Should You Add Honey To Your Medicine Cabinet?

If we really look around, there’s a plentiful amount of resources surrounding us to keep us healthy.

One in particular happens to be the sweet, sticky source of no other than…honey. :-) 

As I stepped into my second week of nursing school, my professor showed us a video about a company breaking into the pharmaceutical industry using a natural product. As a lover of finding natural resources to maintain health, I was over the moon. I know many people share the same love for more natural health resources, and I had to share. 

Let me introduce you to, HoneyLab. 

HoneyLab was created by Dr. Shaun Holt and Laurence Greig in 2009. With Dr. Holt’s background as a pharmacist, doctor, and intertwining with pharmaceutical companies, HoneyLab created their company to mirror the drug development processes with natural resources. 

The honey used in their products is a creation of medical-grade honey. In his TedTalk Dr. Shaun explains how the honey you may have at home has tiny pieces of hive and bacteria in them. (He explains this is okay to eat, because your stomach acid will break this down.) However, it is not ideal to put on the skin. 

“Medical grade honey is honey that has been sterilized by 1. Filtration and 2. Pasturaization, making it effective for the skin” (https://honeylab.co.nz/). HoneyLab has devoted time to clinical research and appears to be an effective product for skin diseases. 

You can shop by concern and find medical-grade honey products to alleviate things such as: acne, cold sores, throat/chest remedy, rosacea, and stress. I  personally haven’t tried the products myself, but am looking forward to testing them out as soon as I can. 

Another study conducted by the NIH on the effectiveness of Kanuka (medical grade) honey revealed some promising information. It discussed how often when honey is utilized in the medical setting it is used for wounds and burns to help healing and prevent infections “because of the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity”(Nolan, V. C.). When used on burns or skin honey acts as a barrier between the wound and environment fighting off infections. 

It is also believed to be an excellent healing agent for skin conditions such as eczema, and dermatitis. 

Incorporating natural elements into healing your body of any irregularity is a powerful resource to be aware of. There’s a wonderful gift we have by being able to use natural resources but also having the ability and autonomy to use modern medicine in unison when needed.

Will you be adding honey to your medicine cabinet?

(N.d.-b). Honeylab. Retrieved September 10, 2023, from https://honeylab.co.nz/. 

Nolan, V. C., Harrison, J., Wright, J. E. E., & Cox, J. A. G. (2020, October 31). Clinical significance of manuka and medical-grade honey for antibiotic-resistant infections: A systematic review. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7693943/