Honey
A pick from my father’s traditional medicine practiced. I can still remember when father was still alive, he collected bee-hives from some tress not far from where we lived. He smoked the bees using coconut fibers and collected the hives only after the bees flew away. I often saw him drank mixtures of honey and raw egg. When asked, he said to get stronger so that he could go to work to feed the family…. poor dad. Later, I learned it was actually a traditional stamina drink.
Long used as a culinary sweetener, honey is valued for its many healing properties as well. The glucose and fructose in honey have been predigested by the bees that produced it. These sugars are quickly absorbed in the human digestive tract, and they have an overall soothing effect.
Honey provides a healthful pick-me-up, used for the treatment of indigestion, cough and colds, insomnia, headaches, general weakness and skin wounds. It helps to restore energy and enhance physical stamina and strengthening those weakened by illness. A thin coat of honey when applied externally to the skin can disinfect and heal minor skin wounds and chapped lips.
Simple application:-
1) As a dressing for wounds – Applied externally, honey is useful for healing minor cuts and abrasions by drawing excess water from the tissues and reducing swelling. In addition, honey contains a germ-killing substance called “inhibine”, which prevent infections. Spread the honey directly on the wound and cover with a sterile bandage.
2) Help for relief of allergies and hay fever – Honey contains grains of pollen that may have a desensitizing effect, making it useful to relief allergies. Hay fever sufferers are advised to take honey that has been harvested locally.
3) For relief of asthma and other respiratory ailments – Take orally a mixture of honey and *ginger juice for relief of coughs and wheezing associated with bronchitis, whooping cough or other minor respiratory ailments.
Honey may be a healthy treat, but take care when using it as a sweetener; 1 tbsp of honey has 64 calories compare to 46 calories in 1 tbsp of granulated sugar. Don’t give unpasteurized honey to infants. It contains a type of bacteria that, though harmless to older children and adults, can be very dangerous to those younger than a year (taken in from my reading).
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