January 22, 2009

Action and Function of Organic Raw Honey

We had received so many compliments on the quality of the honey used in our products we decided to include it in our product line.

Honey is mankind's oldest sweetener. Honey has been successfully used in traditional medicines for centuries in treating a variety of internal and external ailments. Bees make honey from the nectar of flowers and they will travel as far as 40,000 miles and visit over 2 million flowers to produce one pound of honey.

Have hay fever or allergies problems? Many individuals eat honey to build tolerances to pollen. Try our Organic Wildflower honey, each jar can represents over 100 different varieties of flowers and pollen sources.

Today many honeys are adulterated with corn syrup, we make sure that ours is pure straight from the hive of reputable apiarists. Our honey is raw and unprocessed. This means that it comes straight from the hive to you. It is not heated to high temperatures like most store brand honeys. Honey that is heated looses the natural enzymes and minerals that are essential to health. *
This honey is light amber in color, has a wonderful floral aroma, and great as a table honey or in your favorite recipe.

New Research Findings about Raw Honey's healing properties

Honey is mostly glucose and fructose. These sugars are strongly attracted to water, forming a viscous syrup. When spread on a wound, honey absorbs water and body fluids, thus dessicating bacteria and fungi and inhibiting their growth".

Raw honey contains glucose oxidase, an enzyme that, in the presence of a little water, produces hydrogen peroxide, a mild antiseptic. Glucose oxidase is destroyed by bright light, heat an pastuerization, so it is absent from most commercial honeys.

- Nutrition Science News, August 1999

Honey Promotes Healing.

A study by Robert Bloomfield published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reports "Applied every to 3 days under a dry dressing, honey promotes healing of ulcers and burns better than any other local application. It can also be applied to other surface wounds, ncluding cuts and abrasions...."

Honey has anti-cancer properties.

Recent studies by Gribel and Pashinskii indicated that honey possessed moderate antitumor and pronounced antimetastatic effects in five different strains of rat and mouse tumors. Futhermore, honey potentiated the antitumor activity of chemotherapeutic drugs such as 5-fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide.

- Gribel, N.V.,and Pashinskii, V.G. Antitumor properties of honey. Vopr. Onkol., 36:704-709, 1990.

C.V. Rao at the American Health Foundation in Valhalla, New York found caffein acids in proplis are inhibitors of colon cancers in animals. Other research shows hive products have the ability to prevent and halt the spread of malignant diseases. Earlier research by M.T. Huang also published in Cancer Research found caffeic acids effective in inhibiting skin cancer tumors in mice.

-American Bee Journal, June 1994
(sweetsunnah.com)

Read more!

Honey For Your Pollen Allergies

A lot of people attest to the power of honey in preventing spring allergies. I personally cannot vouch for its efficacy, but there is a sound scientific basis to it. During spring (May-June), bees flit from flower to flower and collect nectar, inadvertently collecting pollen from the flowers they've visited along the way. The honey that they produce will therefore contain some of these pollen and depending on how the honey is processed after collection, eating this pollen-containing honey will help build a person's resistance.

There are three things to keep in mind, however, for this approach to take effect.

First, commecially produced honey most likely WON'T contain pollen as these are filtered prior to bottling. Honey from small backyard producers are your best bet.

Next, the honey must be locally produced, such that the honey will contain pollen that are common in your area, and are therefore those which you'll have to build your resistance to.

Lastly, you'll probably have to eat the honey all winter long, to build enough resistance for the coming spring. Yeah, sorry, it's too late now, but hey, you can start preparing for next year's bouts of allergies! (allergizer.com)

Read more!

The Benefits Of Raw Honey

Honey in its natural raw state contains 2 predominant natural sugars (Fructose and Glucose) 11 enzymes, 14 minerals, 21 amino acids, all the vitamins that nutritionists consider necessary for health A,D,K, Rutin, Nicotinic acid, B vitamins, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Pyridoxine and Biotin as well as Ascorbid Acid (Vit. C.).

HONEY PROCESSING

Most honey sold today has been commercially processed, resulting in enzymes (which help digestion) and vitamins, being destroyed and protein (pollen) being removed. This processing involves heating and filtering through a cloth or fine filter paper. The end product will remain in a liquid state for a long period of time. When it finally starts to granulate, crystals will begin to form at the bottom of the jar, moving upwards (a sure sign of a refined and processed product, despite the label “Pure” Honey).

WHAT CAN RAW HONEY DO FOR YOU?

Raw Honey was and still is credited with marvelous curative powers. A whole book could be written on all the medicinal uses of honey, from thousands of years of folk medicine to the scientific of the present time.


In addition to its age-retarding properties raw honey has been proven to be from beneficial to extraordinary effective in the following:

* As honey is a pre-digested food (a process done by the bees) it enters the blood stream directly producing energy quickly, unlike refined sugar which has to be digested.

