Honey is mainly known as a natural sweetener, but what many do not realise is that it also has nutritional, medicinal and cosmetic benefits. The sweet golden liquid that comes from the beehive is a popular kitchen-staple loaded with antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that have been used since the days of the Egyptian tombs.
How is honey made?
Honey gets its start as flower nectar, which is collected by bees, who store it in their honey stomach (bees have two stomachs). The honeybees return to the hive and pass the nectar onto other worker bees. These bees suck the nectar from the honeybee’s stomach through their mouths. These “house bees” “chew” the nectar for about half an hour naturally breaking it down into simple sugars and store in honeycombs. The unique design of the honeycomb, coupled with constant fanning by the bees’ wings, causes evaporation to take place. Once the honey is gooey enough, the bees seal off the cell of the honeycomb with a plug of wax. In one year, a colony of bees eats between 120 and 200 pounds of honey.
Health Benefits of Manuka Honey
The antibacterial quality of honey depends on the type of honey as well as when and how it’s harvested.
Some kinds of honey may be 100 times more potent than others. Active Manuka honey has antibacterial properties that originate predominantly from the presence of hydrogen peroxide (a powerful antibacterial agent).
Anti-inflammatory
Defends against infections
Promotes digestive health
Soothes sore throat
Reduces inflammation of stomach & intestines
Reduces high cholesterol
Minor wounds and burns
Eye, ear and sinus infections
Diabetes
Gingivitis
Can help with sleepless nights
Can help heal wounds and burns
Great for relieving coughs and colds
Full of antioxidants
Anti-bacterial & Anti-fungal
Can help to alleviate seasonal allergies
Full of vitamins and minerals
Beauty Benefits of Honey
Great ingredient for exfoliation
You can use it in a deep hair conditioner
Put it in your bath (your skin will fill so smooth).
Good for sunburn treatment [apply to skin]
You can use it as a moisturising mask
Cuticle moisturiser
Pore cleanser
Caution: Do not give to children under one
The possible side effects of Manuka honey are:
Allergic reaction, especially in people who are allergic to bees
Risk of a rise in blood sugar
Possible interaction with certain chemotherapy
Suggestion: Make sure your honey is pure and raw to get the full benefits of the vitamins and minerals.