STRESS-RELIEVING TEA
We could all use a little less stress in our lives. Between work, family, and frenzied schedules . . . there’s a lot to work through on a day-to-day basis. I don’t know about you, but I’m always in search of ways to relax more and stress less. I try to sleep enough; spend time with people I love; exercise; keep my intake of sugar, alcohol, and caffeine to “responsible adult” levels; and generally stay on top of my overall physical and mental health. That said, there’s no amount of sleep or group hugs that will make meeting deadlines or troubling global events go away, and sometimes the body’s natural alarm switch—the one that controls the “fight or flight” response—gets stuck in the On position. When that happens, it’s hard to sleep, it’s hard to concentrate, and—I loathe to admit—it’s easy to lose patience with everything and everyone. I wish I could tell you that honey can fix it all. Sorry, folks. Pouring honey on your bills won’t make them disappear, but drinking honey tea can promote relaxation and help ease you to sleep at night!! Since honey raises our insulin slightly and allows tryptophan (the stuff famous for making us sleepy after eating Thanksgiving turkey) enter our brain more easily, sipping on honey before bed—or anytime we feel overwhelmed with stress—can help promote relaxation and restful sleep.
Serves 1
1 cup water
2 to 3 tablespoons dried peppermint, chamomile, or lemon balm (or another calming herb)
1 to 2 tablespoons honey
1. Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat.
2. Add the herb and allow to steep for 3 for 5 minutes.
3. Strain the tea into a mug, then stir in 1 tablespoon of honey, adding more to taste, as necessary.
Note: If stress is interfering with your daily life or contributing to chronic depression or anxiety, talk to a physician or therapist.
HOT GINGER COLD REMEDY
When my dad was a kid—or so the story goes—my grandfather used to make him a warm concoction of honey, whiskey, and tea to ward off a cold. I recently remembered hearing this tale and thought, Well, that can’t be right—that “remedy” is basically a hot toddy. I’m sure my grandfather didn’t give a cocktail to my dad as a sick CHILD! So, I e-mailed him to quell my curiosity and, sure enough, his response: “Yep. He gave it to me and it worked.” As I thought about it, I realized my grandfather was sort of onto something. Honey inhibits the growth of microbes that cause infection and also contains antiviral properties, the steam from a warm beverage helps open sinuses, and—believe it or not—alcohol dilates blood vessels just enough to make it easier for mucous membranes to deal with an infection. It makes sense! Well, except for the whole contributing-to-the-delinquency-of-a-minor thing, but we’ll just chalk that up to a different time. This recipe is a great way to soothe and suppress cold symptoms. The addition of warming ginger to the age-old concoction brings a potent anti-inflammatory that helps ease symptoms. And the whiskey is optional, of course, but it’s technically medicinal and isn’t everyone always saying you should “drink plenty of fluids” when you’re sick . . . ?
Makes 1 treatment
1 cup water
One 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated, minced, or thinly sliced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 ½ ounces whiskey (optional)
1. Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Add the ginger, remove from the heat, and allow to steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, place the lemon juice and honey in a mug. Strain the ginger tea into the mug and stir well to combine. Add the shot of whiskey, if you like.
SORE THROAT SOOTHER
Honey all on its own is a very effective sore throat remedy, because it’s antibacterial and it acts as a hypertonic osmotic, which is science-speak for something that draws water out of inflamed tissue. So, coating a sore, irritated throat with honey reduces swelling and discomfort. You could easily find relief by just downing a spoonful of honey, but there’s something especially soothing about sipping something warm when you’re under the weather. No matter the cause of your sore throat—from illness to dry weather to screaming at your favorite sporting event (no judgment here!)—this very simple remedy will have you feeling better in no time.
Makes 1 treatment
2 to 3 teaspoons honey
1 cup hot water or brewed herbal tea
1. Combine the honey and warm liquid in a mug. Stir to combine.
2. Sip slowly.
COUGH SYRUP
Here’s something cool: In a double-blind study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, researchers found that buckwheat honey worked better than dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant found in lots of over-the-counter cough syrups) at reducing the frequency and severity of coughing episodes for children. Want to know what’s even cooler? The kids weren’t the only ones who slept better; the study found that their parents did, too! Sign me up!
