You love honey, don’t you? Of course, who doesn’t! It is sweet and delightful! But whenever you consume honey, do you ever think of the myriad health benefits it offers?
Honey has been around for thousands of years and is an integral part of our culture. Even way back in 380 to 320 B.C., the wonders of honey were acknowledged and documented in early Greek and Vedic texts with reference to its medicinal and healing properties. Honey is also used for various medicinal purposes which are now proven scientifically as well.
Everybody is aware that having a little honey gives instant relief to sore throat and various other symptoms of early flu infection. Honey eases cough too, especially the one that persistently occurs in the night. Any kind of throat infection will get relieved by a spoon of honey or honey based syrups or concoctions.
Honey is wonderful in controlling acid reflux. Since honey is 125.9 times more viscous that water at body temperature, it helps a lot in preventing gastroesophageal reflux. The patients suffering from the said conditions should try having some honey whenever they feel the symptoms are showing up.
Studies have shown that honey discourages the growth of bacteria, especially the ones like Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginous that cause digestive problems. Thus consuming a little honey whenever you are feeling squishy in the tummy is highly advisable.
When applied on skin cuts and burns, honey shows remarkable healing results. FDA also has approved the use of honey for applying on cut and burn wounds on the skin. Honey is slightly acidic, and hence helps in soothing and treating the wound.
Honey is noted for bringing relief to people suffering from many windborne allergies caused by grass, pollens and ragweed. Some people who are allergic to pollens and grass tend to get stuffy nose and breathing problems. It is seen and medically acknowledged that honey has the potential to clear up stuffy nose and ease other effects of such allergies.
Honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds that help in the smoothening of scars on the skin. Consistent application of honey and olive oil continuously for two to three weeks will show evident results.
After a fun party, morning hangover can be a nuisance and spoils the whole day. Next time when you find yourself in such a situation, just have two to three tablespoons of honey. It will speed up the metabolism, and you will again feel rejuvenated in no time.
In 2010, University Of Amsterdam reported that honey has a protein called defensing-1 that helps in killing bacteria. Another study concluded that due to the presence of this protein, consuming honey will enhance the immunity levels of our system and help in fighting and curbing infections before it spreads in the body.
In the recent studies, it is seen that honey may prevent radiation induced dermatitis which happens in breast cancer patients undergoing the chemotherapy process.
After an extensive study and research it is seen that honey shortens the duration of diarrhoea in toddlers and children. Due to this property, honey can be safely used as a substitute for glucose in oral rehydration that is given to children suffering from diarrhoea and dysentery.
These are some of the effective medicinal uses of honey. Not just the taste, even the medical benefits of honey are sweet! So don’t forget to include a little amount of honey in your everyday diet!
Do you have honey every day? Have you experienced any of these medicinal properties of honey? Do share your experiences in the comments section below!