The sweet solution - 3
Doctors are not absolutely sure why honey heals but they are learning new things about honey everyday. Researchers have started believing that the therapeutic potential of honey is grossly underutilised.
If we judge with full justice, the results are sweeter than honey. Many have found raw or unpasteurised honey more helpful for its positive effects. Try to replace use of white sugar with honey. Let us start visiting honey's medicinal world.
Quality life
The most long-lived people in the world are all regular users of honey. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon power in equal parts, are more alert and flexible.
An interesting fact, yet to be explained, is that beekeepers suffer less from cancer and arthritis than any other occupational group worldwide. Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly arrests the negative effects of old age.
The darker the honey, the more minerals it contains. Honey helps in glycogen restoration after a workout. Ancient Greek athletes took honey for stamina before competing and as a reviver after competition.
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.
Distressed tummy
According to the studies done in India, Japan and Canada , it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder, the stomach is relieved from gas. This mixture also cures stomachache and relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.
Research conducted by Somal, et al (1994) at New Zealand 's Waikato University showed that Manuka honey successfully inhibits Helicobacter pylori, the organism responsible for stomach ulcers. It has been proven to regulate gut function, alleviating both constipation and diarrhoea.
Research by Haffejee and Moose (1985) found that honey treatment shortened the duration of diarrhoea in patients with bacterial gastroenteritis, in that patients treated with honey had an average recovery of 58 hours compared with 93 hours for control patients.
For 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.
Cosmetics
Honey and beeswax form the basis of many skin creams, lip balms, bubble baths and hand lotions. Skin care manufacturers have used it for its ability to absorb moisture from the air.
Honey facilitates the healing process and prevents scarring as it stimulates growth of epithelial cells that form the new skin covering a healed wound. Honey and milk are good for skin and often served together. Cleopatra's legendary milk and honey baths are just one of many historical examples of how honey has been used to improve and protect skin and beauty.
Combination of honey, cinnamon powder and water is good. Boil that mixture (with correct proportions) to make like tea and drink 3 to 4 times a day — that keeps the skin fresh and soft. It has been said that applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and different types of skin infections.
The writer is a Healthcare Management Specialist and Visiting Professor of North South University (NSU), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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