Why buckwheat honey? The dark, strongly flavored honey is rich in antioxidants as well as antibacterial and antiviral substances that promote healing—and not just in kids. The olive oil soothes and coats, helping everything slide down. This remedy is good for any annoying cough, be the cougher young or old. And by the way, buckwheat is not wheat, it is a completely different botanical species called Fagopyrum esculentum, so if you’re gluten-free or Paleo or otherwise wheat-averse, don’t worry. And if you happen not to have buckwheat honey on hand—though I do recommend tracking some down—making this remedy with another good raw honey will help ease your cough.
Makes about 1 cup
¾ cup buckwheat honey or other raw honey
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Juice of 3 lemons (about 1/3 cup)
1. Place all the ingredients in a glass jar or bottle. Shake or stir to combine. Store in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 weeks or on the counter for up to 2 weeks.
2. To use: Simply give a spoonful as often as needed to soothe coughing (1 to 2 spoonfuls per hour, as necessary).
Important note: Pediatricians recommend waiting until babies are at least 12 months old before feeding them honey because it can contain bacteria that can cause botulism. These bacteria are harmless to adults and children over the age of one, but they can make babies, whose digestive and immune systems are still immature, very sick.
HERBAL COUGH DROPS
Whether it’s allergy season or you’ve managed to pick up a cold or the flu, a sore throat is an unfortunate inevitability for us all—at some point, anyway. Cough drops are one of the sources of relief you may find yourself reaching for at the drugstore. But have you ever taken a good, hard look at the selection in your pharmacy? I mean really looked at the ingredient list on the back of all those cough drop packages? They’re mostly full of artificial sweeteners, dyes, and tons of other weird, unpronounceable additives. I just can’t. Fortunately, making an all-natural cough drop that actually works and is safe for just about everyone in the family (at least those who can manage a cough drop) is totally doable. This recipe features honey, of course, but also relies on slippery elm powder, a natural product made from a type of tree bark that not only soothes, but contains a substance called mucilage that becomes gel-like when combined with water or honey and results in a hard lozenge that requires no cooking at all! This is great news because, if you’ve ever tried to make candy with honey, you how easily it burns—it’s nearly impossible not to end up with a bitter-tasting, scorched mess. This recipe is quick and easy to put together, but does require a long curing time—at least a day, so factor that in when making it. If you want to shave some hours off that time, you can dry out the lozenges in a 200°F oven or a dehydrator for a few hours.
Makes about 36 cough drops
1 cup slippery elm powder
4 to 6 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 drops orange extract
6 drops lemon extract
1. Place the slippery elm powder, 4 tablespoons of the honey, and the cinnamon in a medium bowl. Stir to combine. You should end up with something resembling soft dough. If the mixture is dry and crumbly, you can add up to 2 more tablespoons of honey to make it easier to work with. The mixture should resemble raw cookie dough.
2. Add the extracts and mix thoroughly until incorporated evenly into the dough.
3. Roll ½-teaspoon-size pieces of the dough into small balls. Place these on parchment-lined baking sheet and leave on the counter, undisturbed, for at least 24 hours, until dry and hard.
4. To store the lozenges, wrap them in waxed paper or store them in an airtight jar.
Note: These are not the glassy-smooth, candylike cough drops you remember from childhood. The texture is more granular, almost sandy, which may take some getting used to, but when these bad boys temper your fury of a sore throat, you’ll be sold. Trust me.
SEASONAL ALLERGY FIGHTER
After a long winter, there’s a lot to celebrate when spring finally arrives: better weather, beautiful blooming flowers and trees, lighter clothes, radishes, peas, rhubarb . . . But for some (nearly 50 million Americans, to be exact), all that freshness triggers sneezing, wheezing, scratchy throats, and swollen, itching eyes, thanks to tons of pollen floating around all over the place! Aren’t allergies just the worst?
Some physicians end up prescribing immunotherapy (“allergy shots”) for patients with really severe allergies, whereby small amounts of an allergen are administered via injection, typically a couple of times a month for a few years, gradually increasing patients’ exposure so as to help their immune system adapt and become less reactive to the triggers. Kind of like a vaccine. Sooooo . . . on the notion that regular exposure to low levels of allergy-triggering pollen is how immunotherapy strengthens a patient’s immune system, and on the notion that local honey is full of that very same pollen, wouldn’t it make sense to just eat some honey with local pollen in it, to achieve the same effect? Seems pretty logical, which is why local honey is one of the most popular and oldest holistic tricks in the book. Just be sure the honey you’re buying is indeed local, and ideally collected from within 50 miles of where you live.
