Honey is one of the oldest remedies in the world. Archaeological evidence shows that as early as the Neolithic period, people living on the Greek island of Crete were making, using and exporting honey-based medicines. They created honey with specific healing properties by locating hives near medicinal plants, such as sage and thyme, as they bloomed—a practice beekeepers still use today.

The medicinal use of honey was widespread throughout the eastern Mediterranean, and not just prevalent on Crete. Ancient texts by Hippocrates, Galen and Avicenna all describe the healing powers of honey. In the United States, the use of honey to treat infections was abandoned in the 1940’s, when antibiotics became widely available. But now, modern medicine is rediscovering it.

One alarming reason modern medicine has had to look beyond antibiotics is the steady increase in deadly, drug-resistant wound infections such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), also known as the flesh-eating bacteria. MRSA is estimated to be responsible for at least half of all skin infections treated in hospital emergency rooms. Recent research shows that raw honey seems to be extremely effective as a topical treatment for MRSA and other drug-resistant bacterial infections.

No one knows exactly how honey works as an antibacterial, and its effectiveness seems to be the result of a complex combination of factors. Honey has such a high sugar content that it literally dries out any bacteria it encounters. It is also very acidic and contains small amounts of hydrogen peroxide that are activated when they come in contact with body fluids. And, it contains floral residue from all the plant nectars that form its basis. Certain flower nectars contain chemical compounds that are antibacterial, which are incorporated into each batch of honey. This floral effect is what the early Greeks seemed to know about when they put hives on hillsides lush with wild thyme.

Honey can be used to treat other health problems, too. Studies show that honey is a superior wound dressing for burns, especially in situations where normal healing processes have been weakened. Honey has been used with great success to treat radiation burns caused by cancer treatments. Diluted honey can heal mouth ulcers and relieve gingivitis and other periodontal diseases. There is also evidence that eating small amounts of honey on a daily basis may reduce cholesterol levels. And, the soothing actions of honey make it a highly effective treatment for sore throats and coughs.

In addition to all of the wonderful things honey can do, it is inexpensive, available just about everywhere, and comes with only one precaution: it should not be given to infants and children under two years of age; their developing digestive systems are vulnerable to a bacteria contained in honey that may cause botulism.

While undiluted, raw honey is recommended for treating wounds and burns, there are endless ways that honey can be used to make herbal medicines. You can easily make herb-infused honey by simply filling a sterilized glass jar with crushed, fresh herbs along with enough honey to completely cover the herbs. Let the mixture steep in the sun for a few weeks, then strain out the herbs, discard, and store the honey for future use. Herbal honey can be taken by the spoonful as needed, drizzled on fruit, or added to herbal teas, cooked cereals or yogurt. Could there be a more delightful way to use herbs?

While the summer sun is strong and aromatic herbs are abundant, take a few minutes to make up some herbal honeys for winter. You’ll find many uses for these remedies, and once you begin integrating them into your routine, you won’t want to be without them.
Patricia Kyritsi Howell, RH (AHG), is the author of Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians (2006) and director of BotanoLogos, a school for medicinal herb studies in northeast Georgia. She is very grateful to the bees for their hard work in making all of life possible. Patricia can be reached at 706-746-5485 or by visiting www.botanolgos.com.

GREEK HONEY FOR COUGHS AND COLDS
To calm coughs and soothe scratchy sore throats, take a teaspoon at a time as needed, or dissolve a teaspoon of honey in a cup of herb tea.
Ingredients:
1 pint of raw honey
Enough fresh sage leaves and thyme branches to fill a pint jar
15 cloves fresh garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
Directions:
Sterilize a one-pint canning jar and lid. Coarsely chop the herbs and put into the jar. Use a wooden spoon to crush the herbs as much as possible. Add the garlic. Fill the jar with honey all the way to the top. Cover securely. Place the jar in a sunny place for about two weeks. Shake often. After two weeks, pour the honey and herb mixture through a wire strainer into a second sterilized pint jar. Store strained honey in a cool, dark place. Use as needed.

HONEY ANTIBACTERIAL BLEND
Use this blend as a topical wound dressing for infections.
Ingredients:
½ cup raw honey
½ tsp goldenseal root powder
1 clove fresh garlic, coarsely chopped
1 fresh comfrey leaf (about 6 to 8 inches long), coarsely chopped
5 drops essential oil of lavender
2 drops essential oil of mastic or tea tree
Directions:
In a medium-sized mortar and pestle, pound together the comfrey leaf and garlic to form a smooth paste. Add a little honey if needed to make a smooth mixture. Slowly add the goldenseal powder and continue to blend the paste. Add honey about one tablespoon at a time and mix well after each addition. You may need to switch from using the pestle to using a soup spoon at some point. When well blended, scrape the mixture out of the mortar into a small, wide-mouthed jar. Add the essential oils and stir with a chopstick or knife to incorporate the oils. Cover and store in a cool place. To use, apply a thin layer to wounds or skin ulcers. Bandage loosely with gauze. Use as needed to treat infections and promote wound healing.

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