Little boy: Why is my grandma’s wound so big?
Me: Because ‘ojuju’ is eating it.
Little boy: Whhhhhaaaattt? Ojuju?
Me: Yes, small small ‘Ojuju’ microbes.
Little boy: Why then are you pouring honey inside the wound?
Me: So that when ‘Ojuju’ comes, he will find something sweet to eat.
Little boy: No, no no, Nurse, I don’t want Ojuju to eat our honey.
Me: You don’t know that if ‘Ojuju’ eats the honey, they will now leave grandma’s wound to heal or do you want them to eat grandma’s leg instead?
Little boy: Okay! Pour much of it in the wound then. Let them eat to fill and take the leftovers home if possible.
Honey is a nutritious sweet liquid produced by bees. It can be in the raw form or pasteurized form. The former is gotten from the hive and bottled directly while the latter is further processed to remove impurities.
Honey has several health benefits. It has some antibiotic properties with other medical uses.
1. WOUND HEALING
This is one of the most popular uses of honey in western medicine, today, in the dressing of wounds, burn injuries and other forms of abrasions. In addition to its antibiotic properties, honey is an effective anti-oxidant. It does not only prevents colonization by bacteria, but it also helps the wound to heal.
2. USE IN GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS
Although, there has not been a lot of studies that undoubtedly prove the effectiveness of honey in the treatment of digestive conditions like diarrhea. There is still limited evidence that honey helps in the treatment of Helicobater Pylori which is the major cause of stomach and duodenal ulcers (peptic ulcers)
Also, honey has been shown to have both antibiotic and probiotic effects. So, it can be effective in nourishing the good bacteria living in our intestines thereby promoting health.
3. REMEDY FOR SORE THROAT AND COUGH
Research has shown it that honey can be as effective as dextromethorphan (a common ingredient in over-the-counter cough medications) in relieving cough. It has soothing properties that also help with sore throats.
Other benefits of honey include its use as a healthy sweetener thereby, reducing our consumption of table sugar. It has also shown some promises in reducing the amount of bad cholesterol and triglycerides in our blood. It also helps to regulate our blood pressure.
Note that honey should never be given to a child less than a year old as it may contain the spores of harmful bacteria called Clostridium botulinum which leads to Botulism. Symptoms of botulism include; feeble cry, lethargy, poor feeding, sluggish breathing, drooping eyelids and descending muscle paralysis.
So, the next time you are tempted to ask what makes honey so special?
There you have your answer already.
Will it now be wrong if you make honey the go-to sweetener for your household today?
Image credit: PNGtree.com
Brenda Chinwe Orie is a Nigerian Registered Nurse and Midwife.
She holds a degree in Nursing Sciences which she obtained from the Prestigious Abia State University with flying colors in 2013.
She uses her storytelling and creativity skills on her #NurseB community on Facebook where she teaches health behaviors using relatable Bedside experiences.
She had championed health courses such as #TheNurseBhealthybaby contest (An annual online contest for babies), #NurseBHomecarekit (A mini first aid kit for homes); the latest in her stables, #TheNurseBpregnancyjournal (A memoir for documentation on pregnancy).
She lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria.
