10 Facts You (Possibly) Didn't Know About the Benefits of Honey

Honey is undoubtedly one of the most wonderful products found in your kitchen cabinet. Bees produce honey from special secretions after they feed on flower nectar, resulting in a unique sweet substance that never spoils. Honey has many medicinal properties, some more well-known than others. So apart from a delicious honey cake, what else can you use honey for?

1. Many studies published in 2014 show that the most effective treatment for children's coughs is honey. To ease nighttime coughs, it's advisable to consume half a teaspoon to two tablespoons of honey before bed. It's important to remember not to give honey to children under one year old, but over one-year-olds can have honey to ease coughs.
If the cough is not just a regular cough but comes from whooping cough, mix olive oil and honey in equal amounts and give the child a teaspoon of the mixture every hour. If the patient is an adult, mix fresh horseradish juice with an equal amount of honey and have them drink the mixture twice a day.

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2. Honey is effective not only for coughs but also for other cold symptoms. Homemade remedies using honey can be made for a range of purposes, for example: to relieve cold symptoms and coughing, mix 5 tablespoons of honey with the juice of one lemon, and take one teaspoon of the mixture every hour. Another option is to mix 6 tablespoons of honey with one and a half chopped onions, let it sit for a while, and take a teaspoon every hour.
For a sore throat, it is recommended to squeeze one cup of fresh orange juice and add to it 5 tablespoons of honey and 3 teaspoons of lemon juice.

3. If you suffer from a runny nose, you can mix honey with fresh beet juice, where the ratio is beet juice in a quantity slightly more than twice the amount of honey. The mixture is not for drinking but for dripping into the nose, 5-6 drops in each nostril, 5 times a day.

4. For flu treatment, it is recommended to finely grate a clove of garlic and mix it with a tablespoon of honey. You can add the mixture to a cup of hot water and drink everything before bedtime.

5. Honey has antibacterial properties. It prevents the development of bacteria and also absorbs moisture, causing bacteria that come into contact with it to lose fluids and disappear. Therefore, it is highly recommended to use honey to heal wounds of all kinds – cuts, pressure ulcers, acne, and burns. By the way, if you are burned, quickly apply honey to the burn site to prevent the appearance of blisters.

6. Diabetic ulcers can also significantly improve with the use of honey. Research conducted in Ireland in 2008 found that diabetic ulcers treated with honey were smaller compared to ulcers treated conventionally. Additionally, 70% of antibiotic-resistant wounds healed after honey treatment – compared to only 16% of those treated with standard medications. To treat eczema and purulent wounds, it is recommended to grate a potato finely, fill half a cup with grated potato, and add a teaspoon of honey. Mix both well and apply a thick layer (at least one centimeter) on the wounds. Cover with gauze and bandage. During the day, replace the bandage every two hours.

7. Many teenagers suffer from annoying and bothersome acne, trying dozens of different creams and even medications to make it disappear. Instead of all those foreign materials, you can simply apply a teaspoon of honey to the face, leave the honey on the face for about 5 minutes, and remove it with a soft, warm cloth. If you want to get rid of a specific pimple, apply honey directly on it and leave it there for about half an hour.
Honey helps not only with acne but also with treating dry skin. Apply honey to the face for about half an hour daily and rinse it off with warm water. This treatment is also effective for preventing wrinkles.

8. Honey is also effective in cases of constipation. According to Chinese medicine, honey warms the intestines and creates moisture. If you suffer from constipation, soak 4 dried plums (also known for their effectiveness in treating constipation) in water for two hours, then add a teaspoon of honey to the water, mix well, and drink.

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9. Suffering from arthritis? Mix 3 tablespoons of honey with one tablespoon of aloe juice and two tablespoons of an alcoholic drink like arak, cognac, or vodka. Soak a towel or a cloth in the mixture and place it as a compress on the site of the inflammation.

10. In addition to physical health benefits, honey is also useful for mental health, serving as a natural remedy for calming. In cases of insomnia, nervousness, and anxiety, it is recommended to drink a cup of tea with honey before bed. Alternatively, you can mix honey into oatmeal and eat it in the evening for better sleep.