7 Ways To Use Honey Without Eating It

Honey is delicious on biscuits and bread, but did you know that it also has healing properties and tons of other uses besides food? In fact, honey has long been held as a natural elixir that can make the body and mind feel good in plenty of ways. With this in mind, let’s explore a few optimal-yet-not-edible ways you can use honey.

1. Burn Recovery

Honey contains natural healing properties that can help the skin regenerate new cells while simultaneously being protected from bacteria and infections that can worsen the wound. In fact, some studies even point to the fact that honey can reduce the needed healing time while reducing scarring and the need for additional treatments.

2. Hair Shine & Conditioner

You’ve probably noticed plenty of shampoo and conditioning products that have honey in them, but have you ever thought to cut out the middleman and create your own conditioner? Probably not. The truth is, manufactured shampoos and conditioners may have traces of honey, but after they go through processing, much of the essential goodness is stripped out.

When you create your own conditioner, you can enjoy Mother Nature’s conditioning remedy straight from the bees. All you need to do is add a teaspoon of honey to a half cup of warm milk and mix it well. Once it’s mixed, apply the concoction from the roots of your hair to the tips. It’ll make your hair more manageable and help soothe your scalp if it’s dry. This is especially important in the winter or if you tend to use a lot of styling products or heat on your hair.

3. Wound Dressing

Burns aren’t the only wounds that can benefit from the healing elements incorporated into honey. Other wounds, such as deep cuts, can dress wounds better than many off-the-shelf items. The honey sterilizes open skin lesions, reduces odor, and can even minimize pain.

Of course, it’s important to see a doctor if you have an open wound. The honey treatment can come after you’ve gotten the okay from your physician that worse things aren’t going on below the skin’s surface.

4. Face Wash

Honey’s healing and moisturizing properties make it a prime ingredient for a homemade facial mask or face wash. To make a face wash, simply place a dollop of honey in your palms and rub it with a bit of warm water. Massage the diluted material over your face, then rinse it with warm water. You’ll be surprised at how invigorated your face feels after the last of the honey bits have been rinsed away!

For a facial mask, simply apply honey straight out of the bottle onto your face and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. The honey will happily add moisture and repairing elements to your skin, which will feel soft and revitalized once you wash it away.

5. Relief from Psoriasis

Psoriasis can cause painful itching and irritation. The worse the condition gets, the itchier and inflamed the skin becomes. There’s some indication that a mixture of honey and olive oil can be more effective than the corticosteroids or vitamin D, which are often prescribed to patients with this skin condition. 

It’s certainly not going to hurt anything to try, so if you’re suffering from a painful skin condition like psoriasis, try putting a bit of honey and olive oil on the irritated spots to see if you get a little relief from the redness.

6. Hormone Reset

People who suffer from insomnia know all too well the pains that come from being awake when the rest of the universe seems to be sleeping. Honey’s properties have been shown to help the hormones that keep people awake—usually cortisol and adrenaline—reset and find their way back to their natural resting states so the people who live with insomnia can get a good night’s rest. 

If this sounds like you, try sprinkling a little salt on top of a teaspoon of honey when the nighttime hours turn into waking hours. And remember to try meditation and other natural fixers that can help ease your mind and bring you back to a peaceful place for a solid slumber.

7. Acne Treatment

Honey contains antimicrobial properties, which can battle the bacteria that are known to live in pores and create acne. When applied to problem areas, these antimicrobial elements will work their way into the pores with a healthy mission in mind, eliminating the grease and goo that’s causing the pores to be backed up in the first place.

If you have blemishes, simply dab a small bit of honey on the problem area and wait 30 minutes before rinsing it off.

When it comes to producing beautiful honey, Local Hive is the best in the business. Thanks to the care we put into our products, you’ll find local honey made from local bees, no matter what “local” may mean to you! Order yours online today!

This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.

5 Fun Days Out With Kids For A Rainy Day

“Rain, rain go away come again another day” – thankfully there’s no reason to wish away rainy days any more because now there are so many great activities that can get you out of the house and doing something fun, no matter the weather outside. So put down the TV remote and  get out of the house to give one of these five days out a try the next time the rain comes. 

  1. Let the kids monkey around at a climbing centre
    Days cooped up inside can have both you and your kids climbing the walls so put that energy to good use and try climbing the walls at your local climbing centre. If you don’t fancy harnesses and heights then why not try your hand at bouldering which involves no equipment (except some climbing shoes which are usually available for hire) or find a centre with some auto belays and have a go on some larger walls. Climbing is a great workout and a full body energy burner that will be enjoyable for the whole family. Just remember that as with any sport, climbing can be dangerous and so will involve some parental supervision, but don’t let that put you off trying it. 
  2. Bowl a strike at your local bowling lanes
    Looking for an indoor activity that’s fun for all the family? Then why not visit your local bowling lanes and bowl away those rainy day blues. Bowling is a sport that’s very easy to pick up and great for kids, with simple lane adaptations available to make it accessible for all ages and skill levels. Most bowling alleys also have fun arcade games and great dining facilities on site making it the perfect way to while away an afternoon otherwise spent on the sofa.
     
  3. See history in action at a local museum. Become a tourist in your hometown and visit your local museum to get out of the house and learn something new. If you don’t have a museum near you then make a daytrip to one nearby and let history keep you entertained.  Most museums have kid-friendly activities such as treasure hunts, quiz sheets and interactive exhibitions which will keep your family entertained for hours while also keeping their brains active.
  4. Get wet anyway and go swimming
    Did you know that swimming has been proven to reduce stress levels in parents? Science aside swimming is another great indoor activity that will get you and the kids out of the house and having some active fun, making it perfect for a rainy day otherwise spent indoors.
  5. Visit an aquarium
    If you don’t fancy swimming yourself then why not watch the fish do it at your local aquarium. Unlike zoos, aquariums are usually entirely indoors meaning that although you’ll be surrounded by water you won’t be getting wet. What’s more, you can see and learn about all manner of marine life from clown fish to jellyfish, stingrays to sharks. Aquariums are often designed with children in mind and again will quite offer kid friendly activities and a range of interactive marine activities.

This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.