21 Strange And Awesome Uses For Honey
Honey has been around for about as long as humans. The first recorded drawing of a human harvesting honey is approximately 8,000 years old. Archaeologists have found honeycombs buried with pharaohs in Egypt. In Rome, soldiers used it to heal their wounds. In the Old Testament, Israel was described as the land of flowing milk and honey. Throughout history, honey has been a form of payment or trade.
Liquid gold, as some call it, is no longer considered to be as valuable as in ancient times. Nowadays, we walk into a grocery store and grab a plastic bear filled with honey and feed it to our families.
Of course, there are differences in the quality of honey out there. Pasteurized honey has been heated and valuable nutrients have been removed in the process. This is why many are now looking to purchase raw honey to enjoy its full benefits.
But what can you do with honey besides eating it?
1. Use honey to cure a sore throat
Simply mix two tablespoons of honey with a full cup of hot water and the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon. The whole family can enjoy this healthy remedy.
2. Use it on your chapped lips
Honey has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Plus, it is a great moisturizer. Apply some on your lips and try not to lick it off. A great time to do this is at night after you brush your teeth and you’re on your way to bed. You won’t be as likely to lick your lips then as you be would during the day.
3. Treat herpes blisters
Herpes simplex (also called cold sores) is painful and unsightly. It also seems to take forever to heal. Honey, with its antiviral properties, can help speed up the process. Remember: only the raw stuff will provide full benefits.
4. Stock it for emergencies
When archaeologists found honeycombs in Egypt, they were surprised to discover that the honey was still edible. Raw honey may crystallize, but it will last forever. If you have no access to other sweeteners or healers, you’ll be so glad to have your stash when you need it.
5. Use it on wounds
Honey’s acidity has the ability to increase the release of oxygen from hemoglobin, which creates a good environment for healing a wound. When you apply it, lymph flow increases and the wound can heal faster. Honey also draws liquid from the wound.
6. Wash your hair with it
Shampoos have a tendency to rob hair of its natural oils. As a result, the follicles go into overproduction. With its relative acidity, honey preserves the natural oils and has been found to help with treatment of dandruff, too. Mix one tablespoon with three tablespoons of water and massage into hair when taking a shower. You may have to warm the mixture a little to get it to dissolve in the water.
Rub honey onto the tips of your hair, leave it on for a few minutes, then wash. It will make those tips look healthier and more vibrant.
8. Use it as a face wash
Got any leftovers from that honey shampoo? Use it to wash your face. So many products include honey because of its healing powers and gentle cleansing ability. Why not use honey without all the added chemicals?
9. Cure that hangover
Use honey instead of ibuprofen after a night with a few too many. We couldn’t believe it either, but the fructose in honey speeds up the metabolism, hence the shorter hangover time.
10. Get rid of parasites
Of course, you just may have to see a doctor when there is a real concern for parasites. But you may also try to drink a daily solution of honey, apple cider vinegar and hot water. The acidity of the vinegar combined with honey’s antibacterial properties may do the trick. Sometimes, it simply takes a little extra work and possibly a change in your diet to get rid of parasites.
11. Soothe dry elbows
Apply some honey to your elbows, leave it on for 30 minutes, then wipe it off. Make sure not touch anything with your elbows while you wait! You may have to repeat this a few times to see lasting success.
12. Eat it raw from the honeycomb
Honey will not be any more raw than when it comes directly from the comb. Also, the honeycomb is said to aid with healthy cholesterol levels, thanks to its long-chain fatty acids. The alcohols contained in the honeycomb are full of antioxidants that help protect the liver as well.
13. Use it on burns
When you apply honey to your burns, the hydrogen peroxide that will be released will clean the wound and ease the inflammation. Plus, you’ll avoid chemicals from other topical creams.
14. Preserve your fruit with it
It’s not too late for preserving fruit. Mix one part honey with ten parts water and pour over your berries to preserve them. The honey actually intensifies the flavor of the berries. You can experiment with different amounts until you reach your own desired sweetness.
15. Pour it in your bath water
Adding just a few tablespoons of honey to your bath water will make it smell sweeter and make the water appear softer. You’ll carry the mild scent of honey around with you all day. Yum!
16. Increase your energy before a workout
Consume some honey before you exercise and the slow, consistent release of glucose will keep you from burning out too quickly. You can also mix honey with some coconut water, which is full of electrolytes to replenish your body during and after a workout.
17. Make your own body scrub
Use it for yourself or gift it to someone else. Mix 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup raw cane sugar and 1/4 cup olive oil to make an excellent scrub. Careful when you use this in the shower — the oil will make the shower floor slippery.
18. Use it to build up immunity to pollen
Though not widely researched, one study suggests that consuming birch pollen honey can be helpful in people with birch pollen allergies. It is not likely that a lot of research will be put into honey as a cure for allergies, so you may end up being your own guinea pig for this one.
19. Use it as a sweetener in your green tea
Green tea is believed to increase metabolism, and so is honey. Plus, honey is known to have a positive effect on blood sugar. The combination of the two may be a great addition to your weight loss program.
20. Cure halitosis (bad breath)
Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon in a cup of warm water. Gargle and swallow, or spit out if you wish. The antibacterial properties of honey can kill the germs that give you bad breath. Plus, cinnamon happens to be an appetite suppressant.
21. Make your own shaving cream with it
Honey mixed with warm water can be used as a shaving cream. It’s soothing and prevents razor burn while moisturizing your skin.
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