The Healing Properties of Honey

 

 

 

Referred to as the “Nectar of the Gods”, Honey has been held in high esteem for many centuries for its rejuvenating, healing and nutritional benefits. Cleopatra added it to her ritual “milk” bath to enhance her beauty, and Poppea, the wife of Roman Emperor, Nero used a Honey and milk lotion on her face to maintain her youthful complexion. It was so highly valued that the ancient Romans used Honey instead of gold to pay their taxes.

 

Honey is produced in one of the most well organised and streamlined factories that nature has to offer, the Beehive. Bees travel for thousands of kilometres and visit over two million flowers to collect enough nectar to make half a kilogram of Honey. There are more than 300 different types of Honey in the world which originate from sources such as orange blossom, alfalfa, sage and clover. The colour and flavour depend on the age of the Honey and type of nectar. Light-coloured Honeys are usually of higher quality than the darker ones.

 

For an immediate energy boost, add a spoonful of Honey to water, or add some Honey to a bowl of low-fat yoghurt and fresh fruit. Honey makes a wonderful alternative to refined sugar. It is one of the few foods that can be eaten in its near-natural state as it doesn’t contain any additives, and is almost always free of pesticides and herbicides.

 

Honey is made up of fructose, glucose and water, as well as small amounts of vitamins, acids, natural anti-oxidants, and minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. Liquid Honey doesn’t go off, and because of its high sugar concentration, is able to eradicate any invading bacteria through plasmolysis (when water is drawn from a cell). As long as the moisture content stays under 18%, virtually no organism can successfully multiply to significant amounts in Honey.

 

Much has been documented about the anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties of Honey. In days of old, strips of clean linen were dipped into melted beeswax, smeared with Honey and wrapped around wounds to promote healing. More recently it has been recommended for the treatment of burns, bruises, infected wounds and skin ulcers. It can also be applied to the skin to clear ringworm and eczema.

 

Eat Honey everyday to relieve and prevent hay fever. Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of Honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink regularly to clear a bladder infection.

 

It is not advisable to eat Honey if you suffer from Diabetes, or to give it to children under the age of one as it may cause a serious disease of the nervous system called infant botulism.   

 

Honey and Orange  Booster

 

1 cup plain non-fat yoghurt
1 orange peeled, sectioned and seeded
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon Honey
1/2 teaspoon of grated orange rind

Process in a blender until smooth and enjoy!