15 Household Uses For Honey

There are so many different ways you can use honey in addition to putting it in your tea or on toast. We get it, it’s delicious that way! But did you know that you can also use it to treat burns and acne and it can help you get a good night’s sleep? We selected our 15 favourite household uses for honey for you.

1. Sleep Aid
Taking a teaspoon of unpasteurized honey 30 minutes before you go to bed can be the secret to a good night’s sleep. Honey contains two natural components called glucose and fructose. They both work their wonders. Glucose will make your insulin levels rise which allows tryptophan to access your brain more easily. Tryptophan? It’s that fun compound that will make you sleepy after a turkey dinner. Your body will turn tryptophan into serotonin, which eventually will turn into melatonin if you’re in a dark room. Melatonin is the hormone that regulates your sleeping cycle.
Fructose in its turn regulates your liver’s processing of glucose. This helps your body processes the glucose evenly throughout the night. This can help you get the continuous sleep you have been waiting for.

2. Pre-Workout
Work out or not, your body needs sugars to get through the day. Sugars are broken down by your body and will refuel cells with energy. The natural sugars in honey may just give you that extra boost of energy you need to complete that hard work out. And not to mention all the antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and enzymes unpasteurized honey contains.

3. Stomach Soother
For this use, we recommend using Manuka honey. This specialty honey is produced by honeybees that pollinate the Manuka bush, a relative of the Tea Tree. The natural ingredient that sets this honey apart from any other honey is MGO (methylglyoxal), a long-lasting compound with strong antibacterial activity. It works by drying out bacteria, making it a great stomach soother. Are you suffering from the Helicobacter pylori bacteria which causes stomach ulcers? Take 3 teaspoons a day. The healing won’t be as quick as with prescription drugs, but can be an effective natural treatment.

4. Burn Treatment
Honey can work great as a remedy for mild burns and sunburn. Put a generous layer directly on the affected area and let the honey do the rest. Its many healing properties like antioxidants, enzymes, minerals will speed up the healing process. If you want to avoid a sticky situation, you can also apply honey to gauze or a bandage and put that on the burn. Replace at least every 24 hours.

5. Wound Healing
Almost every household has one or more drugstore items in their cabinets designed to heal wounds. Most of these contain alcohol, which will dry out the skin. A much more delicate product you can use for the cleaning of wounds is… you guessed it right, honey! When honey is applied to a wound, it will absorb the moisture, and with that any impurities are absorbed as well. Is this not doing the trick quite yet? Instead of regular honey, apply Manuka Honey to the wound. Its antibacterial properties will dry out the bacteria that causes infections and can improve healing of the skin.

6. Face Mask
One of our favourite household uses for honey is a facemask. Use honey exclusively, or mix with other everyday items to create a cleansing, moisturizing or calming effect. When using a plain honey face mask, apply on damp skin, leave for 15-20 minutes and rinse off with warm water. No need to go to the spa anymore!

7. Acne treatment
When struggling with bacterial acne Manuka Honey can be a great natural treatment option. Not only can impurities be removed from the skin, it can eliminate the bacteria as well. Apply the honey topically to the face, avoiding the eye area. Leave for 20 minutes and rinse off with warm water. Add in a couple drops of jojoba oil for a moisturizing effect. Make this part of your daily routine and you should notice improvement within a couple weeks.

8. Sore Throat Soother
One of the most common household uses for honey is soothing a sore throat. A sore throat can cause some major discomfort. he antibacterial properties in honey can help reduce a throat infection or common cold. Mix one tablespoon of honey with warm (not hot!) water and add a couple pieces of ginger, or simply use Lemon Ginger Infused Honey.

9. Reduce Acid Reflux
A lot of people know to use honey for a sore throat, but it’s not as widely known that it can also reduce acid reflux. The antibacterial properties have a great effect on the digestive system. Mix one teaspoon of honey with a glass of warm water or just simply eat it off the spoon.

10. Baking with Honey
The majority of baking recipes include refined sugar. Why not replace it with a healthier natural sugar? You will need to modify your recipe slightly, as it’s not as simple as just switching out the sugar for honey. Follow these basic guidelines and let’s get baking!

11. Hangover Cure
The fructose and glucose found in honey can help you quickly bounce back from that all too familiar hangover feeling. Headaches and nausea are now a thing of the past and you can get a new boost of energy for another night out.

12. Bath Time
Treat yourself to a warm, relaxing honey bath. Add 3 tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a couple drops of your favourite essential oils to running water. Pour yourself a glass of wine and wash your worries away. Your skin will be soft and moisturized and you’ll have a new favourite beauty treatment!

13. Hair Care
Dull and dry hair can be a part of the past when using honey as hair care. Honey shampoo and conditioner can help restore and nourish your natural healthy hair and give you beautiful shining locks.

14. Mosquito Bites
Honey is known to relieve itching and irritated skin. Apply it directly to the mosquito bite and feel the discomfort fade away. The antibacterial properties reduce the chance of infection. It is a must-have item on camping trips and summer activities.

15. Charcuterie
Serve a delicious charcuterie platter to guests that they will have them reminiscing for years to come. Add a variety of cheeses, crackers, fruits and meats and drizzle some delicious sweet honey on top. Or add a piece of fresh honeycomb to the platter. A crowd favourite!

As you can tell there are countless ways to include honey in your day-to-day life. It can be a great replacement for many drugstore items, work wonders for your skin and has many health benefits. There is so much more to honey then what meets the eye.

Recommended Honeys