The therapeutic use of honey: properties, health benefits, and mechanisms of action on the human body
Tim Klein
2026-03-20
5 min. read
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Contemporary natural medicine is increasingly focusing on traditional remedies with well-documented health-promoting effects, among which honey occupies a special position due to its complex biochemical composition and broad range of applications. Phytotherapy specialists emphasize its efficacy in alleviating respiratory ailments, accelerating tissue regeneration, and strengthening the body’s immune defenses. But what specific pharmacological properties lie behind this natural remedy, and how do they influence physiological processes?
What's honey?
Honey is known primarily for its medicinal properties and visual qualities which give unique character to gardens and fields. This plant is naturally found in southern Europe, and in Poland you can find some of its varieties i.e. pine, soft-haired, flammable, narrow-leaved, long-lived and Hungarian honey. Depending on the species, its appearance may vary, but it is worth mentioning the flowers of honey, which bloom in early spring from March to May and have different purple-purple stems.
What does honey contain?
Because of its many vitamins and mineral ingredients, honey is a very valuable herb and, given its properties, promotes good health. Its leaves contain alkaloids, saponins (chemicals used in herbal or antifungal medicines), phenolic acids, herbs, flavonoids, vitamin C, vitamin B and γ-linolenic acid. Because of these properties honey is also used as a remedy for skin problems, pneumonia, coughing and other respiratory diseases.
What is the best way to use honey?
There are many ways to take this herb, and the way it is consumed depends on the health effects you want to get during the treatment. The honey can be used externally for this purpose you can prepare a broth that results from watering 1-2 teaspoons of the herb with water, then cooking and retiring for studying. Another way to use the product externally is to prepare with a tonic broth, which can wash the skin with fever problems 100 ml of the broth broth mixed with 100 ml water with 5% acetone, adding 100 40% alcohol, and applying the recommended dosage to the product at a boiling point. It is commonly used internally to prevent infection.
Honey for external use
As mentioned above, honey is also perfectly suited for external use to wash the skin of the face, especially the scalp. The herb has a soothing, anti-inflammatory and moisturizing effect, so it is often an ingredient in cosmetics used to relieve skin changes i.e. acne or jaundice. Additionally, honey can also be found in skin-moisturising creams because its moisturizing properties allow for a smooth skin effect. In addition to honey creams, it is also found in bathing creams.
Honey for cough
Honey is a good source of chemical compounds called saponins. Most of these compounds are found in the roots or buds of the plant. Because of their salivary action, they are a common ingredient in medicinal products that stimulate cough reflexes and secretion decongestion. Such action may result from the irritating action of saponin on the nerve endings of the mucous membrane of the stomach, which results in the stimulation of the vagus nerve and increased production and excretion of saliva in the respiratory tract.
Honey for respiratory problems
Due to the above-mentioned properties, honey is also used in the natural treatment of respiratory diseases i.e. inflammation of the airways, pneumonia or pneumonia, dust and asthma. Consuming adequate amounts of vapors, tea, syrups, herbal infusions promotes the strengthening of the pulmonary bladder, and it is recommended that people working in conditions that burden the lungs (e.g. air pollution) use medicines that contain this plant in their composition.
Counter-indications
It is extremely important to avoid the side effects of using the herb as recommended in the packaging. Excessive consumption of the plant can cause constipation and gastrointestinal disorders. These properties are used to treat chronic diarrhoea and food poisoning, but it should be noted that any overdose, even of natural preparations, can lead to a deterioration in health and requires medical advice. Furthermore, due to the lack of adequate studies on the plant's effects on the functioning of the baby's body, these medicines are not recommended for pregnant women and may be used without the use of a single ingredient.
