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The healing power of honey: The healing power of honey: From burns
to weak bones, raw honey can help From: News Target.com - information that
empowers NewsTarget) Raw honey – which has
not been pasteurized or filtered, and ideally taken directly
from the hive – is a treasure chest of nutritional
value and medicinal remedies. It contains an abundance of
vitamins and minerals and is a natural and powerful
medicine, both internally and externally. The list of honey's beneficial
functions is a long one. Honey increases calcium absorption;
can increase hemoglobin count and treat or prevent anemia
caused by nutritional factors; can help arthritic joints,
when combined with apple cider vinegar; fights colds and
respiratory infections of all kinds; can help to boost
gastrointestinal ulcer healing; works as a natural and
gentle laxative; aids constipation, allergies and obesity;
provides an array of vitamins and minerals; and supplies
instant energy without the insulin surge caused by white
sugar. Many have found raw honey helpful for its positive
effects against allergies and hay fever, and one or two
teaspoons last thing at night can help with insomnia. As an
antiseptic, honey is also a drawing agent for poisons from
bites or stings or infected wounds, and has outperformed
antibiotics in treatments for stomach ulcerations, gangrene,
surgical wound infections, surgical incisions and the
protection of skin grafts, corneas, blood vessels and bones
during storage and shipment. "Raw honey is exceptionally effective
internally against bacteria and parasites. Plus, raw honey
contains natural antibiotics, which help kill microbes
directly. Raw honey, when applied topically, speeds the
healing of tissues damaged by infection and/or trauma. It
contains vitamins, minerals and enzymes, as well as sugars,
all of which aid in the healing of wounds." So writes Dr. Cass Igram, D.O. in The
Survivor's Nutritional Pharmacy. In a fascinating modern
development, scientists and doctors are beginning to
rediscover the effectiveness of honey as a wound treatment.
In recent years, honey has been used effectively in clinical
settings for the treatment of fist-sized ulcers extending to
the bone, as well as for first, second and third degree
burns. Complete healing has been reported without the need
for skin grafts and with no infection or muscle loss. It can
be applied full strength to such conditions, covered with a
sterile bandage, and changed daily. When the wounds are
clean, honey acts as a healer. This also is the same
procedure for infected wounds, ulcerations and impetigo.
Garlic honey can also be applied directly to infected
wounds, which will help clean up the area of
infection. Dr. Peter Molan, professor of
biochemistry at Waikato University, New Zealand, has been at
the forefront of honey research for 20 years. He heads the
university's Honey Research Unit, which is internationally
recognized for its expertise in the antimicrobial properties
of honey. Clinical observations and experimental studies
have established that honey has effective antibacterial and
anti-inflammatory properties. Astonishingly, it painlessly
removes pus, scabs and dead tissue from wounds and
stimulates new tissue growth. "Randomized trials have shown
that honey is more effective in controlling infection in
burn wounds than silver sulfadiazine, the antibacterial
ointment most widely used on burns in hospitals," explains
Dr. Molan. Dr. Molan believes that if honey were
used from the start in cases of septicemia, there would be
far less tissue damage resulting. "The remarkable ability of
honey to reduce inflammation and mop up free radicals should
halt the progress of the skin damage like it does in burns,
as well as protecting from infection setting in", says Dr.
Molan. "At present, people are turning to honey when nothing
else works. But there are very good grounds for using honey
as a therapeutic agent of first choice." Researchers believe that the
therapeutic potential of honey is grossly underutilized.
With increasing interest in the use of alternative therapies
and as the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
spreads, honey may finally receive its due recognition as a
wound healer. Indeed, it works: Raw honey makes a
sterile, painless and effective wound dressing. Apply it
directly to open cuts, abrasions and burns, and cover it
with a piece of gauze. The results will occur quicker than
with conventional alternatives, such as salves and
creams. Honey is also exceptionally effective
for respiratory ailments. One Bulgarian study of almost
18,000 patients found that it improved chronic bronchitis,
asthmatic bronchitis, chronic and allergic rhinitis and
sinusitis. It's an effective treatment for colds, flu,
respiratory infections and a generally depressed immune
system. Whereas sugar shuts down the immune system, a good
quality honey will stimulate it into action. Here are some more ways to utilize the
healing power of honey: BURNS - Apply freely over burns. It
cools, removes pain and aids fast healing without scarring.
