A powerhouse of healing that is often overlooked in modern times is honey.  Most people have had a “hot toddy”  (honey added to hot tea or milk) prepared by generations of mothers and grandmothers to soothe a sore throat, calm frayed nerves, or to relieve the stresses of the day to help ensure a good night’s sleep.  As antibiotic resistance increases, the use of honey as a natural treatment for a variety of conditions is seen as an effective alternative.

Honey is a known antibacterial and has been used for thousands of years to heal wounds.  Work by New Zealand professor Peter Molan on Manuka honey found broad-spectrum action against bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. Manuka honey has a component that has also been used to eradicate Helicobacter pylori pathogen and achieve relief from the symptoms of peptic ulcers.

The complete mode of action is still under study, but it is known that in addition to killing microbes through the release of hydrogen peroxide when honey touches the skin, honey is hygroscopic and pulls moisture from the air, keeping the wound moist, encouraging the growth of new tissue, and preventing scarring. In one direct comparison of honey versus a medicinal antibacterial over-the-counter healing cream, the wound to which the medicinal cream was applied healed faster, but the wound to which the honey was applied achieved excellent skin regeneration and healing.

Honey has long been used to treat diarrhea.  A study in Nigeria found that honey was effective in inhibiting intestinal pathogens Salmonella enterocolitis, Shigella dysenteriae, and Escherichia coli(T.T. Adebolu, 2005), comparable to the commonly used antibiotics.  These are serious infections and the operative words here are may eliminate, and thus modern antibiotics are still the weapons of choice against such destructive microbes.  The suggestion is that as a preventative or a treatment in the absence of other alternatives, the value of honey for intestinal disturbance is a good piece of information to tuck away. There are many causes of diarrhea but a teaspoon of honey in a warm drink taken three times a day can be very effective in soothing intestinal discomfort.

It is well accepted that ingesting honey obtained from local honeybee activity is used to relieve environmental allergies.  Several months before the pollen season begins is the time to begin the routine of daily honey drinks.  For many areas of the country, that time could be now.  

***************************************************

 EAU de LETTUCE

Charles University researchers in Prague tested the effect of diet on body odor.  People were put on either a red meat or meat-free diet and body odor samples were collected after two weeks.  Members of the opposite sex reported that vegetarians smelled more attractive. Salads for lunch, all around.  Hold the garlic.