Makes 1 treatment
1 to 2 tablespoons raw, local honey
Take 1 tablespoon of local honey per day for several months prior to allergy season, then 2 tablespoons per day during allergy season. You can eat it straight off the spoon! Of course, spreading it on toast, stirring it into yogurt, and drizzling it on granola are all perfectly acceptable and, perhaps, more civilized methods of intake.
BURN TREATMENT
If you spend as much time in the kitchen as I do, dancing the cha-cha with hot pans, hot ovens, boiling water, and sputtering fat, I’m afraid you’ll have occasion to test out your fair share of burn treatments. In my previous books, I’ve told you about the wonders of apple cider vinegar and baking soda for soothing painful, angry burns and maintain that they’re legit treatments—but truth be told, honey is my favorite burn remedy. It soothes and promotes healing better and faster than anything I’ve tried—and that includes over-the-counter medicines. But don’t take my word for it—numerous medical studies, conducted by actual doctors and genuine scientists, have shown that honey’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties make it an enormously effective treatment for burns! In fact, honey is even used in hospital burn units to treat patients with serious burns. Because it works. The treatment here is for minor, superficial burns from fire, hot liquids, steam, or sun. If you have been burned severely, seek immediate medical care; emergency treatment can prevent dehydration, shock and/or infection.
Makes 1 treatment
Honey—manuka honey may be especially effective, but any raw honey can be used
Gauze pad
Medical adhesive tape
1. Immediately run the affected area under cold running water for at least 10 minutes.
2. Gently spread a thick layer of honey over the entire burned area.
3. Cover the burn completely with a gauze pad and use medical adhesive tape to secure it in place.
4. Change the bandage daily, applying more honey each time you change the dressing.
Note: A first-degree burn should heal within a week. A small second-degree burn should heal within 2 weeks. If a burn is taking longer than 2 weeks to heal, see your doctor to have the burn checked. Seek immediate medical attention for electrical, chemical, and radiation burns—these should not be treated at home.
ANTISEPTIC FOR CUTS AND SCRAPES
Using honey to help wounds heal is not exactly newfangled medicine. People have been slathering it on their boo-boos since Egyptian doctors first recorded its ability to heal skin circa 2000 BCE. With tons of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, honey fights bacteria that infect wounds, thanks in part to an enzyme called glucose oxidase, excreted by worker bees, which releases low levels of hydrogen peroxide when the honey makes contact with a wound. Plus, its thick, gooey texture allows a cut to heal in a moist environment, which can help minimize scarring. And under the heading of “Things That Are Kind of Gross but Also Sort of Cool” is the fact that when honey is applied to wounded tissue, a chemical reaction takes place that makes it smell good. So, um, there’s that. Most minor cuts or scrapes are harmless and will go away after a few days, but since they can sometimes become infected, it’s always a good idea to keep them clean and promote healing. Here’s how to treat minor cuts and scrapes:
Makes 1 treatment
Honey
Gauze pad
Waterproof adhesive bandage
1. Wash the wound with clean water.
2. Apply a thin layer of honey to a gauze pad and place directly on top of the wound.
3. Cover the pad with a larger, waterproof adhesive bandage.
4. Change the dressing daily, until the injury is completely healed.
DIGESTIVE AID
A churning stomach—whether from nerves or from food (too much, too little, simply the wrong ones—I’m looking at you, raw onions)—is no party at all. However, adding honey to a tummy gone wrong can definitely help to turn things around. The soothing properties of honey relieve acidity in the stomach and improve digestion. It also defuses gas, making it an excellent antidote for overeating. If you’ve overindulged or are otherwise having a rough time in your tummy, give this gingery honey remedy a try.
Makes 1 treatment
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
1 cup warm water
Combine all the ingredients in a glass or mug. Stir well. Sip slowly.
