It was easy for ancient peoples to think that the golden, delicious food given to them by the gods had the power to heal. Cultures from widely different locales believed that honey could cure a variety of ills.
In frontier America, medicines came from available sources. Like plants. And honey.
When the Scientific Age came along, researchers identified the chemical makeup of honey. They undertook studies to test whether honey had an impact on assorted maladies. Instead of disproving the folk claims for honey, science verified that honey can help restore us to health.
When my children were little, our family doctor told me that cough syrups worked okay, but they were not as effective as tea and honey. (Some folks prefer a whiskey/honey mixture.) Probably the most common medicinal use for honey is to quiet coughs. But doctors also advise patients who suffer from allergies to consume a spoonful of local honey every day. I know several people who say this has helped them when other medicines didn’t.
Honey can have a positive impact on other health issues. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial agent. Research has shown the following:
Honey may help prevent cardiovascular disease. Antioxidants in honey may help reduce the risk of heart disease.
It can help relieve gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhea associated with gastroenteritis. Honey might also be effective as part of oral rehydration therapy.
It may help with neurological disease. Studies suggest that honey might offer antidepressant, anticonvulsant, and anti-anxiety benefits. In some studies, honey has been shown to help prevent memory disorder.
It is useful in wound care. Topical use of medical-grade honey has promoted healing of wounds, particularly in burns.
Medical experts advise parents not to give honey to infants under one year of age. Babies face a slight risk of contracting a serious intestinal virus. After that, honey can appear on the menu in all kinds of pleasant ways.
I eat at least a teaspoon of honey every day, and I have dodged colds for years. I’m aware that as we get older we contract fewer colds , and I’m not often around small children who carry and spread germs. Yet, even during a winter when I visited many schools, I sailed through without catching a cold.
On a recent river trip in Southern Utah, I forgot to take the small packets of dehydrated honey a friend had given to me for travel. I came home coughing and blowing my nose, with a sore throat. Something blooming in the desert may have triggered an allergic reaction, though I’m generally not allergic. Or it may have been a cold.
When I got home, I hit the tea and honey, which soothed my throat right away. The next day, I felt much better. It could be I had left a possible allergen behind. Others folks might vote for the placebo effect—I have faith in honey, so it cures me. The scientific community would point out that the experience of a single person hardly confirms a theory.
But we don’t have to swallow someone’s claims. Not anymore. Studies about honey and its benefits abound. You can pull up dozens with the touch of a finger. Those studies support what my wise little auntie and your sweet old granny told us. Eat honey. It helps us stay healthy.
Next time: More Benefits of Honey.
1000 Reasons to Love Bees 