National Honey Week

Since its National Honey Week this week I thought I’d share with you some rather fine delights of honey. We all know it taste great on toast or drizzled over fruits or porridge but how about a homemade face mask or what about putting round a cut or graze. But just be warned DO NOT give honey babies UNDER 1 YR! It can cause botulism!
Honey has been used in beauty for hundreds of years - Queen Anne of England used a honey and oil concoction to keep her long hair lustrous, thick and shiny. So here below is some treats for to make at home....

Moisturizing Honey and Egg Mask

This recipe is recommended for dry skin.

1 tablespoon powdered milk
1 stiffly beaten egg white
1 egg yolk
1-teaspoon honey

Mix together and apply to your face. Leave on for 10-15 min. Rinse thoroughly

Honey of a Peach Mask

There is nothing more revitalizing than a peach and honey mask, which will leave your skin feeling soft and silky.

1 large peach or nectarine, skinned
3 teaspoons honey
Lecithin powder or 2 tablespoons yogurt

Mash the peach (or nectarine) and honey and apply to your face. Leave on 10-15 min. Rinse.

Quick Face lift
Use 2 heaped tsp gram flour (chick pea flour) and ½ tsp honey with 2 tsp of water. Apply it all over the face and neck and leave it on for 15 minutes. When removing it remember to dampen a cotton wool ball or face cloth, and wash it off. Not only does it have a tightening effect on the skin it is deep cleansing and exfoliating. Then moisturise

Vanilla Honey and Oatmeal Soap
Melt two pounds of clear or white soap base in a large bowl. Consider cutting the soap base into small chunks to reduce melting time. Stir in one-quarter cup of honey and three-quarter cups of ground oatmeal. Add a tablespoon of vanilla oil and a few drops of your favorite fragrance or essential oil to the mixture. Pour the liquid soap into a loaf pan or soap mold and allow it to sit until hardened.


Spiced Milk and Honey Soap

Make your own soap from scratch with moisturizing milk and soothing honey. Follow any recipe for making a basic white soap, and then add evaporated milk, honey, cinnamon oil and clove oil. Mold the soap in a loaf pan or soap mold. Sprinkle the top of the soap with ground cinnamon as it hardens to add decoration and abrasiveness.

First Aid – once again DO NOT USE ON UNDER 1 YR OLD!
Honey is a mild antiseptic and can help to keep external wounds, such as cuts and minor burns, clean and free from infection. By absorbing the moisture around the wound, honey can help to prevent the growth of bacteria.

Honey for Burns - apply freely over burns. It cools, removes pain and aids fast healing without scarring. Besides being a salve and antibiotic, bacteria cannot live in honey.

Bed Wetting - a teaspoon of honey before bed, aids water retention and calms fears in children.

Sleeplessness
- a dessert spoon of honey in a mug of hot milk aids sleep and works wonders!

Hyperactivity - Honey is a mild sedative with minerals, vitamins, amino acids etc. Replace all white sugar with honey. White sugar is highly stimulating with no food qualities!

Nasal Congestion - place a dessertspoon of honey in a basin of hot water and inhale fumes after covering your head with a towel over the basin. Very effective.

Fatigue - dissolve one part of honey in 3 parts of water and keep in the fridge. Honey is primarily fructose and glucose and so it is quickly absorbed by the digestive system. (Honey is a unique natural stabilizer - ancient Greek athletes took honey for stamina before competing and as a reviver after competition).

Poor Digestion - mix honey with apple cider vinegar approx. 50/50 and dilute to taste with water - aids digestion. (Also reputed to be wonderful for the joints).

Hair Conditioner - mix honey with equal quantity of Olive Oil and rub into hair. Cover head with a warm towel for half and hour then shampoo off. Feeds hair and scalp. Hair will never look or feel better!

Sore Throats - let a teaspoon of honey melt in the back of the mouth and trickle down the throat. Eases inflamed raw tissues.

Stress - honey in water is a stabilizer - calms highs and raises lows (true). Use approx. 25 percent honey to water.

Food Preservative - cakes with honey replacing sugar stay fresher longer due to natural antibiotics. Reduce liquids by approx. one-fifth to allow for moisture in honey.

Energy Levels
Honey is a rich source of carbohydrates, providing 17 grams at just 64 calories per tablespoon. Combining honey with fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and other healthful foods can add to your total nutrition and give you a great natural energy boost. Staying hydrated is one of the most important tools for an athlete. Simply add honey to your bottle of water for an energy boost during your next workout.

Thanks to the National Honey Board & some lovely friends on twitter for ideas!

Comments

  1. I always, always have honey and lemon when I feel a sore throat coming. Works a treat. And I def fancy trying the hair mask! My hair's a mess, so will try anything!

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