Honey has been used medicinally since ancient times to soothe coughs and colds. It tastes perfect when added to tea and is also effective in relieving symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections. This emerged from an evaluation of 14 studies, published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine Journal in 2020, involving around 1,800 people.
While many of us may be familiar with such uses of honey from our childhood memories of homemade remedies, the history of honey use dates back thousands of years. Humans have been collecting honey for 8,000 years. Archaeologists have even found evidence that honey was cultivated in Georgia for at least 5,500 years ago.
Honey was the most popular medicine for the ancient Egyptians, who used it for everything from healing wounds to embalming the dead. The ancient Greeks used honey to treat gout and some neurological disorders. The Islamic tradition offers honey as a healthful drink, and the Ayurvedic tradition of India prescribes honey to treat eye and skin disorders, including preventing cataracts.
In modern times, these and other benefits continue to be studied as this golden substance, also known as the “the nectar of the gods,” increasingly reveals its healing powers. Elements and compounds found in honey have been found to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Honey is not only a natural sweetener that makes our food so delicious, but it is also a source of nutrients.
Want to know what else honey can do for you? Honey has uncovered five lesser known health benefits of honey based on medical journals and the latest reports.
Honey may promote heart health
A man eats an apple with honey in front of him after a workout.
According to a 2020 review in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, there is evidence to suggest that honey may be beneficial in preventing damage because it is rich in antioxidants such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, which protect cells from free radicals. Damage may be helpful for cardiovascular disease. Antioxidants lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of heart disease. A University of Toronto study published in 2022 across 18 controlled trials and more than 1,100 participants found that moderate consumption of honey, combined with a healthy diet, reduced bad cholesterol and triglycerides and increased good cholesterol.
Honey can help with upset stomach
A hand pouring honey from a jar onto a wooden spoon.
Of course honey can soothe a cough, but it can also soothe an upset stomach. Research suggests that honey may relieve gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea caused by gastrointestinal inflammation. In most cases, stomach upset is caused by bacterial or viral infections, but the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of honey can help prevent these bacterial and viral infections.
A paper published in the academic journal Scientific Reports in 2022 examining 10 types of honey includes research findings that prove that honey may even act as a norovirus inhibitor. Common symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea. A body of evidence reviewed in a 2022 Frontiers in Nutrition article indicates that honey not only reduces infection and inflammation in the gut, but also helps balance the gut microbiome.
Honey strengthens the brain
Close-up of honey being poured onto a spoon.
Puzzles and games are great, but why not complement your brain exercises with something sweet? Studies on honey’s brain-boosting properties suggest that it may boost memory, improve cognitive function, and have antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects. Again, the neuroprotective effects are due to honey’s natural antioxidant properties. Although more research is needed, evidence from studies over the past decade that honey may be effective against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease was reviewed in the journal Nutrients and published in 2023.
Honey helps heal wounds
A hand holds a bowl with honey and a wooden stick.
Honey has long been used as a dressing for wounds and burns due to its antibacterial properties. The Sumerians used this therapeutic use as early as 2100 B.C. According to a recent review of honey’s wound healing properties published in Open Life Science in 2021, honey’s natural antibacterial agents not only fight infections, but its consistency keeps wounds and burns from drying out. In addition, other active ingredients in honey help initiate tissue repair.
Before the development of antibiotics, traditional medicine relied on honey to treat wounds. Given the global emergence of antibiotic resistance, this treatment is becoming increasingly valuable. Studies have even shown that medicinal honey can help treat staph infections.
Honey is good for skin care
Cropped shot of a person holding a honey dipper and glass jar.
The same antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that make honey useful for treating burns and wounds also have beauty benefits in skin care to treat acne and eczema, and to protect skin from environmental pollutants and the damage caused by aging. A natural humectant, honey applied topically can hydrate and balance the skin’s pH. It also works well as a lip gloss.
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