The Healing Powers of Honey

October 1, 2020 | by Wendy Westbrook

The internal and external superfood

Oh, Honey. Maybe you are the ultimate superfood of superfoods. Honey has been — and will likely remain — a top beneficial ingredient for more than a sweetener or something to add to a delicious piece of almond butter toast. What we’re putting into and on our bodies matters more than ever in helping us stay physically and emotionally balanced. So, what exactly is honey good for, in and out of the spa environment? Can honey indeed be the ultimate infection fighter, vitamin infusion, wound healer, and decadent spa treatment all in one?

WHAT’S BUZZING IN THE BEE WORLD

The benefits of honey have been documented for hundreds of years, and it’s one of the only food sources that does not spoil when adequately sealed. It must be beneficial for internal and external use if it’s powerful enough to sustain the wear and tear of time without spoiling. I was introduced to some top natural and certified organic product companies several years ago when I became fascinated with honey-infused products, superfood ingredients, and derived-from-earth goodness.

“It’s protective, soothing, calming, and healing nature can nourish so many aspects of the mind, body, and skin.”

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“Historically, people of all cultures have consumed the world’s greatest natural blend of healthy bacteria in the form of honey,” says Alejandra Vasques, a researcher at Lund University. A study produced findings that wild bees’ stomach is full of healthy lactic acid bacteria that can fight infections in both bees and humans¹.

The research also shows that bees’ healthy bacteria die when beekeepers treat them preventatively with antibiotics. Bees’ systems are weakened in commercial farming from being treated with antibiotics, suffering stress, eating synthetic food, and forced to fly in fields sprayed with pesticides.¹

More than ever, we must try to help the cause and source our ingredients in ways that protect our earthly providers and ourselves. We all share the responsibility for the sustainability and protection of Mother Earth. Bees play a vital role in the existence of the human race, and we would struggle to sustain life without them. The extinction of bees would indeed mean the end of humanity.³ That’s a big spoonful of honey to swallow!

HONEY FOR THE MIND, BODY & SKIN

When it comes to the mind; many factors can play into becoming distracted, anxious, sad, angry, or just plain exhausted. Adequate sleep is known to be a top contributor to staying mind and body balanced. Honey is known to help promote better sleep, affecting our hormone levels, energy levels, metabolism, and especially how we feel. Honey is also excellent for adding some sweetness to our lives without the consequences of overeating refined sugar. Besides being a superfood free of caffeine, honey also has quality carbohydrate energy for working muscles. It is blended with an array of vitamins and minerals, including riboflavin, potassium, vitamin C, and some lactic and glycolic acid bacteria.

Also, taking honey before bed is believed to help with blood sugar levels, promoting melatonin release, and detoxing the liver. It is rich in anti-inflammatory factors that soothe your sensitive skin, provided you are not allergic to honey perse. ² It is known to help calm cuts, wounds, blisters, insect bites, dandruff, and can also help with bleeding gums, plaque, and gum disease. Honey has antimicrobial and antifungal properties which make it a proactive first line antiseptic for at-home use.² Honey also slowly releases levels of hydrogen peroxide when it makes contact with the wound. Incredible!

Some days, it seems there could be nothing more relaxing than a warm, honey drizzle body-infusion treatment after a sugar or salt scrub. I recommend a pedicure with an added melted honey application and a calming and soothing honey mask—possibly a nourishing and soothing lip treatment with a warm honey scalp wrap. Think about your very own all-over body mask with raw honey and soaking in an aromatic, herb-infused salt blend bath.

Lastly, using honey at home or in the spa can reap many benefits for you and your clients, and it truly matches with the farm-to-spa theme booming in the industry. It’s protective, soothing, calming, and healing nature can nourish so many aspects of the mind, body, and skin. Honey appears to be a true and pure superfood with the power to help heal on so many levels dating back centuries. Its delicious, sweet taste and aroma can brighten even the dullest of days. How about finishing off the day with an aromatic honey & peppermint tea for a nightcap to calm anxiety and naturally quiet down the busy mind?

Bee sweet and make sure to support your local honey sources and beekeepers — they play a critical role in sustaining the life of bees, our planet, and our well-being.

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