DANDRUFF SOLUTION
If you’ve ever had dandruff, you know that getting rid of it is no easy task. Contrary to popular belief, dandruff doesn’t come from having a dry scalp. The cause is still slightly unclear, but dermatologists generally believe it’s a response to natural yeast that’s found on the skin, and it tends to flare up with stress and cold, dry weather. A whole world of dandruff treatments out there promise to rid your scalp of its trademark dry, scaly, even waxy flakes, but most over-the-counter dandruff products are full of chemicals and scary-sounding medications.
For a natural approach that works wonders on frustrating flakes, take that trusty jar of honey into the shower with you. Research has shown that raw honey can treat even severe dandruff problems. Credit goes to honey’s antimicrobial properties, which block the yeast that causes dandruff. Before you try yet another medicated shampoo, give this sweet remedy a shot.
Makes 1 treatment
6 tablespoons raw honey
2 tablespoons warm water
1. Mix the honey and water in a small bowl or squeeze bottle.
2. Apply directly to the hair and massage it into the scalp for a few minutes.
3. Leave it on for a few hours—for long hair, you may want to wear a shower cap to catch drips—then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
4. Repeat every other day for 2 weeks, then once a week for maintenance.
HANGOVER HELPER
Okay, so you had one too many. Last night was fun and all, but today you’re a foggy, nauseated pile of headache and remorse. It happens. And while we’ve all got our go-to hangover cures (Alka-Seltzer? Pickle juice? A little “hair of the dog”? Greasy takeout and reality TV?), what science suggests, aside from time and plenty of water, is to take in some honey to deal with the toxic effects of overindulging.
According to the Royal Society of Chemistry, the fructose in honey helps the body metabolize alcohol, plus it contains potassium, which is depleted when you drink too much and needs to be replaced the morning after. Ingest honey by itself or, better yet, give this yummy honey toast a try. Because, you gotta eat, right? Surely you know how to make toast, even when you’re not firing on all cylinders—so consider this less of a recipe and more of a friendly reminder to take care of yourself. Feel better!
Serves 1
1 slice good bread, such as sourdough, hearty whole wheat, or multigrain
Butter (optional—but, really, is it?)
1 teaspoon honey, Creamed Honey (page 90), or Whipped Honey Butter (page 88), or more to taste
Pinch of sea salt (optional)
1. Toast the bread in a toaster or under your oven’s broiler for 2 to 4 minutes, until it is toasted to your liking.
2. Spread butter (if using) on the toast, then drizzle with the honey and sprinkle with salt.
NATURAL SLEEP AID
Getting enough sleep isn’t easy. From time changes to anxieties to nighttime distractions (read: put down your phone!), getting some shut-eye is often harder than we’d like it to be. Research has shown that adequate sleep can support our metabolism, stabilize our hormones, and boost our mood. Without it, not only are we looking at low energy and bleariness, but also potentially serious health consequences, such as increased cortisol (the stress hormone) levels, and higher risk for hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and arthritis.
Sure, some people can function on less sleep than others (maybe parents of small infants and—oh, I don’t know—superheroes like Oprah?), but in general, we should all be getting somewhere between seven and nine hours of zzz’s a night. Good news for those of us struggling to hit those numbers: honey has been a popular sleep-inducing remedy for thousands of years. When taken before bed, honey actually stabilizes blood sugar levels, supports our liver in detoxification and circulation, and contributes to the release of melatonin—an important sleep hormone.
Makes 1 treatment
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
1 cup warm water
1. Before bedtime, stir the vinegar and honey into a cup of warm water.
2. Drink while warm.
3. Good night.
ENERGY-BOOSTING TONIC
It doesn’t matter who we are—a student, an athlete, a desk jockey—we all hit that dreaded three o’clock slump sometimes. You know it when it happens: your energy takes a nosedive, killing your motivation to do anything that resembles productivity. Coffee and caffeinated soda are popular quick fixes, but they have some serious downsides, such as sugar and/or chemical sweeteners and the inevitable crash that comes after the buzz. Fortunately, there is a better way! Honey! It’s a great source of carbohydrates and a natural energy booster. With a unique nutritional composition, antioxidants, enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids, honey is a natural energy-filled source of nutrition. In fact, many athletes include pure honey into their pre-exercise meal or snack for that very reason. With no refined sugar, no artificial colors (Why are there so many blue drinks out there?!), and no caffeine, this drink is simply all-natural deliciousness that just so happens to promote quick fluid absorption for hydration and quality carbohydrate energy for working muscles. So, the next time you find yourself in an afternoon slump, give this energizing tonic a try. Then, watch out, to-do list!
