Infused Honey
Infusing Honey, syrups, vinegar, and wine with immune-enhancing and antiviral herbs can help you incorporate these ingredients into your diet. While these servings may not all contain medicinal doses, they can help you achieve your desired effects: optimizing your immune function and easing stress and related symptoms.
Raw Honey contains about 82% sugar (approximately 57% fructose and 43% glucose, with some maltose and sucrose), antioxidants, hydrogen peroxide, and trace vitamins and minerals. It also includes some phenols, enzymes, flavonoids, and organic acids derived from bees' regurgitation. Raw Honey has antibacterial properties and a low pH.
Raw Honey lowers LDL cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and inflammation, and slightly lowers blood pressure. It raises HDL (the good cholesterol). Honey, when applied topically, can heal burns, hemorrhoids, psoriasis, Diabetic foot ulcers, and herpes lesions. It increases blood flow to the heart and reduces the risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. When taken orally, Honey can help soothe a sore throat and aid digestion. Honey keeps over 60 bacteria in the gut in check. It also helps to prevent some cancers and promotes eye health.
The darker the Honey, the more antioxidants it contains. Of course, I'm speaking of the natural color of raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized, unprocessed, and unheated Honey containing no additives. The darker color indicates a higher content of natural plant compounds and antioxidants. For example, Buckwheat honey is known to increase the antioxidant value of the blood. But is Honey good for everyone?
Honey can be infused with herbs, such as catnip, lavender, basil, sage, lemongrass, or thyme. And the fresher your herbs are, the stronger your infusion will be.
Note: Children under one year old should never have Honey. Honey contains spores of Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which can cause botulism in infants. These spores, found in dirt and dust, can contaminate Honey. These spores are harmless to more mature digestive systems, but young babies' digestive systems haven't developed the ability to handle them. In infants, the bacteria multiply and produce a toxin that is poisonous to the infant. I don't recommend Honey to a child under 18 months old unless the child is over 1 year old and already has a healthy diet of various nutritious foods.
You can make infused Honey with herbs such as catnip, lavender, basil, sage, lemongrass, or thyme using this recipe. Of course, the fresher your herbs are, the stronger your infusion will be.
The No-Heat Method (for Dried Herbs)
Find a jar with a tight-fitting lid. A Mason jar will do nicely. Fill your jar about half full with dried lemon balm or nearly full of fresh lemon balm leaves. Then, fill the jar to the top with raw Honey. Make sure to coat all of the herbs with Honey. Cap tightly. Label your jar and include the date. Then allow the herb to infuse by leaving it somewhere warm but not hot for 7 days. A sunny window or the top of the fridge will do.
Turn the jar over at least once each day. To make a more potent batch, allow it to sit for two to four weeks. You can taste it anytime to check the flavor. Also, top it off with more Honey if you see the honey level recede as the herbs become more saturated. When the infusion is done, strain the Honey into a clean jar. You can use a small strainer. If you find tiny bits of herb disturbing, use a cheesecloth or layers of sterile gauze to strain it further. However, it's okay to eat the herb. Lemon Balm Honey is often added to food recipes for flavor. I include a recipe in the following chapter.
The Heated Method (for Fresh Leaves)
"Extra moisture introduced into the infusion from the fresh material increases the risk of culturing undesirable bacteria that can cause your honey to ferment (Mountain Rose Herbs.com)."
If you are using fresh leaves straight from the garden, the heated method will work better for keeping your Honey stable. Visit Mountain Rose Herbs to learn how to use the heated method.
HealthyWithHoney.com goes into detail about what happens when we boil Honey or cook with Honey.
Dispensing Infused Honey
Use one teaspoon of infused Honey per serving, not exceeding 3-4 servings daily. This infusion also works well for mouth sores, coughs, and irritated throats. The infusion can be eaten plain or added to a cup of tea.
You can also drizzle herb-infused Honey over cereals, fruits, vegetables, salads, and meats. You can also place herb-infused Honey in smoothies, on toast, or over ice cream. Get creative. I bet you never thought an antiviral could taste so sweet!
Storing Herb-Infused Honey
Relabel the new jar and store your Honey in a cool, dry place. It will last indefinitely. In colder climates, Honey can become quite thick and even crystallize. To make things easier, set your honey jar in a bowl of hot water or a sunny window while it is still capped to warm up a bit. It will make pouring Honey easier. However, never boil or microwave honey. It can cause the Honey to lose its enzymes and medicinal benefits, making it more prone to mold or bacterial growth.
