Plant Profile: The Medicinal Benefits of Honey
In this month's plant profile, I want to talk with you about something that technically isn't a plant but plays a vital role in plant medicine. This sticky, sweet golden nectar carries the warmth of a summer's kiss, a melody of sweetness that dances on the tongue and lingers like a whispered promise. I'm talking, of course, about honey. While it isn't a plant, honey makes receiving the healing that the plants offer a much simpler and tastier experience. Honey is a miracle of the natural world and a potent medicine in its own right. So let’s discover the medicinal benefits of honey and why it should be in your natural medicine cabinet.
Honey As Medicine Throughout History
Honey, a staple in medicine for millennia, was a favourite of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. The ancient Egyptians, for instance, incorporated honey into their embalming practices, also recognizing its efficacy in wound care and infection treatment.
In ancient Greece, the renowned Hippocrates, often called the 'Father of Medicine,' extensively documented honey's diverse healing properties. Thanks to its potent antimicrobial properties, the ancient Greeks used this golden elixir topically to treat wounds and burns. They also cherished it for its ability to soothe sore throats, alleviate dry coughs, and aid digestion.
Similarly, honey was highly valued and commonly used to treat respiratory and digestive ailments in ancient Rome.
Using honey as medicine is commonplace in Ayurvedic medicine, recommended for eye and oral health and treating burns and wounds. Ancient Ayurvedic texts consider honey a "boon to those with weak digestion."
Honey's Medicinal Properties
Before I share the many medicinal benefits of honey, I need to make a disclaimer.
*Not all honeys are created equal*
Here in Australia, we are fortunate to have a multitude of small beekeepers who ethically assist their bees in producing high-quality honey. These dedicated beekeepers prioritize the health and happiness of their bees. In return, they are rewarded with honey that is not only delicious but also highly medicinal and potent. They take great care in preparing the honey for human consumption, avoiding using heat that could destroy the delicate beneficial enzymes within the honey. This commitment to quality and ethics sets their honey apart and makes it a valuable addition to any natural medicine cabinet.
Wherever you live in the world, please do your research and source your honey from reputable beekeepers who are invested in the sustainability of their beekeeping and our planet. Many commercial honeys are either treated with high heat, destroying the honeys’ medicinal properties or aren't truly honey at all.
For more information on "fake honey", visit:
https://simplyhoney.com.au/what-is-raw-honey/
https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/why-you-might-want-to-steer-clear-of-supermarket-honey/
Medicinal Benefits of Honey at a Glance
Raw honey is rich in vitamins and nutrients such as Vitamin C, all the precious B group vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and zinc. While honey is not typically consumed in large enough quantities to serve as a primary source of these nutrients, its diverse composition contributes to its health benefits, especially when used in a medicinal context.
Honey has a high sugar concentration, creating a hypertonic environment that can draw water out of bacterial cells, leading to their dehydration and death. It's important to note that the sugars in honey are higher in fructose than glucose, which makes it a very different beast to your regular refined sugar. The sugars in honey are metabolized more slowly than refined sugar as it has a lower glycemic index and won't cause the dreaded and unhealthy "sugar spike." The sweetness of honey and its lower glycemic index makes it a deliciously effective medicine delivery system for most adults.
Honey contains high levels of antioxidants.
Honey is antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. Its low pH, typically between 3.2 and 4.5, inhibits the growth of many bacterial species. Honey is also rich in phenolic acids and flavonoids with antimicrobial properties. It contains a protein called defensin-1, which is part of the honeybee's immune system and contributes to honey's antibacterial activity.
Honey promotes cellular growth and regeneration.
Honey is a natural antiseptic.
Honey has humectant and emollient properties. Think of honey as both a sponge and a shield for your skin. As a humectant, it acts like a sponge, soaking up moisture from the air and pulling it into your skin. As an emollient, it works like a shield, forming a barrier that keeps the moisture locked in.
Honey In Your Natural Medicine Cabinet
So, how can we put these medicinal properties to good use in our natural medicine cabinets?
Honey For Wound Care
Using high-grade honey (such as manuka honey, which contains high levels of antibacterial properties) topically on wounds has been proven to promote healing, particularly in the treatment of burns. It works by providing a moist wound environment while helping to provide a protective barrier.
Raw honey is safe to use on minor burns, scalds, and wounds at home, but severe burns and wounds always require immediate medical attention.
A simple treatment for a minor burn is to run the wound under cold water before applying honey directly to it. If the thought of honey running everywhere makes you uncomfortable, apply it to a bandage first. Similarly, for a minor wound, first, cleanse the wound with running water before applying honey.
Find medically reviewed home remedies for burns here: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319768
Honey For Sore Throats
A sore throat is often one of the first indications that your body is fighting a cold or flu. Here is where honey shines! Its antibacterial properties will help you reduce the bacterial load in the throat and provide a soothing coating against the painful irritation. Add herbs to your honey, and suddenly, you have a soothing, delicious medicine that will assist your body in fighting any colds and flu.
A Simple & Natural Sore Throat Remedy
Slice one orange thinly and place it in a small jar. The tighter the orange is packed in, the better.
Add a thumbnail size each of chopped fresh ginger, turmeric, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper to the jar.
Pour enough honey to fill the jar, ensuring everything is covered in the honey.
Close the jar tightly and leave it on your kitchen counter.
Within 24 hours, you will start to see bubbles in the honey; this is precisely what you want as it means your honey is now fermenting, and you have a potent medicine for sore throats and your gut health. Open the lid daily to release gas; when you do, ingest a tablespoon of honey.