Serves 2
2 cups coconut water
Juice of 2 limes
Juice of 1 lemon
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon raw honey
1. Combine the coconut water, lime and lemon juice, salt, and honey in a blender. Blend until the honey dissolves.
2. Drink immediately, or store in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 3 days.
MANUKA HONEY PLAQUE REDUCER
You know the old saying: “Some honey a day keeps the dentist away.” Wait. What? Of course not! We all know that too much sweet stuff is bad for your teeth and gums. It rots your teeth and causes cavities! So, using honey as part of your daily dental hygiene would be crazy, right? Wait. What? Okay, here’s a mind-blower for you: Manuka honey, which we already know is more or less magical fairy dust in liquid form, is effective in treating gum disease and preventing tooth decay. Yep, it has been shown to curb dental plaque and bacterial growth in the mouth, thanks to a compound called methylglyoxal as well as a host of supercharged antibacterial, antiseptic, and antimicrobial properties. In one major study of manuka’s effect on dental health, researchers discovered that using manuka honey not only caused a 35 percent decrease in plaque, but it led to a 35 percent reduction in bleeding gums in people who suffered from gingivitis. All of which is to say that using manuka honey is a pretty sweet way to improve your dental health. (Wink.) Here’s a very simple method for incorporating it into your daily routine.
Makes 1 treatment
½ teaspoon manuka honey
1 to 2 ounces room-temperature water (filtered or tap)
1. Combine the honey and water in a small cup.
2. After brushing, swish the solution around in your mouth, as you would any other mouthwash, for about 30 seconds, then spit it out.
3. Use daily.
Note: Manuka honey is seriously pricey stuff, so you’ll want to use it sparingly. You’ll also want to make sure you’re getting the real deal. If it’s authentic manuka honey, it will have a UMF quality trademark on its label, noting that it has been packaged in New Zealand and tested for purity. If not, buyer beware!
PINKEYE REMEDY
In summer, when my family heads to the pool several days a week, you’d think my mom brain would be mostly focused on remembering plenty of towels, snacks, water, and sunscreen so we can all enjoy this relaxed, carefree, fun time of year. You’d think. But would you like to know what my mom brain is actually focused on (while simultaneously packing up pretzels, towels, sunscreen, and dry clothes)? Pinkeye. I think my kids had it at least four times last summer. And while I’m not 100 percent sure where it came from, I’d be willing to bet my beautiful red stand mixer that the pool did it. Pinkeye: an inflammatory condition that can be viral, bacterial, or allergy-related, affects the conjunctiva (the thin membrane that covers the eye). When this membrane becomes irritated or inflamed, the blood vessels enlarge, the eye goes red and—if you’re “lucky”—oozes pus. It’s horrid. Oh, and it’s crazy contagious, which is especially awesome if your kids get it and you’re an adult who likes to wear mascara and do stuff like be seen in public!
So, what’s a busy mom to do when she herself gets hit with this nasty plague that threatens to send the household ecosystem into utter imbalance? Put honey on her eyeball, obviously. I mean . . . if honey is so great at healing wounds, preventing cavities, soothing burns, and killing infection, it must be able to do something for a raging case of pinkeye, right? A little Internet sleuthing confirmed it: honey is commonly used to treat various kinds of eye irritation and has been for millennia. So it’s settled, then. Honey in the eye. This recipe, based on an old home remedy, makes more drops than you’ll ever need. (I hope!) Use the treatment until you feel better, then toss the leftovers.
Makes 1 treatment
¼ teaspoon raw honey
¼ cup distilled water (or water that has been boiled for 5 minutes and allowed to cool)
1. Dissolve raw honey in warm (not hot) water in a sterile jar.
2. Using a clean dropper, place 1 to 2 drops in each eye every few hours, as needed.
Note: Most cases of pinkeye are mild and get better without treatment. If you experience severe pain, blurred vision, or symptoms that don’t improve after a day or two, you should see your health care provider. And a baby with pinkeye symptoms should always be seen by a doctor.