Synonyms/Common Names/Related Substances:

• Acacia honey, adular, älskling, amour, andromedotoxin-containing honey, Apis mellifera (honey bee), apitherapy product, azaleas honey, bee products, blackberry honey, blueberry honey, borage honey, buckwheat honey, chou, cielo, citrus sinensis osbeck, clarified honey, clover honey, coisa doce, deli bal, endulzar, falar docemente, feng mi, flavonoids, grayanotoxin honey, hachimitsu, honeydew, honig, honing, honingkleur, honung, HY-1, iets beeldigs, jelly bush honey, kamahi honey, kanuka honey, lastig portret, lavender honey, lief doen, liefje (aanspreekvorm), ling honey, ljuvhet, mad honey, madu, Manuka honey, mel, mel depuratum, melliferous products, miel, miel blanc, miele, mi vida, moeilijk probleem, mooi praten, mountain laurel honey, namorado, nectar, Nigerian citrus honey, nodding thistle honey, orange blossom honey, pasture honey, purified honey, rata honey, raw honey, rewarewa honey, rhododendron honey, schatz, smöra, sourwood honey, strained honey, sunflower honey, tala smickrande, tansy ragwort honey, Tasmanian leatherwood honey, tawari honey, tesoro, toppensak, toxic honey, tupelo honey, tutan bal, US IX, versuikeren, vipers bugloss honey, vleien, wild thyme honey, zoet maken.
• Combination product examples: Hydromel (honey and water); mead (fermented honey with wine-grade yeast).

Clinical Bottom Line/Effectiveness

Brief Background:

• Honey is a sweet, viscid fluid produced by honeybees (Apis mellifera) from the nectar of flowers. It is generally recognized as safe, but there have been numerous reports of certain types of honey produced from the nectar of flowering plants from the genus Rhododendron, and others, that have toxic effects in humans and in animals.
• Honey is easily absorbed and utilized by the body. It contains about 70-80% sugar; the rest is water, minerals, and traces of protein, acids, and other substances. Honey has been used by ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, Chinese, Romans, and Greeks as a medicinal remedy for the management of wounds, skin ailments, and various gastrointestinal diseases (1;​2).
• Honey's therapeutic importance as a known antibacterial agent has been recognized since 1892 (3). Modern research has been conducted on the role of honey in chronic wound management and other indications. However, properly controlled and randomized studies are lacking, and further evidence is warranted to establish the therapeutic effect of honey in any indication.

Dosing/Toxicology

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Precautions/Contraindications

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Interactions

Most herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly tested for interactions with other herbs, supplements, drugs, or foods. The interactions listed below are based on reports in scientific publications, laboratory experiments, or traditional use. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy.

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Mechanism of Action

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History

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Evidence Table

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Evidence Discussion

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Products Studied

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Author Information

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References

Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to www.naturalstandard.com. Selected references are listed below.

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