Energetics: Neutral
Taste: Sweet
Raw, unprocessed honey has the most medicinal and nutritional value. It is known for its antioxidant, antibiotic, and antiviral capabilities. Because of its extremely high sugar content and its low moisture content, liquid honey does not spoil; it can actually kill bacteria and airborne yeasts that it comes in contact with. In addition to its uses in cooking, baking and as a general food, honey has a variety of medicinal uses. It has been used over time as a laxative, a demulcent (to soothe and soften inflamed membranes), an emollient (in the treatment of chronic bronchitis), and as a remedy for dry throat. It has been used to treat coughs, stomach pain, burns, dry skin, and constipation, and to enhance the functioning of the immune system in the elderly population.
****Honey may also be potentially dangerous for infants due to the possibility of botulinum spores, which can survive in honey and may affect an infant’s digestive system.
Honey is also an ideal first-aid dressing material, especially for patients in remote locations when there could be time for infection to have set in before medical treatment is obtained: it is readily available and simple to use. It would be particularly suitable for first-aid treatment for burns, where emergency dousing or cooling frequently involves the use of contaminated water which then leads to heavy infection of the traumatized tissue. As well as providing an immediate anti-inflammatory treatment the honey would provide an antibacterial action and a barrier to further infection of the wound. Honey used as a wound dressing has been reported to promote the formation of clean healthy granulation tissue.
As the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is becoming a major problem, raw honey may be a wise choice when it comes to treating burns and wounds. (http://www.drgrotte.com/honey-medicine.shtml)
Combine Honey + Mustard for a yummy honey mustard sauce (recipe included in previous “Mustard” blog).