Honey is a gift of nature to humankind. The healing properties of honey, cannot be denied. Research has shown that honey can benefit burns, fungal infections and may even protect against ageing.

Honey is also used in dressing wounds as it contains an enzyme that produces Hydrogen Peroxide, which is anti bacterial. Honey has always been treasured as one of the most useful products of nature.

Since ancient times honey is effectively used to treat anemia, skin diseases, injuries, eczema, heart disease, gastro intestinal complaints, cough and sore throat.

Dark varieties of honey (buck wheat) contains more micronutrients and iron than light ones, that is why they are recommended to patients of anemia. Light varieties of honey are easily absorbed by the body and thus have minimum side effects on the pancreas.

For sleeplessness, add one tablespoon of honey to a glass of warm milk before going to bed. For relief from constipation take one tablespoon of honey in a glass of warm water on an empty stomach.

For treatment of acne, grate a large cucumber, add boiling water, let it cool and then add one table spoon of honey and apply to acne affected areas three times a day.

Daily uses of honey:

For a sore throat: gargle with two tablespoons of honey, four tablespoons of vinegar and a pinch of salt.

To reduce cholesterol: Drink a cup of black tea in which is mixed two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and two tablespoons of honey.

For colds and coughs: mix one tablespoon warm honey, half a teaspoon ginger juice and half teaspoon cinnamon powder.

For hair care: Massage the dry ends with one table spoon honey and one teaspoon yogurt. Comb and shampoo after twenty minutes.

Honey has a beneficial effect on the heart because it contains much easily assimilated glucose. It has been noticed that honey has invaluable effect on the weakened heart muscle in various types of cardiac disease.

Honey should be stored in a glass jar, that should not have a single drop of water because just a few drops of water can destroy the value of honey.

Processing honey, removes enzymes and pollen and leaves only sugar. If you are buying honey which is processed, then mind you, you are buying sugar at the cost of honey.

Medical researchers say that spreading honey on a diabetic ulcer could prevent the need to amputate an infected foot. The therapy involves squeezing a thick layer of honey onto the wound after dead skin and bacteria have been removed.

The honey kills bacteria because it is acidic and avoids the complication of bacterial resistance found with standard anti-biotics.