* Proline, an amino acid in Raw honey is the primary component in collagen. Collagen is the main structure in bones. (Proverbs 16.24—health to the bones) Calcium is also found in two forms in Raw Honey.

* Increases Haemoglobin count and can prevent or cure Anaemia. It is rich in iron and copper.

* Is an excellent mild laxative, especially recommended as such for infants and children.

* Raw Honey will prevent and even cure Botulism Poisoning, because it contains an enzyme called Glucose Oxidase, (this enzyme is easily destroyed with heat). Botulism spores can only develop in the intestines of infants when chronically constipated.

* It has been shown to be useful in Rheumatic and Arthritic cinditions, especially in combination with Apple Cider Vinegar (Dr D.C. Jarvis).

* It has been used successful in the treatment of liver and kidney disorders, diseases of the respiratory and digestive tracts, weak heart action, infectious diseases, colds, insomnia, poor circulation, and bad complexion.

* It is not mere theory, but has been proved that bacteria cannot live in the presence of raw honey, for the reason that raw honey is an excellent source of potassium. The potassium draws from the bacteria the moisture which is essential to the very existence. A bacteriologist who did not believe this, after a series of tests discovered to his amazement that the disease germs he tested (typhoid, Bronco-pneumonia and Dysentery producing germs) were all killed off in the presence of raw honey.

* In this book “Folk Medicine”, Dr Jarvis an ear, nose and throat specialist reveals some startling facts about raw honey and honeycomb. He says the honeycomb is excellent for the treating of stuffy nose, nasal sinusitis and hay-fever. He always says that raw honey can produce healing for skin burns and is essential in the diet of children because it provides the composite of minerals needed for the growing body ( iron, copper, manganese, silica, chlorine, potassium, sodium, phosphorous, aluminium, magnesium, zinc, lead and sulphor ).

* Probably the most beneficial effect of pollen (contained in raw unfiltered honey) is that, taken internally it quickly produces the same anti-putrefactive effect as lactic foods and thus contributes to a healthy digestive system and good assimilation of nutrients—absolute prerequisites for good health and long life.

Eating pollen rich raw honey causes rapid combustion, consuming fats which speed up the burning of fat, and continues through the bloodstream at a trickle stimulating the heart without harmful side effects.(themajlis.net)

Read more!

Here are a Few Benefits of RAW Honey

Easily digested: Because sugar molecules in honey can convert into other sugars (e.g. Fructose to glucose), honey is easily digested by the most sensitive stomachs, despite its high acid content. It helps kidneys and intestines to function better.

Good source of antioxidants: It plays a big role in the prevention of cancer as well as heart disease.

Has a low calorie level: Another quality of honey is that, when it is compared with the same amount of sugar, it gives 40% less calories to the body. Although it gives great energy to the body, it does not add weight.

Does not accommodate bacteria: This bactericide (bacteria-killing) property of honey is named "the inhibition effect". Experiments conducted on honey show that its bactericide properties increase twofold when diluted with water. It is very interesting to note that newly born bees in the colony are nourished with diluted honey by the bees responsible for their supervision - as if they know this feature of the honey.

Do you have a cut? Honey is a natural antiseptic. Medical journals cite more than 600 cases in which honey was employed to treat wounds. By applying honey to your wounds, you prevent infections. Honey contains antimicrobial agents, which prevents infections by killing the bacteria in and around your wounds. When using honey it may help to heat it up before putting it on your wound (caution test the heat before you place it on the wound). Many types of bacteria can't survive in honey, so wounds heal, swelling eases, and tissue can grow back.

RAW HONEY
Long used as a culinary sweetener, RAW honey is valued for its many healing properties as well. Treatment with RAW honey is referred to as Apitherapy and includes replenishing energy, enhancing physical stamina and strengthening those weakened by illness or stress.

RAW Honey can also help calm the mind and promote rejuvenating sleep. RAW Honey relieves indigestion and is used to treat cardiovascular disease and respiratory complaints. Finally, a thin coat of RAW honey can be applied to the skin to disinfect and heal minor skin wounds and chapped lips. This is because honey is anti-bacterial.

HAS YOUR HONEY CRYSTALLIZED?
Since honey is made up of honey, wax, pollen, nectar, and other wondrous natural properties - it is only a matter of time for honey to crystallize, to 'attempt' to take itself back to some kind of 'original' state. In fact, when some of the tombs were opened in Egypt, they found honey (it was put there for the entombed - so they would have it in their next life) that had crystallized - it was still perfectly good - even though it was more than 5,000 years old!

To restore honey to its liquid state, boil some water in a pan...REMOVE FROM HEAT. Place the container in the hot water, let it sit there, turn the container periodically, and the honey will go back to its liquid state. This is not pasteurization. Keep in mind that some varieties of honey will crystallize faster than others.

