Nature’s Sweet Delight
Honey is more than a delicious, sweet ingredient you can use in cooking, add to a charcuterie board, and drizzle over cakes. This versatile kitchen powerhouse has a long history of medicinal use, with cave paintings depicting its use that date back 8,000 years. This use was not without merit. In 2010, at the University of Amsterdam, scientists from the Academic Medical Center reported in FASEB Journal that honey does have some incredible medical uses.
Honey contains a protein called defensin-1, which has the ability to kill bacteria. Not only does this mean that honey has the potential to fight infections, including MRSA, but it can also help fight other infections, such as acne caused by bacteria and skin inflammation.
Raw honey is a great way to calm down your skin and make an enriching and acne-fighting face mask. Use enough raw honey to cover your face in a thin layer (avoiding your eyes), and leave on for 8–10 minutes. Once complete, wash the honey away with warm water and enjoy the softening effects. You can also use honey for spot treatment! Just dab a little bit onto your blemish and watch honey work its magic.
