Properties of Honey: Its Mode of Action and Clinical Outcomes

The medicinal use of honey is well established since time immemorable. Currently, there exists a large volume of clinical research wherein the benefits of honey in health and disease have been proven beyond doubt. By the very nature of its biochemical composition, it is a nutrient par excellence comprising carbohydrates, amino acids, minerals, and electrolytes. The main focus of this chapter is to highlight the important clinical uses of honey in light of modern day medical practice. Honey has broad-spectrum antimicrobial effect, covering diverse varieties of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Other therapeutic properties of honey include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, cytoprotective, and antineoplastic properties. Various components of honey have been isolated, and each of its actions is attributed to one or more of its constituents. The present day use of honey ranges from simple skin conditions to difficult surgical wounds to diverse cardiovascular and gastrointestinal pathologies to anticancer remedy. The benefits of honey as a therapeutic agent is its low cost, natural product with minimal adverse reactions, and minimal need for dose adjustments.