There are advantages to crystallized honey. It is easier to 'spread' on your toast, bread, butter, etc., and doesn't drip! Plus it is perfectly ‘good' honey.

Remember, never refrigerate honey...always keep it in the cupboard, as cold temperatures hasten crystallization - better yet - and this is highly recommended - keep the jar on your table! Enjoy it with your breakfast, lunch and dinner. Feel free to put some on whatever you're eating! It's delicious and good for you too!!

How sweet is honey? Measure for measure, the fructose in honey makes it sweeter than sugar. Honey at 21 calories per teaspoon -- just slightly higher than sugar -- is about 2 times as sweet.

Relaxing honey bath: Put 2 oz of honey in a glass with 5 drops of lavender oil. If the honey is too thick, heat it by placing the glass in warm water. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of the honey-lavender mixture to your bathwater to help you relax and combat insomnia.

Heals abrasions by drawing excess water from the tissues and reducing swelling. In addition, honey contains a germ-killing substance called inhibine, which helps prevent infections. Spread the honey directly on the wound and cover with a sterile bandage.

Help for hay fever: Honey contains grains of pollen that, over time, may have a desensitizing effect, making it useful for the relief of allergies. Hay fever sufferers are advised to eat honey that has been harvested locally.

For relief of asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory ailments: Honey is an outstanding household remedy that can be used in combination with various medicinal herbs. For relief of coughs and wheezing associated with bronchitis or other minor respiratory ailments, mix 1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh thyme in a little honey. Take the mixture orally as needed to soothe inflamed lungs and airways.

How honey can heal

Research being carried out around the world suggests that honey helps in the healing and sterilising of wounds and ulcers, in the growth of new skin, and, has many antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. The reason for this is the unique combination of properties that honey has.

Antibacterial properties

Honey is high in sugar, low in protein and quite acidic. These factors combine to make honey free from contaminants itself and help it to kill the contaminants it comes into contact with. The main antibacterial agent in honey is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is released when honey touches the skin. This is produced by the enzyme glucose oxidase which is introduced into honey by the bee. However various types of honey will contain slightly different antibacterial substances. (lancashirehoney.com)

Related Articles:


Read more!

Raw Honey, Quercetin and Allergies

The conventional wisdom about allergies is that eating locally produced honey, especially in the winter, prevents hay fever. A study at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington tested this notion with a clinical trial. Scientists enlisted three groups of hay fever sufferers.

One group was given locally collected, unfiltered, unpasteurized raw honey. The second was given a national brand of honey. The third was given corn syrup with synthetic honey flavoring. The problem with the results was that all three groups got better. This lone clinical trial in the medical literature did not prove that honey helps allergies.

Chances are the researchers are right. It is probably the case that honey does not prevent allergies, but the good results generations of hay fever sufferers have obtained by eating unfiltered, raw honey are due to the pollen in the honey rather than the honey itself. Pollen is an exceptionally rich source of quercetin.

If this as yet unproven assumption is true, any unfiltered honey will do, even if it is not locally produced. Just be sure to eat 1 tablespoon of honey several times a week, preferably with other quercetin-rich foods.

And what are those quercetin-rich foods? How do you get enough quercetin in your diet to relieve allergies? The simplest thing you can do is to eat an apple a day. Apples are inexpensive. They're available all year round. They are delicious.

Pack an apple with your lunch or for a snack. Your body absorbs quercetin from the apple about 2-1/2 hours after you eat it and your bloodstream maintains a low dose of quercetin for the next two days. Some studies of allergy sufferers in the United Kingdom have found that eating just one apple a week has a beneficial effect in allergic asthma.

For a faster boost of quercetin, eat onions. The small intestine absorbs the quercetin in onions about 20 minutes after you eat them, and quercetin levels in your bloodstream are elevated for about a day longer than if you eat apples. Onions also contain more quercetin than apples. Even better sources of quercetin are hot peppers, Anaheim and ancho peppers among the best. Not to be overlooked are the "three B's," blackberries, blueberries, and buckwheat. (ezinearticles.com)

Read more!

The healing power of honey: From burns to weak bones, raw honey can help

Raw honey – which has not been pasteurized or filtered, and ideally taken directly from the hive – is a treasure chest of nutritional value and medicinal remedies. It contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals and is a natural and powerful medicine, both internally and externally.

