Honey has been used for hundreds of years as an effective dressing for everything from pimples, blemishes, skin ulcers, cuts and even major wounds. It’s saved the lives of countless millions (including a young King Henry V who was shot with an arrow through his skull).
In this article from Lund University in Sweden, researchers have been looking further into why honey is such an effective treatment for wounds and other common skin conditions.
The research undertaken by the scientists at Lund identified 13 separate species of “friendly” lactic acid bacteria within the honey crop of bees and also in raw processed honey (like Bee Good’s). These were shown to be completely effective at controlling several very nasty life-threatening human wound pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), among others. These friendly bacteria complement the skin’s natural biome, rebalancing reddened and angry skin and reducing inflammation caused by irritants.
Also, honey’s composition of natural sugars releases small amounts of hydrogen peroxide (a highly antiseptic gas) when it comes into contact with tissue material underneath the skin. These sugars also have an osmotic effect on any bacteria it comes into contact with, literally tearing them apart as the water within the cell is drawn into the concentrated sugars.
Traditional uses of honey for internal maladies have included using honey mixed with lemon for sore throats. Honey coats the throat and reduces throat irritation. Research has already shown that honey blocks the growth of oral bacteria, including those that cause throat infections.
Today, the UK’s NHS website recommends honey as the best treatment for coughs and sore throats over any proprietary cough mixture.
Honey has also been used for centuries as a treatment for many digestive complaints, including dysentery. Again, published research indicates that the friendly bacteria and other properties of honey help support the balance of critical elements of the gut’s biome, combatting many toxin-producing bacteria and are effective when used to treat gastric or peptic stomach ulcers.
Perhaps now, we are finally beginning to understand just why honey is nature’s superfood, protecting us on both the outside and inside. Lastly, it also tastes great and makes effective, award-winning skincare!