Apart from being a salve and an antibiotic, bacteria simply
cannot survive in honey. BED WETTING - A teaspoon of honey
before bed aids water retention and calms fears in
children. INSOMNIA - A dessertspoon of honey in
a mug of warm milk aids sleep and works wonders. HYPERACTIVITY - Replace all use of
white sugar with honey. White sugar is highly stimulating
with no food qualities. Honey provides the energy without
the "spike." NASAL CONGESTION - Place a
dessertspoon of honey in a basin of water and inhale fumes
after covering your head with a towel over the basin. Very
effective! FATIGUE - Dissolve a dessertspoon of
honey in warm water or quarter honey balance of water in a
jug and keep in the fridge. Honey is primarily fructose and
glucose, so it's quickly absorbed by the digestive system.
Honey is a unique natural stabilizer: Ancient Greek athletes
took honey for stamina before competing and as a reviver
after competition. FACIAL DEEP CLEANSER - Mix honey with
an equal quantity of oatmeal, and apply as a face pack.
Leave on for half an hour, then wash it off. Great as a deep
cleanser for acne and other unwanted blemishes. POOR DIGESTION - Mix honey with an
equal quantity of apple cider vinegar and dilute to taste
with water. This is also wonderful for the joints – and
promotes weight loss. HAIR CONDITIONER - Mix honey with an
equal quantity of olive oil, cover head with a warm tower
for half an hour then shampoo off. Feeds hair and scalp.
Your hair will never look or feel better! SORE THROATS - Let a teaspoon of honey
melt in the back of the mouth and trickle down the throat.
Eases inflamed raw tissues. FOR STRESS - Honey in water is a
stabilizer, calming highs and raising lows. Use
approximately 25 percent honey to water. ANEMIA - Honey is the best blood
enricher by raising corpuscle content. The darker the honey,
the more minerals it contains. FOOD PRESERVATIVE – If you
replace the sugar in cake and cookie recipes with honey,
they'll stay fresher longer due to honey's natural
antibacterial properties. Reduce liquids in the mixture by
about one-fifth to allow for the moisture present in the in
honey. BABY'S BOTTLE - Four teaspoons of
honey to a baby's bottle of water is an excellent pacifier
and multivitamin additive. If the baby's motions are too
liquid, then reduce the honey by half a teaspoon; if too
solid increase by half a teaspoon. (Caution: Don't give raw
honey to babies under 1 year old; it's just too rich.) For
teething, honey rubbed on a baby's gums is also a mild
sedative and anesthetic. OSTEOPOROSIS – Research has shown
that a teaspoon of honey per day aids calcium utilization
and prevents osteoporosis – probably not a bad idea for
anyone over 50. LONGEVITY - The most long-lived people
in the world are all regular users of honey. An interesting
fact, yet to be explained, is that beekeepers suffer less
from cancer and arthritis than any other occupational group
worldwide. MIGRAINE - Use a dessertspoon of honey
dissolved in half a glass of warm water. Sip at the start of
a migraine attack, and, if necessary, repeat after another
20 minutes. CONJUNCTIVITIS - Dissolve honey in an
equal quantity of warm water. When cooled, apply as a lotion
or eye bath. COUGH MIXTURE – Combine 6 ounces
(170 grams) liquid honey, 2 ounces (55 grams) glycerin and
the juice of two lemons. Mix well. Bottle and cork firmly,
and use as required. Raw honey may become granulated, as
some does after a week and another maybe only after several
years. If the granulations bother you, simply place the
honey into a pan of hot water (not boiling) and let it stand
until becoming liquid again. Kelly Joyce Neff has an
interdisciplinary degree in Celtic Studies which includes
work in cultural anthropology, history, linguistics,
language, and literature. She is a traditional midwife and
herbalist, a reiki master, and an active craftsperson. She
lives in San Francisco. Thursday, February 01, 2007
From burns to weak bones, raw honey can help by Kelly Joyce
Neff
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