The list of honey's beneficial functions is a long one. Honey increases calcium absorption; can increase hemoglobin count and treat or prevent anemia caused by nutritional factors; can help arthritic joints, when combined with apple cider vinegar; fights colds and respiratory infections of all kinds; can help to boost gastrointestinal ulcer healing; works as a natural and gentle laxative; aids constipation, allergies and obesity; provides an array of vitamins and minerals; and supplies instant energy without the insulin surge caused by white sugar. Many have found raw honey helpful for its positive effects against allergies and hay fever, and one or two teaspoons last thing at night can help with insomnia. As an antiseptic, honey is also a drawing agent for poisons from bites or stings or infected wounds, and has outperformed antibiotics in treatments for stomach ulcerations, gangrene, surgical wound infections, surgical incisions and the protection of skin grafts, corneas, blood vessels and bones during storage and shipment.

"Raw honey is exceptionally effective internally against bacteria and parasites. Plus, raw honey contains natural antibiotics, which help kill microbes directly. Raw honey, when applied topically, speeds the healing of tissues damaged by infection and/or trauma. It contains vitamins, minerals and enzymes, as well as sugars, all of which aid in the healing of wounds."

So writes Dr. Cass Igram, D.O. in The Survivor's Nutritional Pharmacy. In a fascinating modern development, scientists and doctors are beginning to rediscover the effectiveness of honey as a wound treatment. In recent years, honey has been used effectively in clinical settings for the treatment of fist-sized ulcers extending to the bone, as well as for first, second and third degree burns. Complete healing has been reported without the need for skin grafts and with no infection or muscle loss. It can be applied full strength to such conditions, covered with a sterile bandage, and changed daily. When the wounds are clean, honey acts as a healer. This also is the same procedure for infected wounds, ulcerations and impetigo. Garlic honey can also be applied directly to infected wounds, which will help clean up the area of infection.

Dr. Peter Molan, professor of biochemistry at Waikato University, New Zealand, has been at the forefront of honey research for 20 years. He heads the university's Honey Research Unit, which is internationally recognized for its expertise in the antimicrobial properties of honey. Clinical observations and experimental studies have established that honey has effective antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Astonishingly, it painlessly removes pus, scabs and dead tissue from wounds and stimulates new tissue growth. "Randomized trials have shown that honey is more effective in controlling infection in burn wounds than silver sulfadiazine, the antibacterial ointment most widely used on burns in hospitals," explains Dr. Molan.

Dr. Molan believes that if honey were used from the start in cases of septicemia, there would be far less tissue damage resulting. "The remarkable ability of honey to reduce inflammation and mop up free radicals should halt the progress of the skin damage like it does in burns, as well as protecting from infection setting in", says Dr. Molan. "At present, people are turning to honey when nothing else works. But there are very good grounds for using honey as a therapeutic agent of first choice."

Researchers believe that the therapeutic potential of honey is grossly underutilized. With increasing interest in the use of alternative therapies and as the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria spreads, honey may finally receive its due recognition as a wound healer.

Indeed, it works: Raw honey makes a sterile, painless and effective wound dressing. Apply it directly to open cuts, abrasions and burns, and cover it with a piece of gauze. The results will occur quicker than with conventional alternatives, such as salves and creams.

Honey is also exceptionally effective for respiratory ailments. One Bulgarian study of almost 18,000 patients found that it improved chronic bronchitis, asthmatic bronchitis, chronic and allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. It's an effective treatment for colds, flu, respiratory infections and a generally depressed immune system. Whereas sugar shuts down the immune system, a good quality honey will stimulate it into action.

Here are some more ways to utilize the healing power of honey:

BURNS - Apply freely over burns. It cools, removes pain and aids fast healing without scarring. Apart from being a salve and an antibiotic, bacteria simply cannot survive in honey.

BED WETTING - A teaspoon of honey before bed aids water retention and calms fears in children.

INSOMNIA - A dessertspoon of honey in a mug of warm milk aids sleep and works wonders.

HYPERACTIVITY - Replace all use of white sugar with honey. White sugar is highly stimulating with no food qualities. Honey provides the energy without the "spike."

NASAL CONGESTION - Place a dessertspoon of honey in a basin of water and inhale fumes after covering your head with a towel over the basin. Very effective!

FATIGUE - Dissolve a dessertspoon of honey in warm water or quarter honey balance of water in a jug and keep in the fridge. Honey is primarily fructose and glucose, so it's quickly absorbed by the digestive system. Honey is a unique natural stabilizer: Ancient Greek athletes took honey for stamina before competing and as a reviver after competition.

FACIAL DEEP CLEANSER - Mix honey with an equal quantity of oatmeal, and apply as a face pack. Leave on for half an hour, then wash it off. Great as a deep cleanser for acne and other unwanted blemishes.

POOR DIGESTION - Mix honey with an equal quantity of apple cider vinegar and dilute to taste with water. This is also wonderful for the joints – and promotes weight loss.

HAIR CONDITIONER - Mix honey with an equal quantity of olive oil, cover head with a warm tower for half an hour then shampoo off. Feeds hair and scalp. Your hair will never look or feel better!

