The envelope arrived in my mailbox with big red letters on the front, asking “Honey Can Heal What?”
Got my attention… because I like using good old-fashioned remedies, as you probably know.
Simple things such as honey were part of my growing up years. How about you? Did you grow up with honey in your kitchen? Did you take this for granted, like I did?
We had a honey dispenser on our kitchen table, right along with the salt and pepper shakers and sugar bowl. (For years it was always shaped like a little bear. You know the kind.)
In our home it was honey, rather than sugar, that went on our cereal. A peanut butter and honey sandwich was as common as peanut butter and jelly, and there was nothing more special than a piece of my Mom’s homemade bread, lightly toasted, with butter and honey melting into it. Mmm-mmm good!
Anyway, I still take honey for granted, and tend to assume it is a staple in everyone’s home. So I was dumbfounded recently when a friend told me she doesn’t have honey. (!!!) Now this woman is in her sixties, and old enough to know a few things, too. So I was really surprised.
I guess some of the simple home remedies that I grew up with are not universally known by everyone, even those who are older than me. Go figure!
My friend was fighting a sore throat and stuffy sinuses, so I told her how my Mom would make us warm lemonade with honey instead of sugar. I suggested she could do that, or make some tea with lemon and honey, but be sure to keep drinking lots of warm, soothing liquids.
Another weapon in her arsenal could be menthol-eucalyptus cough drops. Think Ricola, or Halls, or Vicks. They’re great for opening up the sinuses, plus soothing a sore or scratchy throat. (She didn’t have any of those either… Of course… )
Well, I don’t know about you. But I like having certain things on hand so I can nip problems in the bud. In fact, I just re-stocked my cough drop supply today. Not that I need to use them very often, but if I do, I’m ready.
And honey. yes, it will continue to be available in my kitchen at all times!
So, now I’m really curious. Am I in the minority? I’d like to hear from you. Leave me a comment. Do you keep honey in your home? Did you grow up with it? Do you have any favorite remedy uses for honey? Let me know.
Note: This post was originally written in my older blog on May 6, 2009. But I still would love to hear from you about how you use honey in your home. Okay? Leave a comment below.
