kill bacteria and fungus. It also contains an antiseptic called hydrogen peroxide, which makes it a natural remedy for infections. Honey helps to sanitize wounds, aid in healing and reduce pain, odour and wound size. It can heal persistent ulcers and some burns; although for deep wounds, honey may not be that suitable a topical treatment since honey has a thick consistency and may disallow the tissue cells to breathe. Hence, when applying honey on wounds, do apply it in a thin even layer.

Fade scars

Honey can help to fade scars due to its antioxidant properties, which helps to enrich damaged skin and enable the skin healing process. You can also add propolis, another bee product which has anti-inflammatory properties with honey, to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and skin discolouration. To do so, add Manuka honey to the area of concern in a circular motion for one or two minutes, then rinse it off.

Smoothen hair

Honey is a natural softener that keeps your hair soft and bouncy. It is also a moisturizer that keeps your hair from drying as it helps to lock in moisture. Here is a do-it-yourself hair treatment that you can try at the comfort of your home to get that soft luxuriously smooth hair.

What you need:

• 2 very ripe bananas
• ½ a cup of unprocessed honey
• ¼ cup of olive oil

Steps:

1. Blend the 3 ingredients until it is mixed well and apply to your hair and scalp.
2. Leave it on for 20 to 25 minutes and then rinse off with lukewarm water and shampoo.
3. Comb through and do a final check for any remaining mask and rinse off.

Note: This mask can be used two to three times a month.

Enable sleep

If you cannot sleep at night, honey may just be the panacea for you. When you consume honey, it causes a steady spike of insulin, which releases tryptophan into the brain. Tryptophan is converted into serotonin which turns into melatonin. The latter two chemicals are the ones that helps you to fall asleep. In addition, if you are still awake in the middle of the night, consuming honey will also make your liver full and produce the right amount of glycogen needed for a good, rested sleep.

Ginger honey

This combination relieves stomach aches and flu. This is because ginger promotes circulation, and helps to flush toxins out of your body, relieving sores and pains. Ginger also reduces inflammation, so adding this chilled infusion onto minor wounds can help to speed up healing.

What you need:

• 1 tablespoon of finely chopped ginger root
• A cup of honey
• A pinch of ground ginger (optional)

Steps:

1. Pour 1 cup of honey into a pot and add the 1 tablespoon of finely chopped ginger root.

You may add a pinch of ground ginger, but it is optional.

2. Set the mixture on low heat and let it warm for 10 minutes.
3. When step 2 is finished, pour it into a glass jar and wait for 2 hours before using it or store for 2 weeks to let the flavours infuse.

Clove honey

Pairing honey with cloves helps with toothache or sore teeth. Cloves are known for their numbing effects, as they contain eugenol which helps to block pain receptors, therefore reducing sensitivity to pain. They have been used by dentists before painkillers were available and are still used in dentistry now. Honey plays a complementary role, by killing bacteria to prevent infections and it is suitable if you had an oral surgery or have ulcers in your mouth. You can directly apply the mixture on the gum of your sore tooth. This combination also helps with reducing nausea, as cloves numb the intestinal walls, preventing the vomiting reflex of the stomach. Honey helps to kill of the bacteria that causes infection and an upset stomach, therefore treating nausea.

What you need

• 5 to 10 whole cloves
• 1 cup of honey

Steps:

1. Set a pot to low heat and add in the ingredients. Let it warm for 10 minutes.
2. When step 1 is finished, pour it into a glass jar and wait for 2 hours before using it or store for 2 weeks to let the flavours infuse.

 Conclusion

We hope that these practical and unique ways of using honey can help you with your daily needs. They are also a convenient fix that can be made at home for small emergencies. We offer Manuka honey that is from the beautiful islands of New Zealand, so don’t hesitate to get some today!