Honey in the medicine cabinet

We’re celebrating National Honey week which is in its twelfth year and runs from 3 – 9 May 2010

This week we’ve talked about the health benefits of Manuka honey, looked at honey as a natural hayfever remedy, spruced up our beauty routine and today we’ll be looking at honey as a valuable natural remedy for minor ailments.

Honey cough syrup

One of our most popular blog posts is our recipe for cough syrup. Utilising some of nature’s greatest healers – thyme, sage and garlic, the honey base makes it soothing and anti bacterial.

Honey for the skin

Until World War I, wounds were often treated with honey to disinfect them and speed healing. Honey is antiseptic, so speeds the healing of wounds including mouth and varicose [amazon-product align=”right” small=”1″]0752577514[/amazon-product]ulcers.

Honey is hygroscopic – it draws water to it and so can draw poisons and pus out of an infected wound or ulcer. Honey also makes a healing remedy for burns and mastitis. In any case where you need to use honey on the skin; apply a thick layer of raw, unfiltered honey and cover with gauze.

Colds and fevers

Hot honey and lemon is a famous remedy for colds and fevers. Simply put a teaspoon of honey in a cup, squeeze in the juice of half a lemon and top up with boiling water. Leave to cool and sip.

Infections

[amazon-product small=”1″]1550136119[/amazon-product]According to Anne McIntyre, honey’s potent antiseptic properties will safeguard against infections including selmonella, cholera, typhoid and pneumococcus.

Diarrhoea

Honey is an excellent remedy for diarrhoea and vomiting. This soothing drink, taken from Non Shaw’s “Herbal remedies” book replaces valuable fluids lost in diarrhoea and vomiting:

Combine 1 tsp honey, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 pint boiling water. Mix together to dissolve the honey and salt, leave to cool and drink.

What about you – any natural honey recipes to share?