SORE THROATS - Let a teaspoon of honey melt in the back of the mouth and trickle down the throat. Eases inflamed raw tissues.

FOR STRESS - Honey in water is a stabilizer, calming highs and raising lows. Use approximately 25 percent honey to water.

ANEMIA - Honey is the best blood enricher by raising corpuscle content. The darker the honey, the more minerals it contains.

FOOD PRESERVATIVE – If you replace the sugar in cake and cookie recipes with honey, they'll stay fresher longer due to honey's natural antibacterial properties. Reduce liquids in the mixture by about one-fifth to allow for the moisture present in the in honey.

BABY'S BOTTLE - Four teaspoons of honey to a baby's bottle of water is an excellent pacifier and multivitamin additive. If the baby's motions are too liquid, then reduce the honey by half a teaspoon; if too solid increase by half a teaspoon. (Caution: Don't give raw honey to babies under 1 year old; it's just too rich.) For teething, honey rubbed on a baby's gums is also a mild sedative and anesthetic.

OSTEOPOROSIS – Research has shown that a teaspoon of honey per day aids calcium utilization and prevents osteoporosis – probably not a bad idea for anyone over 50.

LONGEVITY - The most long-lived people in the world are all regular users of honey. An interesting fact, yet to be explained, is that beekeepers suffer less from cancer and arthritis than any other occupational group worldwide.

MIGRAINE - Use a dessertspoon of honey dissolved in half a glass of warm water. Sip at the start of a migraine attack, and, if necessary, repeat after another 20 minutes.

CONJUNCTIVITIS - Dissolve honey in an equal quantity of warm water. When cooled, apply as a lotion or eye bath.

COUGH MIXTURE – Combine 6 ounces (170 grams) liquid honey, 2 ounces (55 grams) glycerin and the juice of two lemons. Mix well. Bottle and cork firmly, and use as required.

Raw honey may become granulated, as some does after a week and another maybe only after several years. If the granulations bother you, simply place the honey into a pan of hot water (not boiling) and let it stand until becoming liquid again.

Kelly Joyce Neff has an interdisciplinary degree in Celtic Studies which includes work in cultural anthropology, history, linguistics, language, and literature. She is a traditional midwife and herbalist, a reiki master, and an active craftsperson. She lives in San Francisco.(naturalnews.com)

Related Articles:


Read more!

Replace White Sugar with Raw Honey, It's Good for You

Do you like the sweet taste of honey? Do you like to eat it on toast and a number of other different ways? Have you ever stopped and think that this wonderful treat could have many beneficial and healing qualities in isn't original state? In this case, original state means in its raw state, not pasteurized or filtered, possibly taken right from its hive.

The list of the benefits honey can have to our bodies is a long one. Why? Honey is full of vitamins and minerals and we can use it both internally and externally.

The list of the ailments honey can help is a long one. To start with, honey can help one absorb calcium in their body, it can help fight colds, can work as a gentle laxative, and can provide instant energy without the insulin surge caused by white sugar. It its raw state honey can help with allergies and hay fever. People with insomnia may get some sleep by taking two teaspoons of honey right before bedtime.

Here are a few more ailments that honey may benefit:

BURNS: Apply honey freely over the burn. It can help with the pain and speed up the healing time, possibly without scarring.

BED WETTING: A teaspoon of honey right before a child goes to bed will help aid in the child's water retention and calm the child, making sleep more restful.

HYPERACTIVITY: Instead of using white sugar, use honey. White sugar can cause our insulin levels to splurge.

NASAL CONGESTION: Put a dessert spoonful of honey in a water basin of steaming hot water (be sure to take it off the stove or at least shut off the flame). Place your head above the water basin, covering your head with a towel, inhale the fumes.

FACE CLEANSER (ESPECIALLY FOR ACNE PRONE SKIN): Mix equal amounts of honey with oatmeal. Rub all over face. Leave on face for about a half hour before washing.

HAIR CONDITIONER: Mix equal parts of honey with olive oil. Apply to scalp. Wrap hair and head up in a warm towel for a half hour. Shampoo hair. Hair will feel much cleaner and softer.

SORE THROATS: Allow a teaspoon of honey to slowly drip its way down your throat. It will coat your raw throat, calming the inflamed tissue.

OSTEOPOROSIS: Eat about a teaspoon of honey a day to help your body absorb the calcium it needs.

MIGRAINE: Dissolve a teaspoon of honey in warm water. Slowly, drink it at the first signs of a migraine. Repeat if necessary in twenty minutes.


Raw honey is great internally because it helps to kill bacteria and parasites. It also works as a natural antibiotic. By applying raw honey topically it can help speed up the healing process of tissues damaged by infection or trauma. Raw honey is filled with vitamins, minerals and enzymes that can aid the healing process of wounds.

