Natures Cure All
The essential elixir
Honey is an all-round healing elixir which can promote general health and well-being. A daily dose of honey, whether as a sweetener in hot drinks, by the spoonful or spread on toast, will boost the body's supply of antioxidants - essential for protecting the body against free radicals.
Flush out your system and give yourself a daily boost with this cleansing tonic: mix a spoonful or two of honey and the juice of half a lemon into a cup of hot water and drink each morning before breakfast.
The energy provider
Next time you go to the gym, have a spoonful of honey beforehand. Honey is a source of natural unrefined sugars and carbohydrates, which are easily absorbed by the body, providing an instant energy boost with long-lasting effects. For this reason, many athletes include honey in their daily diets. It was even used by runners in the original Olympic Games in ancient Greece.
Coughs and colds
Honey is widely used as a complementary remedy for the relief of the symptoms of colds, coughs, sore throats and 'flu. For a sore throat, take it on its own or gargle with a mixture of two tablespoons of set honey, four tablespoons of cider vinegar and a pinch of salt.
A traditional drink made from hot water, lemon juice and honey will help to soothe cold and flu symptoms. Adding a little eucalyptus oil or root ginger will help to ease congestion and, to help enhance sleep, try a drop of whiskey in the mixture.
Cuts and grazes
Honey is a mild antiseptic and can help to keep external wounds, such as cuts and minor burns, clean and free from infection. By absorbing the moisture around the wound, honey can help to prevent the growth of bacteria.
A digestive healer
It was the Romans who first discovered the beneficial effects of honey on digestive disorders when they would prescribe honey as a mild laxative. Funnily enough, honey has also been used as a treatment for diarrhea. The principle behind these theories is that honey is believed to help destroy certain bacteria in the gut by acting as a 'preserving' agent.
Health Benefits
Honey has long been recognized as a natural remedy and has been used as a medicine for thousands of years. It has antiseptic properties and can be used as a remedy for ailments from sore throats to burns and cuts.This is endorsed by research which has shown that its bactericidal properties can be used to good effect in treating digestive problems such as peptic ulcers as well as external lesions
For a soothing drink for sore throats, mix honey with the juice of half a lemon, add boiling water and stir. If you¹re feeling low, try a spoonful of honey as a pick-me-up. The fructose and glucose in honey are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.
Honey in Cooking
You can use honey in cooking instead of sugar. Because it is sweeter than sugar, you need to use less.
If you are experimenting with honey in a recipe, try replacing half the sugar with honey as the flavor can be very strong. Honey is hygroscopic (meaning it attracts water) so it is good for baking cakes as it keeps them moister for longer. Look on our recipe pages for some delicious recipes using honey.
Recipes for better Health
Honey and Sage Cold Syrup
Relieve a sore throat and other cold symptoms with this home remedy infused with sage.
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
- 1/3 cup, plus 1 Tablespoon HONEY
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
Directions: Steep sage in a cup filled with boiling water for 10 minutes. Strain out sage and allow the mixture to cool. Place honey in a jar and add vinegar and sage water. Shake well. Take 2 teaspoons every hour.
Citrus & Honey Sore Throat Home Remedy
This lemony remedy is effective at soothing mild sore throats.
- 4 Tablespoons HONEY
- Juice of 1 large lemon
- 3 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Directions: Mix all ingredients together in a small jar. Every hour, take 1 teaspoon in your mouth and gargle. Then swallow the remedy.
"All Systems Go" Tonic
This daily morning tonic, taken before breakfast, will help cleanse your system by acting as a mild laxative and promoting liver function.
- 4 teaspoons HONEY
- Juice of 1/2 a large lemon
- 2/3 cup warm water
Directions: Mix all ingredients together in a cup and drink.
Digestive Booster
Try this old-time remedy once daily to aid digestion.
- 1 Tablespoon HONEY
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup water
Directions: Mix honey and vinegar together. Dilute with water and drink.
Beauty Treatments
Honey Hair Conditioner
Deeply conditions dry and damaged hair leaving it soft and luminous.
- 1/2 cup HONEY
- 1/4 cup olive oil for dry hair
OR
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil for normal to oily hair
Directions: Mix ingredients together. Using a small amount at a time, work mixture through hair until coated. Cover hair with a shower cap or wrap in a towel and leave on 30 minutes. Shampoo well, rinse and dry as normal.
Honey Hair Shine
Apply this leave-in finishing treatment after shampooing to enhance your hair's natural highlights.
- 1 teaspoon HONEY
- 4 cups (1 quart) warm water
- Squeeze of lemon juice, if desired
Directions: Mix ingredients together. After shampooing, pour mixture through hair. Do not rinse out. Dry as normal.
Firming Facial Mask You remember the egg white mask? Take it to the next level by adding the moisturizing goodness of honey!
- 1 Tablespoon HONEY
- 1 egg white
- 1 teaspoon glycerin (available at drug stores or beauty supply stores)
- flour to form a paste
Directions: Whisk ingredients together. Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Wash off with warm water.
Ex foliating Honey Facial Cleanser
This gentle, ex foliating cleanser will leave your skin feeling moist and revitalized.
- 1 Tablespoon HONEY
- 2 Tablespoons finely ground almonds
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Directions: Mix ingredients together. Gently rub onto face. Rinse with warm water.
Soothing Skin Clarifier(for minor acne flare-ups)
The next time you experience one of those annoying breakouts, try this skin clarifier to clear your skin of acne flare-ups fast.
- 1/3 cup warm water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon HONEY
- 1 cotton ball
- 1 cotton swab
Directions: Mix together water and salt. Using a cotton ball, apply directly to blemish. Maintain pressure with cotton ball for several minutes to soften blemish. Using cotton swab, dab honey on blemish; leave on 10 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
Skin Softening Bath
Your bath water was never so luxurious! Relax and renew!
Directions: Simply add honey to bath water for a fragrant, silky bath.
Smoothing Skin Conditioner
Use this deep conditioning treatment anywhere your skin feels cracked and dry to rejuvenate stressed skin.
- 1 teaspoon HONEY
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
Directions: Mix ingredients together. Before showering, rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere skin feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes; rinse off.
Facial Toner
This facial toner from Mother Nature's bounty is perfect for even the most sensitive skin.
- 1 tablespoon HONEY
- 1 apple, peeled and cored
Directions: In a blender, puree the 2 ingredients. Smooth over face. Leave on 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water.
