It’s
often said that the famed ancient beauty Cleopatra would soak in honey
and milk baths. Well, whether or not that’s true, it’s certainly not
surprising that the story has persisted for so long — honey has a
tremendous effect on the skin. And that’s not all — honey is a powerful
antiseptic and a fantastic natural sugar substitute. Why not look
through for these and more alternative uses for honey.
Health
1. Relieve Hangovers. Had a little too much
fun last night? A few tablespoons of honey, which is packed with
fructose, will help speed up your body’s metabolism of alcohol.
2. Heal Wounds, Cuts, Scrapes & Burns. Don’t
reach for the Neosporin the next time you cut or burn yourself — simply
apply honey to the affected area. Honey works as a natural antiseptic.
3. Soothe Sore Throats and Coughs. Combine honey with the juice of one lemon and drink. It works like a wonder!
4. Remove Parasites. Hopefully
you’ll never have to use this trick, but if you do, combine equal parts
honey, vinegar and water and drink. The combination of these three
ingredients is the perfect parasite killed
Beauty
5. Moisturize Dry Skin. Honey
is a fantastic moisturizer, especially on dry patches, like your elbows
or hands — even your lips! Rub onto your dry, patchy skin and let it
sit for about 30 minutes before washing off. Honey also makes a great
lip balm!
6. Condition Damaged Hair. Honey
is a great natural conditioner. You can simply add a teaspoon of the
stuff to your regular shampoo to smooth your damaged locks. You can also
combine it with olive oil for a deeper conditioning. Let it soak for 20
minutes with your hair wrapped in a towel before shampooing as usual.
7. Have an Amazing Bath. Relax
your body and soak your skin in a soothing bath. Add 2 tablespoons of
honey to 1 cup of hot water and let it dissolve for about 10 minutes.
Add 2 or 3 drops of lavender essential oil and add it to your bath.
8. Remove Acne. Stubborn
acne can really benefit from a small daily dab of honey. Place a
band-aid over the pimple, and take it off 30 minutes later.
9. Give Yourself a Facial. Combine
2 teaspoons of milk with 2 tablespoons of honey. Cover your face with
the mixture and let it sit for 10 minutes before washing off.
Food
10. Boost Your Energy. Quit
turning to coffee for your daily energy boost! Replace your cup of Joe
with a cup of tea. Mix in a tablespoon or so of honey.
11. Substitute Honey for Sugar in Baking. For
every cup of sugar a recipe calls for, replace it with 3/4 cup of
honey. For best results, add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and reduce
another liquid in your recipe by 1/4 cup. Also, reduce the oven
temperature by 25 degrees.