You can buy raw honey at your local health food store or local farm market.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of raw honey and other nutritional information, you may want to check out Dr. Cass Igram's book entitled: THE SURVIVOR'S NUTRITIONAL PHARMACY.

The next time you start to reach for that ordinary white sugar, think about trying honey instead. Your body will be glad you did. (associatedcontent.com)

Read more!

January 13, 2009

Does honey cure coughing?

By Rod Brouhard

Question: Does honey cure coughing?
No spoonful of sugar needed to help this medicine go down. Honey has been around for centuries as a food and a medicine. It has antimicrobial properties, so it's really the first antibiotic ointment. It's good in coffee. It comes in those cute little bear jars. I don't really have anything bad to say about honey, but does it cure coughing?

Answer: No, but there is evidence that honey keeps coughing down better than over the counter cough suppressants.

Honey was tested against dextromethorphan, a common cough suppressant, to determine which was better at calming coughs in kids. Researchers compared honey, dextromethorphan and nothing at all. None of them cured cough altogether.

Coughing is complicated. There are a lot of things going on in the brain, the throat, the windpipe and the lungs that combine to trigger coughing. Curing a cough is about fixing the underlying problem. Honey doesn't cure anything, but it looks like it is the best bet for getting a little relief at night.

In the study, dextromethorphan didn't do any better than nothing at all. Honey did, but the difference wasn't amazing.

So, basically, honey is better than nothing at all. In this study the kids took the honey straight by the spoonful and they took buckwheat honey, a darker variety with more antioxidant properties than lighter honey. The kids were also supposed to drink a hot beverage after the honey dose.

I've seen lots of recipes for honey cures. Sometimes it's mixed with lemon juice, which sounds good but wasn't tested here.

Currently, there is no cure for coughing. Since kids shouldn't take cough medicine, there aren't a lot of options to get relief.

Honey might be right for your child. Remember that honey should never be given to infants; they could get a botulism infection from it. Only give it to kids older than a year and don't expect miracles.

Source:
Paul, I.M., et al. "Effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and no treatment on nocturnal cough and sleep quality for coughing children and their parents." Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. Dec 2007 (firstaid.about.com)

Related Articles:


Read more!

How to use Lemon and Honey to Treat Cough

By: waheed elqalatawy

Browse the internet for remedies to treat cough and you will find tens of them from all the world countries use Lemon or Orange , and a fewer number uses honey with or without Lemon.

Unfortunately, they use them the wrong way that made people prefer to use supplementary vitamin C for more convenience and with comparable results. Almost all people CUT the lemon and squeeze it to get its juice, yet cutting the Lemon peel may release enzymes recently found in the rind of many fruits, and these enzymes may change some costituints of the Lemon juice.

For hundreds of years, the best way to use Lemon to cure cough was to boil the INTACT Lemon in water before squeezing it, and no body knew why. In view of the recent findings, the cause may be that boiling the lemon kills enzymes present in its rind ( enzyme denaturation).

The procedure to prepare the best natural cure of cough is as follows:
1- Fill a can with water and put a middle or big sized Lemon.
2- Leave the can to boil for about 10-15 minutes till it bocomes soft but intact.
3- Take the Lemon and squeeze it to extract its juice.
4- Clear the juice or filter it.
5- Add the juice to 1/2 cup of honey ( or about 60 ml).

Some people - including me- add 30 ml ( 2 tablespoonful ) glycerin to the Lemon juice before adding honey.

Take 1 tablespoonful 3 times a day.

This is the best known natural cure of cough of people of any age through all times. Prepare for the fall and winter the right and easy way. (fileblogs.com)

Related Articles:


Read more!

Study: Teaspoon of Honey Works Better for Children Than Cough Medicine

A teaspoon of honey before bed seems to calm children's coughs and help them sleep better, according to a new study that relied on parents' reports of their children's symptoms.

The folk remedy did better than cough medicine or no treatment in a three-way comparison. Honey may work by coating and soothing an irritated throat, the study authors said.

"Many families are going to relate to these findings and say that grandma was right," said lead author Dr. Ian Paul of Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine.

The research appears in December's Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

Federal health advisers have recently warned that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines shouldn't be used in children younger than 6, and manufacturers are taking some products for babies off the market.

Three pediatricians who read the study said they would tell parents seeking alternative remedies to try honey. They noted that honey should not be given to children under age 1 because of a rare but serious risk of botulism.

For the research, researchers recruited 105 children with upper respiratory infections from a clinic in Pennsylvania. Parents were given a paper bag with a dosing device inside. Some were empty. Some contained an age-appropriate dose of honey-flavored cough medicine containing dextromethorphan. And some contained a similar dose of honey.

