Honey has been used by Humans for thousands of years for its medicinal and nutritional value as a tasty, edible super food. 100% Raw Honey contains a number of anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-bacterial elements that benefit human health and strengthen the immune system.

High-MG strength Honey's such as Mānuka & Kānuka Honey can be consumed for sore throats & oral hygiene, digestive health, used in remedies for cold & flu symptoms, and can also be applied topically to skin (wounds, cuts, burns, acne, eczema) etc

Human resistance to antibiotics has sparked new interest and scientific research into Honey and what further benefits it can bring to the medical industry. Specialist Honey is also used in wound dressings for veterinarian practices and the equine industry.

However, it's important to remember, heating 100% Raw Honey above temperatures of 37°C will begin to deteriorate the natural health benefits and nutritional value, leaving only its sweet flavoring behind. It's best to remember this when using 100% Raw Honey in remedies for sore throats, oral health, digestive issues, and cold & flu symptoms.

While 30-40°C may not be the best temperature for a good coffee or lemon-honey drink, we advise to keep temperatures as low as possible, or adding a little cold water to lemon-honey remedies before adding hot water.

Let boiling hot water cool slightly before mixing with Honey to help keep all the great benefits of 100% Raw Honey.

There are are number of great home remedies and uses for Raw Honey, click here for some examples.

As a dietary supplement, a tea-spoon of 100% Raw Natural Honey, especially high MG Mānuka Honey, is best eaten raw each day, or used in remedies for sore throats, colds & flu symptoms.

Health Benefits of 100% Raw Honey include:
 

• Antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.

• Natural source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Honey is "intelligent food". Everything in its composition is well balanced.

• It has a positive effect against obesity, as paradoxical as it sounds. The simplest recipe reads: “Drink honey diluted in warm water + lemon on an empty stomach!"

• Honey is more caloric than sugar, but helps fat decomposition in the body. Even if its applied externally, on lipoma for example.

• Strengthens the immune system. If consumed regularly, honey increases the number of white blood cells in blood. Furthermore, it increases their ability to catch "the bad guys" (Phagocytosis).

• Supports the development of beneficial bacteria in the gut. This doesn't mean that it treats bad bacteria the same way.

• Provides energy and reduces fatigue. It's easily absorbed by our bodies, not only because it consists mainly of simple sugars, but it has a lot of enzymes and other ingredients in its rich composition that ease the process of absorption.

• Helps to restore vision. 2 teaspoons honey + carrot juice every day is said to have a tangible effect.

• Relieves sore throat when eaten raw. Combined with hot tea for example, it has no effect.

• Good prophylactic against cardiovascular diseases. Improves blood circulation.

• Relieves burns and promotes faster tissue repair. It can be used for disinfection and relief of wounds.

• Relieves colitis, gastritis and ulcer.

• Kills the bacteria causing acne. It can be applied externally.

• Purifies the liver and colon of parasites.

• Helps with anxiety disorders.

• Helps with dandruff problems.

• Relieves toothache. A mixture of honey and cinnamon put in place to relieve the pain.

• Hydrates the skin very well.

• Lowers cholesterol levels and improves blood counts.

• Helps with bad breath. Stir a spoonful of honey and a little cinnamon in a cup of warm water and drink.</p>

• Natural hangover remedy

• Helps for better sleep.
  

These are just a sample of the huge amount of benefits 100% Raw Honey can have, and while the science behind it all is still yet to make firm conclusions - we encourage you to do your own research online, in books and through research studies to find out how Honey can benefit you.

Raw Honey vs Processed Honey

The Supermarkets are full of competing brands selling processed Honeys, often blended with syrups and added sugars.

It's important to read the labels on the containers to differentiate processed Honeys from 100% Raw Natural Honey. The more raw and more natural the Honey, the better it is for you.

Pasteurized Honeys will also have decreased benefits compared with 100% Raw Honey, as this is a heating process. Heating 100% Raw Honey above temperatures of 37°C will begin to deteriorate the natural health benefits and nutritional value, leaving only its sweet flavoring behind.

Generally speaking the darker a honey is, the more health benefits it contains. This is not true however for specialist mono-floral products such as Mānuka Honey, which fall under certain regulations in New Zealand and for export.

Look for the MG rating, MGO Rating or UMF Rating when purchasing high medicinal strength Honey.

An MG rating is one of many methods used to understand the medicinal strength of particular Honeys, such as Mānuka Honey and Kānuka Honey. Generally speaking, the larger the rating number, the higher the medicinal quality. MG testing is undertaken in laboratories to detect the presence of Methylglyoxal, the naturally occurring antibacterial organic compound that gives Mānuka honey it's amazing benefits.

Click here to learn more about MG Ratings and Conversion Charts.

All Helmsdale Hives 100% Raw New Zealand Honey is packaged in our certified packing facility, with every drop in each jar coming direct from the apiary (bee farm) it came from.