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Everyone has that old jar of honey sitting in their pantry or lazy Susan that hasn’t been touched in months. The lid is practically glued shut and it takes far too long for the honey to ooze out when you do end up needing it. It’s time to dust off the old bottle and start utilizing honey to its fullest potential. Here are a few quick uses for honey around the house.
1) Sooth your upset stomach:
By this point in life, you know that adding a few drops of honey to your tea can help soothe your sore throat. But did you also know that it can help silence an ailing cough as well? Just take a spoonful of honey and watch your cough disappear. If you’re feeling nauseated, a spoonful honey can also soothe your upset stomach!
2) Heal cuts, burns and wounds:
A natural antiseptic, honey is a great substitute for Neosporin. Put a dab of honey on the effected area and slap a band aid on there and you’ll be good as new in no time.
3) Prevent acne:
Similar to healing small scrapes and cuts, honey is also a good cure for pimple problems. While we’re in the business of putting band-aids on over honey, stick one over your stubborn pimple for half an hour and see the difference that the natural antibodies make. You can also wash your face with raw honey (not the processed honey in the clear bear bottle) in the mornings in order to reduce acne and provide natural antibacterial healing properties to your skin.
4) Workout booster:
Dump some honey in your tea or simply take a few teaspoons plain before working out. The fructose and glucose in honey will give you a natural energy boost to keep you working and sweating hard.
5) Hydrate hair:
Not only is honey a natural moisturizer, but also a natural conditioner for your hair! Add a teaspoon of honey to your shampoo to help repair those dry frizzy ends. If you’re running low on honey but desperately need to defrizz, coconut oil can also help.
6) Moisturize:
Honey is a great natural moisturizer. If you have a particularly dry patch of skin (like your elbow or foot), rub some honey on it. Rinse the honey off after 30 minutes.
7) Reduce allergies:
A spoonful of honey helps the allergies go down! According to a study, Eating honey from the area you live in can help reduce your seasonal allergies. The pollen in the honey builds an immunity to the allergens, just like an allergy shot does — but without the needle.
8) Fight insomnia:
For those who have trouble sleeping, try taking a spoonful of salted honey on the tongue when you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back asleep. The combination will allow you to catch some Zs without wasting any time worrying about it.
9) Make a soothing, natural honey cough syrup:
Quickly relieve a cough with this herbal cough syrup. Kids (and adults) love this stuff, and it works!
You’ll need:
- 1 quart of filtered water
- ¼ cup ginger root (fresh grated or dried)
- ¼ cup chamomile flowers (I’ve skipped this and it still works!)
- ¼ cup marshmallow root (this soothes and coats the throat)
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 cup raw honey
Get the recipe here, at Wellness Mama.
10) Make a a sweet honey lip balm:
Homemade lip balm is on of the easiest DIY beauty projects. This replenishing lip balm recipe uses a bit of honey for a shiny finish.
11) Dark circle treatment:
Honey is a natural skin brightener. Simply apply it directly to your under-eye circles and let it sit for a about 15 minutes before washing it off. You can also add a tiny pinch of turmeric powder to this but make sure you don’t add to much, else you can land up with a yellowish tinge.
12) Make herbal honey cough drops:
Sore throat? Skip the corn syrup laden cough drops and make these easy honey-based herbal cough drops instead. The slippery elm and marshmallow root, paired with the healing raw honey, soothes and coats the throat.
Whether you’re using honey to make a tasty summer treat or to fight insomnia, next time you’re at the farmer’s market, be sure to pick up some raw honey. It’s a great solution to so many small ailments and tastes yummy, too! What are some unique ways you use honey?