The parents were asked about their children's sleep and cough symptoms, once before the bedtime treatment and once after. They rated the symptoms on a seven-point scale.

All of the children got better, but honey consistently scored best in parents' rating of their children's cough symptoms.

"Give them a little time and they'll get better," said Pat Jackson Allen, a professor at Yale University School of Nursing.

The study was funded by a grant from the National Honey Board, an industry-funded agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agency had no influence over the study design, data or results, Paul said. (foxnews.com)

Related Articles:


Read more!

January 11, 2009

Honey for Your Cough? A Sweet Solution

By Jane Harrison, R.D., HealthAtoZ Nutritionist

A spoonful of sugar may make the medicine go down, but a new study suggests honey is even better.

With the recalls of pediatric cough medicines, parents are looking for alternative treatments for themselves and their children this winter. A small study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine suggests that honey may be a sweet solution.

The clinical study involved 105 children, ages 2 to 18, with upper respiratory infections. The treatment goal was to relieve the cough, as well as any nighttime awakening due to coughing. The effect of honey was compared to a common over-the-counter cough suppressant (dextromethorphan) or no treatment at all.

Kids who were 2 to 5 years of age were given a half teaspoon of dark buckwheat honey before bedtime. Children 6 to 11 took a full teaspoon. Older kids received two teaspoons. Of the three treatment groups, honey was the most effective for soothing coughs and promoting better sleep in children. An added bonus was that the parents slept better, too.

It is not clear how honey helps. One leading theory is that it soothes the throat and stimulates saliva, which calms the coughing reflex.

One warning: Never give honey to infants younger than 12 months of age. Honey can contain botulism spores that can be deadly to infants. However, it is safe for children 12 months of age or older.

A centuries-old remedy
Honey has been used since ancient times to treat many ailments. In addition to its use as a cough suppressant, honey has these benefits:

It is a source of antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E. The darker the honey, the more nutrients it has.
It contains extra minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, iron and phosphate.
Bring on the bees
Honey's flavor has to do with the type of nectar gathered by each bee from various flowers. Flavors can range from mild to spicy. Experts agree that darker honey, such as buckwheat, packs the most nutritional punch.

Honey is a low-cost, easily digested, safe alternative to cough medicine. And you can keep it almost indefinitely. Store it in a cool location away from direct sunlight in a tightly covered container.

So, the next time you or your child has a sore throat or cough, reach into your kitchen cabinet, not the medicine cabinet. A hot cup of tea and a teaspoon or so of honey may just do the trick.(healthatoz.com)

Related Articles:


Read more!

Honey 'Beats Cough Medicine'

James Randerson, science correspondent
The Guardian, Tuesday 4 December 2007

The following correction was printed in the Guardian's Corrections and clarifications column, Thursday January 10 2008

In the item below we said that a study compared buckwheat honey with dextromethorphan, a common ingredient in children's over-the-counter medicine in the US, and found that honey was more effective at relieving the severity, frequency and bothersome nature of the cough and that dextromethorphan was slightly more effective than a placebo. In fact the study, which was funded by the US National Honey Board, concluded that while honey was the most effective treatment for all outcomes related to cough, child sleep and parent sleep, direct comparison between honey and dextromethorphan did not yield statistically significant differences.

A clinical trial has found that honey is more effective at soothing a sore throat than a common active ingredient in children's cough medicines.

Honey has been used for centuries to relieve a tickly throat and scientists now believe it may be effective because it has constituents that kill microbes and acts as an antioxidant. That means it might prevent damage inside cells from chemical byproducts of their activity.

The study compared buckwheat honey with dextromethorphan, an ingredient in a range of branded medicines. Dextromethorphan is the most common active ingredient in children's over-the-counter cough medicine in the US, although it is less common in remedies aimed at children in the UK. The team enrolled 105 children with a night cough and their parents and split them into three groups. One group received a syringe-full of honey, one a syringe containing the medicine, and the third received an empty syringe.

The team from Pennsylvania State University report today in the Archives of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine that honey was more effective than dextromethorphan at relieving the severity, frequency and bothersome nature of the cough. The medicine was slightly more effective than no treatment at all.

Sheila Kelly, of the Proprietary Association of Great Britain, said: "Having access to safe and effective paediatric cough and cold remedies is essential. Those on the UK market have demonstrated their efficacy through decades of use and their acceptance by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency means parents can continue to rely on these over- the-counter cough and cold remedies." (guardian.co.uk)

Related Articles:


Read more!

Honey Eases Nighttime Cough


By Anne Harding

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A spoonful of honey can quiet children's nighttime cough and help them -- and their parents -- sleep better, a new study shows.

When compared to the cough syrup ingredient dextromethorphan or no treatment, honey came out on top.

