Whether it’s a summer cold, or flu season, there is a sweet, healthy alternative.

Over the years I have discovered how to “bee” healthy all season long with a tablespoon of sweet prevention everyday….raw manuka honey.

Although honey is enjoying a growing reputation in medical circles, in current times it is still considered an ‘alternative remedy. But for thousands of years it has actually been used as a ‘conventional’ choice. The Greeks, Egyptians, and other cultures made use of honey as a medicine throughout history. It is one of the oldest known medicines and has continued being used up to present times.

Famous ancient physicians who used honey include Aristotle (384-322 BC), who mentions pale honey “good as a salve for sore eyes and wounds”, and Dioscorides (c.50 AD) who mentions it for ulcers.

The healing properties of honey are even mentioned in many religious texts, including the Bible, Veda, and Koran.

Now in recent years, modern science has started to confirm honey’s place in healing, and explain how it works through the chemical makeup of honey. This has also led to proper clinical studies of some types of honey, and in particular New Zealand’s active manuka honey. 

What is Manuka Honey and why is it different? Manuka Honey is a very potent type of honey (healing honey) found in New Zealand that has been approved by the FDA, in 2007, for use as a medical treatment in wound and burn care. Several hospitals in the U.S. use Manuka Honey as part ot their healing protocol. It is one of the native trees of New Zealand. The manuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium) is the New Zealand version of the tea tree plant. It can be found growing wild in much of the country, but more predominately around coastal areas, with the east cape area of the north island having one of the larger concentrations.

How is Manuka different from other types of honey? Manuka has an extra ingredient with antimicrobial qualities which can effectively eradicate several hundreds of clinical strains of bacteria, including more resistant varieties such as MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus), MSSA (methicillin sensetive Staphylococus aureus), VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci) and Helicobacter Pylori (which can cause stomach ulcers).

Raw, unprocessed honey is far superior to the regular amber color, clear filtered honey most are familiar with. It contains little flecks of nutrient-rich ingredients such as pollen and propolis particles that are supercharged with enzymes and antioxidant compounds. Propolis is one of the most broad-spectrum antimicrobial compounds in the world and the richest source of caffeic acid and aspigenin, supporting and strengthening the immune system.

Partner Manuka Honey with Oil of Oregano to make a powerhouse immune boost.

As for oil of oregano, its health benefits and medicinal properties were first understood and appreciate by the ancient Greeks. Hippocrates, the father of the western medicine, often used oregano as an antiseptic, as well as a cure for stomach and respiratory infections. Oil of oregano, is still used today in Greece as a natural remedy for sore throat and a primary go-to remedy due to its “anti-everything” properties.

Cold & Flu Tea Recipe 

This potion is a very potent remedy and can be taken anytime as an immune system boost or at the first symptoms of cold or flu.

Ingredients:

1 inch piece fresh organic ginger, peeled & sliced

2 cups water

1 organic lemon

2 TBSP raw Manuka Honey or raw, unfiltered organic honey

Propolis tincture

6-8 drops wild crafted non-GMO oil of oregano

Preparation:

Add the ginger slices to a glass teapot or stainless steel tea kettle and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and let steep for 10 minutes. Remove ginger from water and discard. Squeeze the juice from one lemon and add to the water, add Manuka Honey and stir until it is completely dissolved. Pour in tea mugs to serve witha a slice of lemon. Add 3-4 drops of oil of oregano to each mug.

Makes 2 servings.

You can find raw manuka honey and oil of oregano at Act Natural Health & Wellness, 131 Main Street in Thomaston CT. To schedule a Nutrition Consultation with Pam Pinto AADP, call 860-482-8477.