Due to its naturally sweet nature, honey has been consumed by humans for food since ancient times. Honey is made of nectar from flowers. It is collected, concentrated, and processed by bees, then deposited in honeycombs. The actual composition of honey varies. Pollen source, climate, and environmental conditions all contribute to the final product. Sealed honey will never spoil, even after thousands of years.
Primarily composed of the sugars fructose and glucose, honey is a popular “sugar substitute.” It adds a distinctive flavor to baked goods and is commonly used to sweeten tea. Some people argue that honey is a healthier alternative than sucrose, regular table sugar. While it is true that honey also contains other vitamins and nutrients, ultimately sugar is sugar. Excessive honey intake is still discouraged.
Honey is commonly used as a cough remedy, especially for children. There is no conclusive evidence either for or against using honey in cough suppression. Honey is generally safer than over-the-counter medicine options for children and more likely to help than not. It is also soothing for sore throats. The only caveat is that honey should not be given to infants younger than one year old. Their immune systems are not fully developed, putting them at risk of developing botulism.
Those who suffer from severe seasonal allergies can attempt to combat the symptoms with honey. This honey must be raw honey made by local bees. Just a spoonful of the raw honey each day may help the body get accustomed to the pollen. Once again, the data is inconclusive, but it does not hurt to try.
The fact that honey never spoils made scientists look into the antibacterial properties of honey. There are two types of honey with high antibacterial effects. One is manuka honey from New Zealand. The other, honeydew honey, hails from the forests in the mountainous regions of central Europe. Manuka honey is very effective as a dressing for wounds. These are typically minor wounds, ulcers, and mild sores. It helps decrease the healing time. Medical-grade honey is also very good in the treatment of burns.
Honey has been around for centuries, even serving as nourishment for the Greek gods. Practitioners of alternative medicine have used honey for a multitude of conditions over the years. The role of honey in wound healing has the most evidence in modern medicine, but it is definitely a sweet option to have when combating a nasty cough.