"The results were so strong that we were able to say clearly that honey was better than no treatment and dextromethorphan was not," Dr. Ian M. Paul of Pennsylvania State University in Hershey, one of the study's authors, told Reuters Health.

There is currently no proven effective treatment for cough due to an upper respiratory infection like the common cold. While dextromethorphan is widely used, there is no evidence that it works, and it carries risks.

Honey is used around the world as a folk remedy for cough, and might provide a safe, effective alternative to cough medicine, Paul and his colleagues note in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

To investigate, they compared buckwheat honey, a honey-flavored dextromethorphan preparation, and no treatment in 105 children who had sought treatment for nighttime coughs due to colds. Parents were surveyed on the day of the doctor's visit and on the next day, after those in the treatment groups had given their kids honey or dextromethorphan at bedtime.

Among the three groups, children given honey had the greatest reduction in cough frequency and severity, and the most improved sleep, as did their parents.

There are several explanations for why honey might ease cough, Paul and his team note; its sweet, syrupy quality may be soothing to the throat, while its high antioxidant content could also be a factor. Honey also has antimicrobial effects.

Honey isn't recommended for infants younger than one year old, because of the rare but serious risk it might cause a type of food poisoning known as botulism, Paul said in an interview. For older kids, however, it is generally safe. He and his colleagues used a dosage identical to that recommended for cough syrups: half a teaspoon for two- to five-year-olds, a teaspoon for six- to eleven-year-olds, and two teaspoons for children twelve and older.

"The study offers an interesting alternative to traditional over-the-counter remedies for cough in children," Dr. Michael Warren of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee and colleagues conclude in a commentary accompanying the study.

SOURCE: Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, D
ecember 2007.(reuters.com)

Related Articles:


Read more!

Prescribing Honey For Childhood Cough

A new study by a Penn State College of Medicine research team found that honey may offer parents an effective and safe alternative than over the counter children's cough medicines. 

The study found that a small dose of buckwheat honey given before bedtime provided better relief of nighttime cough and sleep difficulty in children than no treatment or dextromethorphan (DM), a cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cold medications. 

Honey did a better job reducing the severity, frequency and bothersome nature of nighttime cough from upper respiratory infection than DM or no treatment. Honey also showed a positive effect on the sleep quality of both the coughing child and the child's parents. DM was not significantly better at alleviating symptoms than no treatment. 

These findings are especially notable since an FDA advisory board recently recommended that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines not be given to children less than 6 years old because of their lack of effectiveness and potential for side effects. 

The results are published by Penn State College of Medicine researchers, led by Ian Paul, M.D., M.Sc., in this month's Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. 

In a previous study published in 2004, Paul and colleagues showed that neither DM nor diphenhydramine, another common component of cold medications, performed better than a placebo at reducing nighttime cough or improving sleep quality. However, honey has been used for centuries in some cultures to treat upper respiratory infection symptoms like cough, and is considered to be safe for children over 12 months old. Honey has well-established antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, which could explain its contributions to wound healing. Honey also soothes on contact, which may help explain its effect on cough as suggested by the World Health Organization. 

In the latest study, the researchers enrolled 105 children between the ages of 2 and 18 at a single university-affiliated physician practice site. On the first night of the study, children received no treatment. Parents answered five questions about their child's cough and sleep quality as well as about their own sleep quality. On the second night, children received either honey, artificial honey-flavored DM or no treatment about a half hour prior to going to bed. Parents answered the same five questions the following morning. 

The randomized study was partially double-blinded: Medical staff did not know what treatment each participating family received when distributing their sealed syringe-containing envelope. Parents of children who received honey or artificial honey-flavored DM in a measured syringe were blinded to their treatment group. Parents of children in the no treatment group received an empty syringe, and therefore were aware of their child's treatment group. 

Across the board, parents rated honey as significantly better than DM or no treatment for symptomatic relief of their child's nighttime cough and sleep difficulty. In a few cases, parents did report mild side effects with the honey treatment, such as hyperactivity. 

"Our study adds to the growing literature questioning the use of DM in children, but it also offers a legitimate and safe alternative for physicians and parents," said Paul, a pediatrician, researcher and associate professor of pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Children's Hospital. "Additional studies should certainly be considered, but we hope that medical professionals will consider the positive potential of honey as a treatment given the lack of proven efficacy, expense, and potential for adverse effects associated with the use of DM." 

Potentially dangerous effects of DM in young children include dystonic reactions, severe involuntary muscle contractions and spasms. Further, DM is a commonly used as a drug of abuse by adolescents. 

Cough is the reason for nearly three percent of all outpatient visits in the United States, more than any other symptom. It is particularly bothersome at night because it disrupts sleep. Consumers spend billions of dollars each year on OTC cough and cold medications despite little evidence that these drugs provide significant relief. (medicalnewstoday.com)

Read more!

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)