Honey – healing inside and out for all the family

For over 2,000 years people have been waxing lyrical about the medicinal properties of honey. Today, there are even 'medically certified' honeys, licensed for treating wounds and, in some cases, these include the superbug MRSA. Recent research from the University of Bonn in Germany, reported in the Oxford Journals, confirmed honey's beneficial antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects on wound healing, where conventional treatments, including antibiotics, had failed.

Honey is great for the body in other ways too. It contains about the same amount of antioxidants as spinach, apples, bananas, oranges and strawberries and research has shown that it can improve blood antioxidants and help prevent narrowing of the arteries. It can also be used as a treatment for acne, burns and ulcers.

More everyday uses for honey include soothing sore throats and coughs, treating athlete's foot, rehydrating the skin, or helping induce sleep in warm milky drinks. Honey can also be good for your pets, helping to protect and soothe them inside and out. So, while you're indulging your senses with a drizzle of honey on hot buttered toast, knowing that it'll be doing you good, don't forget to look after your beloved four-legged friends too - check for honey on pet food labels.