Healing Properties of Honey

by Ben

Have you come down with a cold this winter?

Did you try drinking a cup of tea with honey?

Honey is not that much healthier than sugar from a nutritional standpoint. However, honey contains over 600 components many of which have therapeutic and healing potential. Although scientists (primarily in Germany and New Zealand) are doing ongoing research into the healing properties of honey, it is believed that when bees pollinate honey, they leave an enzyme which creates a small, yet highly powerful, hydrogen peroxide used as a germicide and antibacterial agent. Hence honey is now being used in the medical treatment of burns, cancer, and open wounds. Note: the honey you buy in the supermarket -or health food store- is not medical grade honey.

So, does honey help cure sore throats? It would seem that the jury is still out on that one. Regardless, its dark richness and soothing complexity of flavor sure make it a great compliment to tea and a pleasure for a sore throat.

I must admit that when I began working on this article, I was hoping to find information pointing to the emotional and psychological healing properties of honey. Although I haven’t found any research pointing in that direction, I remain personally convinced of the healing to be found in comfort, and I have found few things as comforting as a drop of honey.

For more on the medicinal value of honey, click here to visit New Zealand’s University of Waikato’s Honey Research Unit online.

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