Sweet science

Honey is mostly sugar and water, but it also contains 200 other substances, such as antioxidants, and has long been used in household remedies. Here’s what Berkeley Wellness—a collaboration of UC Berkeley School of Public Health and a team of national writers—says about honey’s medicinal uses:

• Healing wounds: Honey from flowers in specific regions—like New Zealand, Australia and Cameroon—has been shown to speed the healing process and prevent infections in burns and other wounds.

• Treating coughs: A small Italian study found that giving children two teaspoons of honey with milk before bed as well as store-bought remedies aided coughs; however, another found that sweet agave syrup and grape-flavored water helped just as much.

• Relieving allergies: It’s commonly believed that local honey contains pollen that may desensitize people from allergies; however, the pollen in honey comes in trace amounts—and from flowers, not the trees and grasses that trigger most seasonal allergies, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Source: www.berkeleywellness.com/self-care/home-remedies/slideshow/honey-your-health