I'm sure you remember when you were younger and hurt yourself, your mum was always there ready to treat your wounds with soap, water, a dash of Betadine and a Band-Aid.

Did you know that honey is an excellent treatment for wounds and burns as well? Believe it or not, honey is a natural antibiotic, which means it could be used not only as food but also externally. Honey helps to disinfect wounds, sores and burns and promotes healing.

A 2011 review of scientific data published in Journal of Medicinal Food concluded that natural honey was effective in eradicating human pathogens and discusses the mechanism of actions.

Chronic leg ulcers are a common medical problem among elderly patients and have a huge impact on quality of life as a result of pain and disability​. They are very difficult to treat and often require months of antibiotic treatment and sometimes patients end up in amputations.

In 2014 another review of scientific trials (International Journal of Nursing Sciences confirmed that honey dressing was superior of traditional dressings for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.

​Honey's high sugar content and low moisture make it a naturally antimicrobial dressing for deeply ulcerated wounds. It also contains gluconic acid and small amounts of hydrogen peroxide which kills bacteria and reduces inflammation. Manuka honey can be also very effective as acne treatment.

​In the case of Manuka honey, the active antibacterial agent is formed through a nonenzymatic conversion of dihydroxyacetone (DHA) present at exceptionally high concentrations in the nectar of Leptospermum scoparium (manuka) flowers.

Honey as Allergy Minimiser

Aside from its antibiotic properties, did you know that honey has anti-inflammatory capabilities too?

There are no definitive clinical studies proving that honey could reduce allergies, however experts believe that honey acts like a natural vaccine. This is because honey contains small amounts of pollen that could trigger an immune response. This response produces antibodies to the pollen.

Once your body gets used to this type of exposure, it is able to produce antibodies, which protects you against triggers and environmental allergens.

Honey as a Sleeping Aid

Are you suffering from sleepless nights? If taking a warm bath and listening to a soothing music don’t help, then maybe you need a raw honey on your bedside.

Just like sugar but healthier, honey raises your insulin and helps release serotonin, a neurotransmitter that improves one’s mood and happiness. Then, your body converts serotonin into melatonin, a chemical compound that helps you visit dreamland.

That’s not all. Honey has various amino acids including tryptophan. Once tryptophan enters into your brain through honey intake, your body converts it into serotonin then melatonin. This helps you regulate your wake and sleep cycle too.

Honey as a Memory Booster

Fact: your memory processor slows down as you age – and it’s the same for all two or so billion people around the world. The good news is you may not need to take memory boosting pills to preserve your memory. Honey can be hlpful.

According to a 2011 study published in Menopause, a spoonful of Malaysian honey boosts women’s memory during the postmenopausal stage. After taking 20 grams of honey daily for four months, women were able to improve their short-term memory compared to those who took hormone pills. This means there is a safer and perhaps equally effective alternative to save your memory.

Honey Is a Healthy Sweetener that Lowers Cholesterol

In a series of experiments involving healthy people and those with either high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes, honey has proved itself the healthiest sweetener.

A 2004 study determined that natural honey is really good for you. It showed that in healthy subjects, while sugar and artificial honey had either negative or very small beneficial effects, natural honey reduced total cholesterol 7%, triglycerides 2%, C-reactive protein 7%, homocysteine 6% (just like C-reactive protein, homocysteine is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease) and blood sugar 6%, and increased HDL (good) cholesterol 2%.

In patients with high cholesterol, artificial honey increased LDL (bad) cholesterol, while natural honey decreased total cholesterol 8%, LDL cholesterol 11%, and C-reactive protein 75%.

Honey as a Treatment for Dandruff and Other Scalp-Related Problems

Does it always feel like winter in your head even if it’s hot and sunny outside? If you are afraid of wearing black or anything dark-coloured to avoid snowflakes on your shirt, then anti-dandruff shampoo is not the best solution for you. Honey is.

The European Journal of Medical Research published a study that found that diluting honey in warm water and applying it on problem areas reduces itch and scaling up there. At the same time, it helps treat seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff.

