Working in the medical field for over 20 years as an X-Ray Technician and back-office nurse and now being an active reiki Master Teacher and spiritual advisor for even longer, I would like to share with you in weekly blogs natural and inexpressive ways to heal yourself. Most doctors are dictated and limited to what insurance allows. Manufactured drugs and pharmaceutical companies began in the 19th century. What I will share with you are plants, herbs and oils that have been around since the beginning of time! Let’s begin with honey!
Honey offers various health benefits, including its potential to boost the immune system, improve heart health, and aid in wound healing. It’s also a natural sweetener and a source of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals and has antibacterial properties, and can play a role in diabetes management as part of a balanced diet.
– Did you know that honey contains a substance that helps the human brain work better?
– Did you know that honey is the ONLY food on earth that can sustain human life alone?
– Did you know that a teaspoon of honey is enough to sustain human life for 24 hours?
– Did you know that propolis produced by bees is the most powerful natural antibiotic?
-Did you know that honey has no expiration date?
– Did you know that to gain 1 kg. treasure, do you need the nectar of more than 1,000,000 flowers?
– Did you know that there is a special wooden spoon for honey, and not a metal one?
-Did you know that bee grazing is the healthiest food in the world?
– Did you know that pollen can have over 1500 colors and shades?
– Did you know that the bodies of the world’s great emperors were buried in coffins of gold and then covered with honey to avoid rotting?
– Did you know that bees are the ONLY insects that produce food for humans?
– Did you know that the mother (queen) puts twice her weight in eggs in one day?
– Did you know that bees flap their wings more than 11,000 times per minute?
– Did you know that the only honey that can be enjoyed by people allergic to beekeeping products is manuka honey.
-Did you know that Manuka honey is the best honey for women?
– Did you know that acacia honey is not sweetened?
Did you know that?
A bee lives less than 40 days, visits at least 1000 flowers and produces less than a teaspoon of honey, but for her it is a lifetime!
Honey is essentially pure sugar, with no fat and only trace amounts of protein and fiber. It contains small amounts of some nutrients, but most people typically don’t consume enough honey for it to be a significant dietary source of vitamins and minerals.
Still, it’s worth noting that honey is rich in health-promoting plant compounds known as polyphenols. Polyphenols are a category of plant compounds. Regularly consuming polyphenols is thought to boost digestion and brain health and protect against heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even certain cancers. Red wine, dark chocolate, tea, and berries are some of the best-known sources. Yet, many other foods also offer significant amounts of these compounds.
Minimally-processed honey contains many important bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. Darker varieties tend to offer more antioxidants than lighter varieties.
Antioxidants help neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) in your body, which can build up in cells and cause damage. This damage can contribute to conditions like premature aging, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. As such, many of honey’s health benefits are attributed to its antioxidant content.
Regarding blood sugar management, honey may offer some slight benefits over regular sugar. Although honey raises your blood sugar level just like other types of sugar do, the antioxidants it contains may help protect against metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers have found that honey may increase adiponectin levels, a hormone that reduces inflammation and improves blood sugar regulation. There’s also evidence that daily honey intake may improve fasting blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
However, while honey may be slightly better than refined sugar for people with diabetes, people should consume it in moderation. It’s also important to know that some producers dilute honey with plain syrup. Although honey adulteration is illegal in most countries, it remains a widespread problem.
Honey may also help prevent heart disease. According to one review, honey may help lower blood pressure, improve blood fat levels, regulate your heartbeat, and prevent the death of healthy cells all factors that can improve your heart function and health. Additionally, raw honey typically contains propolis, a resin that bees produce from sap-producing trees and similar plants. Propolis may improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
There is a historical precedent for the use of topical honey treatment for wound and burn healing. The practice is still common today. A review of 26 studies on honey and wound care found it most effective at healing partial-thickness burns and wounds that have become infected after surgery.
Manuka honey, specifically, may have positive applications in burn treatments. However, if you have a severe burn, home remedies are not a viable substitute for emergency care, and you should seek medical attention immediately.
Coughing is a common problem for children with upper respiratory infections. These infections can affect sleep and quality of life for children and parents. One review of several studies on honey and cough in children found that honey appears more effective than diphenhydramine for cough symptoms. It may also help reduce cough duration. However, never give honey to children under 1 year of age due to the risk of botulism.
- May help with allergies
While local, raw honey is often touted as a natural remedy for allergies, scientific evidence to support its effectiveness is limited. The theory is that the small amount of pollen in honey may help your body build a tolerance, but the amount of pollen varies significantly, and the results of studies are mixed
