Raw Honey

Raw honey is about 82% sugar (approximately 40% fructose and 30% glucose with some maltose and sucrose) and contains antioxidants, trace vitamins, and minerals. It also includes phenols, enzymes, flavonoids, and organic acids derived from regurgitative processes.

The darker the honey, the more antioxidants it contains. Of course, I'm speaking of the natural color of raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized, unprocessed, and unheated honey with no additives. The darker color has a higher content of natural plant compounds and antioxidants. Buckwheat honey is known to increase the antioxidant value of the blood.

Raw honey slightly lowers LDL cholesterol, triglyceride levels, inflammation, and blood pressure. It raises HDL (the good cholesterol).

When applied topically, raw honey can heal burns, hemorrhoids, psoriasis, and diabetic foot ulcers. It increases blood flow to the heart and reduces the risk of blood clots, heart attacks, and stroke. Raw honey also helps to prevent some cancers and promotes eye health. But can it also help to heal herpes lesions? Yes, it can!

You can use Manuka honey topically in its organic state. There's no need to dilute it. It is also often listed as an ingredient for Herpes Simplex Virus and Shingles in natural remedy products, such as Shingles Symptom Relief Cream by DermaChange.

Manuka honey and Manuka oil are two very different remedies for remission of herpes. However, they are entirely unrelated.

Honey & Biofilms

Raw honey inhibits about 60 bacterial species, including aerobes and anaerobes. It also works against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (gram-positive more so than gram-negative) and can break down harmful biofilms.

• Topically, a low dilution of about 3% honey (in water) can disrupt biofilms. However, you can apply undiluted honey to topical wounds.

• To take by mouth, take up to one tablespoon of raw honey three times daily. Some people add cinnamon to this method to keep blood sugar from spiking, but it's optional. You can also add honey and cinnamon to warm (never boiling) water and drink it down.

The Herbal Remedies Recipe Guide reveals other biofilm-busting remedies to choose from. 

But Wait. Is Raw Honey Suitable For Everyone?

Children under the age of 1 year old should never have honey (of any kind). Raw honey contains spores of clostridium botulinum bacteria, which can cause botulism in infants. These spores, found in dirt and dust, can contaminate honey. These bacteria are harmless to more mature digestive systems. Still, the digestive system hasn't developed the ability to handle the spores in young babies. In infants, the bacteria multiply and produce a toxin that is poisonous to the infant. I don't suggest giving honey to a child under 18 months unless the child is over one year old and has a healthy diet of various foods.

"Bee" Informed

An interesting fact about raw honey gathered from bees in the wild (a natural honey solution) is that it decreases urinary prostaglandin concentrations and increases total urinary nitrite content. In contrast, artificial honey produced in bee farms (manufactured settings) reduces urinary nitrites and increases prostaglandins (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16132771/). So, in the case of Interstitial Cystitis, consuming natural, raw honey is better than run-of-the-mill store brands containing sweeteners, such as Corn Syrup. 

In The Herbal Remedies Recipe Guide, I've included recipes for making anti-viral honey infusions to ease herpes-related symptoms.