You have to thank honey’s antibacterial and antifungal properties for this as well as its anti-inflammatory properties that reduces itching and redness in the scalp.

A piece of advice: make sure to apply the diluted honey on your scalp for three hours before rinsing it with warm water. This will provide you relief against itching and scaling within one week. To get rid of dandruff and other scalp conditions completely, apply the honey-water solution on your scalp once a week for six months.

Honey as an All-Natural Energy Drink

Aside from good diet, exercise or any regular physical activity is required to keep you healthy, did you know that honey could give your body a quick boost before workout?

With 17 grams of carbohydrates per tablespoon and natural unprocessed sugar such as fructose and glucose, these ingredients enter into your bloodstream and give your body a quick boost of energy. The increase in blood sugar gives your body a source of energy during your workout.

Even the National Honey Board recommends adding honey to your water bottle during your workout as it will help a lot in maintaining your desired energy levels.

However, honey is more than just your new workout buddy. Drinking honey and water first thing in the morning gives you a real boost. This combination also works when you are feeling sluggish in the afternoon. This means you can skip coffee, sweets and anything unhealthy to keep you up and running.

Honey as a Soothing Relief for Coughs

Cough and colds are hard to get away from especially when the season changes. Hence, expect a season of flu every now and then especially when your body is under stress and your immune system is compromised.

If you’re down with cough and colds, taking a trip to the drugstore isn’t the best way to go. In fact, if you are eating healthy and taking quality supplements all you might need is some raw honey to tip the scale to a new healthy you.

A study published in the Journal Pediatrics reported that children aged one to five coughed less frequently after drinking two teaspoons of honey at least 30 minutes before going to bed. This is because honey’s thick consistency coats the throat and its sweet taste triggers nerve endings that protect your throat against constant coughing.

More importantly, honey is as effective as dextromethorphan, a common cough suppressant ingredient. This means you can also use honey as a natural alternative for upper respiratory tract infections.

Honey as Your Best Friend in Weight Loss

Many people will think that honey could make you fat because of its sugar content. Well, not exactly. Honey contains natural sugar, which means, in moderation this is good for your body so you don’t have to feel guilty. If you are looking for ways to help you lose weight, then here is an effective suggestion for you: take a tablespoon of raw honey every day.

According to the National Honey Board, a tablespoon contains only 64 calories and is fat-free, sodium-free and cholesterol-free. That doesn’t stop there. Since it is natural sugar, this could help ward off cravings for anything sweet and unhealthy. Once you are able to train your body to choose honey water instead of soda pop, your (unhealthy) calorie intake drops, which means a drop in the pounds too.

​Small amounts of honey are great if you are trying to lose weight because it is low glycemic (low GI). Foods with a high glycemic index rating (above 70) make your blood sugar increase quickly. If a food has a moderate score, between 55 and 69, it will still raise your blood sugar, but much less as food with a higher ranking.

Ideally, all the foods in your diet should be low GI, with a rating under 55 as these types of foods keep your blood sugar stable. Quality raw (pure) honey can score around 35 to 45 on the glycemic index, so it is an ideal ingredient of any weight loss regimen.

Honey as an Immune System Booster

There is a reason why honey can do all of these benefits. It is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory. In other words, it helps your immune system whenever bacteria and other harmful elements try to invade your body. The raw organic honey, in particular, is full of enzymes, vitamins and minerals, which could be your front line defense.

If you are not a fan of Manuka honey, then here’s another reason why you should like it. According to a study presented in the Society for General Microbiology’s Spring Conference in Harrogate in the United Kingdom, Manuka honey reverses your body’s bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

That’s not all. Honey also has antioxidant properties. This means honey is capable of fighting bad free radicals taking over your body and ruining not just your skin but also your overall health.

Honey as Your "Health Pill"

Honey is definitely what you need to help to keep your body healthy. It contains essential vitamins and nutrients your body needs to be able to function properly.

Unrefined honey contains many antioxidants that can benefit your health. It is a known fact that antioxidants in the diet are associated with better health and lower risk of disease so having some raw honey every day is like taking a "health pill".