You can safely consume a tablespoon of this kitchen counter remedy 2-3 times daily. It will provide a soothing coating for your dry, sore throat while also introducing good bacteria into your gut and helping your body begin to heal itself.
If the honey tastes too strong, add a tablespoon to a glass of water before ingesting. If it begins to smell funny, discard it.
Honey For Gut Health
Honey And Digestion
It's not only Ayurvedic medicine that uses honey as a digestive tonic. The ancient Chinese, Assyrians, and Greeks also prescribed honey as a treatment for gut issues. In our modern age, honey has been studied for its potential to inhibit Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium linked to gastric ulcers and chronic gastritis.
Digestive Oxymel recipe
What is an oxymel, exactly? An oxymel is an herbal extraction using apple cider vinegar and raw honey. It's a potent medicine, with apple cider vinegar containing many medicinal qualities that enhance honey's power. It's simple to make and can be an effective medicine for almost any complaint, depending on the herbs you use. Think of an oxymel as a sweet and tangy health potion. The honey makes it sweet, the vinegar adds a zesty kick, and any herbs or spices contribute extra health benefits and flavour.
The recipe I'm about to share with you is for helping a sluggish digestive system. The herb we're using is Dandelion root, which aids in the secretion of digestive juices while also stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, putting the body into a relaxed state and giving your body the support it needs to digest properly.
Honey For Digestive Health
Digestive Oxymel For Good Gut Health
Fill a 1-litre jar 1/4 full of dried dandelion root.
Cover with equal parts apple cider vinegar and honey to fill your jar.
Wipe any liquid off the rim and top with a tight-fitting plastic lid. If your lid is metal, place a piece of greaseproof paper under it so the vinegar doesn't touch the metal, as it will corrode.
Shake your jar thoroughly until everything is mixed together.
Store your jar in a cool, dark place for two weeks, shaking it daily if possible to assist in the extraction process.
After two weeks, strain the dandelion root through a mesh strainer or sieve. Press down on the dandelion to release as much precious liquid as possible.
Pour strained oxymel into a clean jar or bottle.
Label and date your oxymel and consume within six months.
Store in a cool, dark place or the fridge.
To Serve Your Oxymel:
Take 1-2 tablespoons daily before meals as a digestive boost. If the taste is too strong, dilute it in water.
Oxymels make an excellent addition to homemade salad dressings, sauces, or bone broths for an extra health-boosting kick. I love to add a tablespoon of oxymels to winter soups and stews just before serving.
Honey For Your Gut Biome
Honey has notable prebiotic properties, which means it can promote the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
What are Prebiotics?
Prebiotics are non-digestible food components that stimulate the growth and activity of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines. They act as food for probiotics (the good gut bacteria), helping them thrive and maintain a healthy gut environment.
How Honey Acts as a Prebiotic:
Oligosaccharides:
Honey contains oligosaccharides, which are carbohydrates that the human body cannot digest. These oligosaccharides travel through the digestive tract until they reach the colon intact, where they serve as a food source for beneficial gut bacteria like bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.
Beneficial Compounds:
Honey also contains phenolic acids and flavonoids, which support gut health by promoting the growth of good bacteria and inhibiting harmful ones.
By fostering the growth of beneficial bacteria, honey helps maintain a healthy balance of the gut biome. A healthy gut biome enhances digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall gastrointestinal health.
Honey For Gum Disease and Oral Hygiene
Your mouth is considered part of your digestive system, which makes sense as it's where everything food-related begins. Therefore, the health of your mouth can contribute to the health of your digestive system. Thankfully, honey can help you here, too.
Honey's antibacterial properties can help reduce plaque and combat gum disease. You can use honey in natural mouth rinses or applied directly to the gums to help control harmful oral bacteria and promote overall dental health.
I know it sounds counterintuitive to use a sweet substance as an oral health treatment, but trials have demonstrated that raw honey is almost as effective as chlorhexidine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorhexidine) as a mouthwash.
How to use honey for gum health
I have to admit, when I discovered how easy (and yummy) it is to use honey as a mouthwash, I wanted to call every dentist I've ever visited and yell at them. All those chemicals and expensive gum treatments when all I had to do was increase my honey intake.
For better gum health, take 1-2 teaspoons of runny raw honey as a mouthwash and swirl it around your mouth to coat your teeth and gums. Do not spit it out, but allow the honey to drizzle down the back of your throat, and wait a while before eating or drinking. Alternatively, apply the honey directly to your gums using a clean finger or soft toothbrush, paying attention to any inflamed or sore areas. I recommend pouring a small amount of honey into a cup or dish to avoid contamination.
To Sum It All Up
Honey is a remarkable gift from nature that extends far beyond its delightful sweetness. While not a plant itself, it is a powerful conduit for plant-based medicine, enhancing and complementing the healing properties of various herbs and natural remedies. From its ancient roots in Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Ayurvedic medicine to its modern-day applications, honey's diverse medicinal benefits are undeniable. Its antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and prebiotic properties make it a valuable addition to any natural medicine cabinet.
Whether used for wound care, soothing sore throats, aiding digestion, or promoting gut and oral health, honey offers a natural, effective, and pleasant alternative to many conventional treatments. The key to unlocking its full potential lies in choosing high-quality, raw honey from ethical beekeepers who prioritize the well-being of their bees and the environment. By doing so, we can ensure that we are reaping the maximum medicinal benefits from this golden nectar, embracing its role as both a sweet treat and a potent healer.
References
https://mapi.com/blogs/articles/honey-and-ayurveda-more-than-just-a-sweetener
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15125017/
https://freshhoneycomb.com/blogs/the-buzz/honey-and-gut-health
