When you think of “sweet and useful”, honey comes to mind. People around the world appreciate the taste and applications of this golden syrup. Be it in popular media or in real life, you can see honey in the kitchen or a household’s general supply. While it may be popularly seen as a food ingredient, pure honey benefits your body in ways beyond dining. Here are five practical uses of this sweet substance.
A Face Mask for Dryness
Honey is known to moisturise the body, which is the reason it has long been used as a facial mask — to remedy or prevent dry and windburned skin. Scientific studies have explored the effects of this golden syrup on various face or skin conditions like acne, psoriasis or eczema. The results vary, but countries have gone on to use honey for skin products that now include facial masks.
When applying a honey face mask, common practice involves combining this nectar with other wet ingredients, namely: avocado, coconut oil, egg whites, essential oils or yoghurt. Spices like turmeric or cinnamon are also popular add-ons to the face mask. Experts advise caution when trying these out in case rashes on the skin occur.
A Honey Hair Mask
Honey’s ability to moisturise makes it a viable hair mask or conditioner. Its binding properties also make it an effective base on which you can apply other hair-nourishing substances. The recipes for a honey hair mask vary, but organic or raw honey is usually recommended. It supposedly has a higher concentration of antioxidants which help protect cells from damage. This helps explain why people coat their dry, damaged hair with honey so it becomes healthy or shiny again.
A Salve for Burns
Medical news have touted natural honey as a salve for mild to moderate burns. Some note how honey contains antibacterial, antiviral, and other properties that let it manage the wound. Applying it helps quicken recovery by reducing the healing time of the burn. It’s no wonder medical-grade honey exists as the standard to be used in wound dressings.
A Natural Cough Remedy
Honey has a long history of being used to ease coughing. While it can’t outright treat the cause of coughing, people keep honey in stock for the relief it brings. Adults and children are safe to use honey for cough relief, but doctors advise against using this on babies to prevent the risk of botulism or poisoning.
Experts believe honey to be a demulcent, which means it helps coat the throat to soothe it from irritation. With its anti-inflammatory properties, it’s no stretch to believe that this syrup indeed works instead of being mere placebo. When using honey to relieve coughs, a popular application is to mix it with tea or warm water.
Relief For Dry Eyes
Besides the tongue, honey also delights the sight. It has been used as a relief for dry eyes for a while now. Manuka honey is used to relieve dry eyes by lessening the inflammation and bacterial overgrowth in the area. Experts note side effects like stinging and redness when using honey this way, so it’s best to consult a doctor first, especially if you have a chronic dry eye condition.
Did you find honey even more fascinating after learning all these? It’s no surprise that this sweet and useful syrup continues to grip both laymen and scientists alike with its beneficial properties. If you’re keen on getting your own honey for its applications beyond food, Get one that’s made by experts. Get high-quality honey.
