Honey for medicinal purposes has its roots in African folk medicine. Today, it appears to be making a comeback in modern research. Honey has four compounds that contain antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, making it useful for treating various wounds and disorders. These four are p-hydroxybenzoic acid, naringenin, pinocembrin, and chrysin. Furthermore, the carbohydrate in the honey that we consume for energy also has an antimicrobial property to it.
Unfortunately, honey composition varies widely depending on the bee species and the plants that the bees feed on. Depending on that composition, bee honey has been used to treat infectious diseases, skin conditions, gastrointestinal disorders and allergic rhinitis. Probably the most common use of medicinal honey is for various skin disorders. Multiple studies have shown that using honey as a topical agent helps promote healing of even the deepest of wounds such as pressure ulcers and lesions. Even people suffering from severe psoriasis had fewer skin problems after using medicinal honey as a topical agent.
Of interest, various physicians around the world have used honey to combat eye problems, especially dry eye syndrome. In such cases, a medicinal honey solution was poured into the eye to promote tears. Even the International Bee Research Association examined the benefits of honey eye drops by researching its effects on 36 patients suffering with dry eye syndrome in California. They were able to prove there was indeed a positive effect on the patients receiving this treatment. The solutions used in such research contained only 20% honey. And, it was found that honey can kill infections on contact even when diluted.
Because honey promotes healing, it has been used with even more serious eye issues such as cataracts and pink eye. According to one study, many hospitals pack the necessary equipment needed for cataract operations in honey. This keeps everything sterile ensuring everything is bacteria free. If hospitals use this then think how good this is for helping to keep your own healthy eyes.
Of interest, another study rooted in chemistry and oncology, showed that certain honey polyphenols were a promising agent for inhibiting cancer cell production. This study is inconclusive at the present time.
Alternative medicines for good health often come through herbal remedies. But, they are not without problems. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, herbal remedies, including the use of honey, are on the rise across the nation with approximately 25% of Americans employing unconventional therapies for serious health problems. However, these people often do not inform their physicians of such use, complicating conventional treatment methods. Herbal remedies mixed with conventional approaches can have devastating side effects.
Herbal products are not subject to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s rigorous testing and may be overly potent or impure. These are the main issues that cause harmful effects after using herbal products. While honey is one of the few elements studied for adverse effects, it has been noted that certain alkaloids have been present in some honey produced from the nectar of tansy ragwort. These alkaloids are potentially carcinogenic and may pose significant health threats to humans. Tansy ragwort is more common in the Pacific coastal states, but it can be found in Pennsylvania.
In addition, people with pollen allergies shouldn’t try using honey for medicinal purposes. Furthermore, several studies warn against using honey for infants to avoid infant botulism, which can result from the in vivo production of the toxin Clostridium botulinum after it has colonized the infant's gut.
You are encouraged to check with your family practitioner before jumping into any natural remedies, because your body’s chemistry might instead promote more side effects rather than soak in the desired medicinal agents.
If you wish to try it:
Using Honey to Promote Healing1. Boil some water to sterilize it, pour it into a scrupulously clean bottle or jug and allow it to cool. Once it has cooled, add some honey. (Never place honey in anything too hot because it will kill its healing properties).
2. One part honey to ten parts water is perfect. Give it a good shake and using an eye dropper just drip it into your eyes.3. Close your eyes and relax, in fact a perfect time is just before bed and see the results for yourself the next morning. It may take a few days for badly infected eye conditions to clear.
(This step-by-step procedure for honey use in the eye was obtained from Janette Marshall. For more information, visit her website at www.health-benefits-of-honey.com)
References:
Albietz, J., Lenton, L., & Franzco, F. (2006). Effect of antibacterial honey on the ocular flora in tear deficiency and meibomian gland disease. Cornea: The Journal of Cornea and External Disease, 25(9), 1012-1019.
Cupp, M. J. (1999). Herbal remedies: Adverse effects and drug interactions. American Familiy Physician, 59(5), 1239-1244. Retrieved February 17, 2012 from http://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/0301/p1239.html.
Deinzer, M. L., Thomson, P. A., Burgett, D. M., & Isaacson, D.L. (1977). Pyrrolizidine alkaloids: Their occurrence in honey from tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea L.). Science, 195(4277), 497-199.
Jacobaea vulgaris. (n.d.). Retrieved February 17, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tansy_ragwort
Jaganathan, S. K., & Mandal, M. (2009). Antiproliferative effects of honey and of its polyphenols: A review. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, doi:10.1155/2009/830616
Jankauskiene, J., Jarushaitiene, D., Cheksteryte, V., & Rachys, J. (2007) Using 20% honey solution eye drops in patients with dry eye syndrome. Journal of Apicultural Research, 46(4), 232-235.
Marshall, J. (n.d.). Bacterial eye infections? Eye infection remedies for healthy eyes. Retrieved February 17, 2012 from http://www.health-benefits-of-honey.com/healthyeyes.html
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