Honey, generally used as a sweetener, has many more uses. Here we tell you how to use it to treat dandruff, wounds, coughs and other diseases.
For many, honey is a type of elixir, the product of the hard work of bees that collect pollen from flower to flower to transform it into the richest product created by nature. What many ignore is that all this hard work can do much more than just improve the taste of our tea – it has many health benefits.
For millennia, honey, and its superpowers, have been used as remedies for all kinds of ailments, and containers of the viscous substance have been found in Egyptian tombs, perfectly preserved, by the way. We owe to its unusual chemical composition all the additional uses since its low humidity levels and high acidity levels inhibit the existence of bacteria and microorganisms.
Some of its medicinal uses include:
1. Treatment Of Cough:
According to a study conducted by the Penn State College of Medicine, it found that buckwheat honey is able to combat nighttime coughs to improve sleep in 139 children. Another study showed that of a group of 270 children with a dry cough, those who were given two tablespoons of honey before bed slept better and coughed less at night.
2. Improves Memory:
According to a study published by Reuters, a study asked 102 menopausal women to drink 20 grams of honey a day, take a course of estrogen and progesterone, or do nothing. After four months, an exam was applied to test their memory, those who followed the hormonal treatment and those who consumed honey remembered on average one word more than those who did nothing.
3. Helps Heal Wounds:
A Norwegian study showed that honey (specially treated to ensure its purity) is capable of killing all types of bacteria associated with superficial wounds. Another study found that people with skin ulcers and leg wounds healed faster when natural honey was applied directly to the skin.
4. Nourishes:
According to the National Honey Board, honey contains “small amounts of vitamins and minerals, including niacin, vitamin B2, pentatonic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.”
5. May Prevent Low White Blood Cell Count:
According to the Mayo Clinic, honey can be used to prevent the loss of white blood cells after chemotherapy. In one small study, 40% of patients who were at risk for neutropenia had no further episodes after consuming two teaspoons of therapeutic honey during their chemotherapy.
6. Can Help With Allergies:
Although it has not been scientifically proven, many people claim that honey is an effective treatment for temporary allergies. This makes sense as honey helps soothe the symptoms of a cough and a sore throat.
7. Kills Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria:
According to several clinical studies, medicinal honey can kill pathogens such as E. coli and salmonella, as well as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
8. An Excellent Natural Energizer:
Instead of consuming energy drinks, you can drink honey before exercising to help you perform better or to help your muscles recover. You can dissolve a teaspoon of honey in the water you drink when you exercise, or you can eat honey bars before or after for energy.
9. Helps With Dandruff & Pericranium Problems:
In a study with patients suffering from dermatitis and dandruff, they were instructed to apply honey diluted with 10% warm water to the scalp and let it sit for three hours before washing their hair. All patients demonstrated significant improvements after one week. After two weeks the hair loss was less and after six months of treatment, the patients showed no sign of a relapse.
Precaution:
In addition to its golden color, sweet flavor, and wide range of textures, honey has many benefits that we can take advantage of responsibly. Remember that because it is healthy, it does not stop having calories (each tablespoon contains 64 calories) and it cannot be administered to children under 12 months of age because it may contain bacteria that cause infant botulism.