Beyond Allergies & DIY Skincare: 10 Ways We Use Raw Honey for Health

By Marilee Nelson | 03/23/2026

Raw honey, including manuka and other varieties, has become a staple in health-conscious homes for making healthy sweets, treating allergies, and DIY skincare.

But, did you know studies suggest honey may also help support metabolic health, heal minor cuts and scrapes, and even rival the effects of prescription cough syrups?[1]

In this article, we’re sharing 10 ways we use raw honey to support better health and how you can use it safely at home.

Key Takeaways

Raw honey is the unpasteurized form of honey, making it an unprocessed whole food.
Raw honey has been used for centuries for various ailments, including skin and eye infections, immune function, sore throat, allergies, and more.
Raw honey contains various nutrients, including antioxidants and chemical compounds, shown to support various aspects of health.

Raw Honey Vs. Regular Honey: What’s The Difference?

If you’re new to raw honey, here’s a quick explainer on how it differs from conventional honey (and if you already know this, skip to the next section).

Raw honey is the unprocessed honey straight from the hive. It’s removed from the bee boxes, scraped off the combs, strained into containers to remove any impurities or debris, and sold as-is.

“Regular honey”, also known as pasteurized honey, is honey that’s been heated and often filtered to kill any microorganisms, including beneficial varieties. While still a natural and healthful food, it’s a more processed form of honey.

If your honey isn’t labeled “raw,” it’s likely pasteurized.

What Makes Raw Honey Healthier?

It was once believed that everything pasteurized was safer and healthier for humans.

However, new research and perspectives on the flaws of germ theory show this isn’t always the case, including with honey.

Although raw and pasteurized honey both offer antibacterial benefits, heating/pasteurizing destroys many heat-sensitive nutrients, including enzymes and minerals that make honey an effective home remedy.

Analytical research has also demonstrated that raw honey contains propolis and bee pollen, two naturally occurring honey “ingredients” rich in nutrients and antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal compounds.[2][3]

In this case, raw is truly better and more nutritious.

And since honey has built-in antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, it’s also perfectly safe for people over the age of 12 months, provided the beekeeper follows proper sanitary and harvesting practices.

10 Ways We Use Raw Honey For Better Health

Everyone has their own success story with raw honey, and we wish we could share them all!

However, in the interest of time and space, here are 10 of many ways we use honey to support better health in our families.

*Please note: Babies under 12 months old should not consume honey due to an increased risk of infant botulism from Clostridium botulinum bacterial spores. Children over 12 months have more mature immune systems that can handle these spores. This isn’t a myth conjured up by the refined sugar industry; this is true, so please don’t give your babies honey until they’re one year old.

1: For Sore Throats

Raw honey is one of the first things we reach for when we, or our kiddos and grandkids, have sore throats.

Its texture and flavor are soothing, and studies suggest its antimicrobial, anti-viral, and antibacterial properties may help address the root cause while boosting overall immunity.[4]

You can use honey alone, or combine it with other throat-soothing herbs such as slippery elm, garlic, ginger, cayenne (for adults who can handle spicy), mint, or licorice.

2: For Coughing

When I was raising children decades ago, drug-based cough syrups, including those with narcotic/opiate codeine, were the standard.

Thankfully, doctors generally no longer recommend these medicines because their risks often outweigh the benefits.

Instead, honey has become the new cough syrup, with studies showing it often works just as well, if not better, than conventional cough syrups.[6][7]

You can find various honey-based cough syrups, or make a DIY cough syrup or tea by combining honey with wild cherry, mullein, or ginger, or use it as-is to help soothe a pesky cough and boost immunity.

Related reading: Our Kids’ Natural Medicine Cabinet

3: Ask A Face Mask

As you may know, honey can provide a wealth of benefits for all skin types when used as a natural face mask.

It’s soothing, decongesting, antibacterial, pore-cleansing, anti-aging, revitalizing, rejuvenating, and healing… pretty much everything you’d want in a facial mask!

There are lots of ways to use it; here are a few simple DIY honey face masks:

Combine raw honey with oatmeal to help calm irritated skin.
Mix raw honey with mashed avocado, pineapple, and/or papaya for a natural exfoliating, anti-aging, enzyme mask.
Combine raw honey with a natural clay, such as French green clay, bentonite, or activated charcoal, to clear acne and unclog pores.

Get more natural skincare tips in: Allison’s Non-Toxic Skin And Beauty Care Routine.

4: As A Healthy Sweetener With Blood Sugar Benefits (for real!)

Blood sugar management is considered essential for healthy metabolism, weight, and overall well-being.

As counterintuitive as it may sound, research has shown that raw honey can have a positive effect on blood sugar by reducing glucose levels.[2]

This is impossible for other sweeteners, like refined sugar or artificial varieties, but honey can provide some benefits.

If you have diabetes, check with your healthcare provider about whether honey is appropriate for you and at what dose and frequency.

5: To Heal Minor Cuts, Scrapes, & Certain Skin Conditions

Long before antibacterial wound care, people used raw honey to help heal minor cuts and scrapes.

Research supports this traditional use, demonstrating honey’s wound-healing and anti-microbial/antibacterial properties.[7][8]

To use, dab a small amount on a clean cut and cover with a bandage. Repeat until the cut or scrape is healed.

Note this use is intended for minor cuts and scrapes and should not be considered a substitute for medical care for larger wounds.

Honey has also been shown to be effective for various skin conditions, including psoriasis and eczema.[9]

Related reading: Stop The Itch! How To Treat Eczema Naturally

6: To Support Healthy Brain Function

Our brains require glucose to function optimally, and honey is an excellent natural source!

Not only does it supply a hit of natural energy, but research suggests the polyphenols (antioxidants) in honey provide neuroprotective benefits.

Keep in mind, too much sugar, even from natural sources, can be bad for brain function, so keep it moderate.[10]

7. For Antioxidant Support & Energy

Antioxidants are critical for cellular protection and maintenance, especially in a toxic world.

They work by scavenging free radicals (unstable molecules produced by pollution, ultra-processed foods, various stressors, and our own bodily processes), which can damage cells and cause inflammation if left unchecked.

Studies have shown that honey contains various natural disease-fighting antioxidants that help keep cells healthy and inflammation in check.[2]

8: For Seasonal Allergies

We couldn’t very well write an article on raw honey without mentioning its effects on seasonal allergies.

Specifically, studies suggest raw, local (this is a must!) honey may help prevent and ease seasonal allergies.[2][11]

Although theories abound, this is likely due to the natural pollens present in the honey, which, in small amounts, create a homeopathic, like-cures-like effect.

My clients have had the best results when they start taking at least a teaspoon of raw, local honey several weeks before allergy season and continue throughout the season.

9: For Gut Health & Tummy Trouble

If gut health is a priority, raw honey should have a place at your table!

Studies suggest raw honey offers multiple benefits for gut health, including:[2][12]

Acting as a prebiotic, which supplies food to beneficial gut bacteria
Reducing inflammation, thanks to its antioxidant properties
Promoting healthy microbiome diversity, due to its antimicrobial and prebiotic properties

Given the impressive and expanding research on how gut health affects nearly every aspect of well-being, raw honey’s ripple effect could be even greater than it seems.

Pro tip: Honey can also help soothe occasional digestive upset when taken in tea, such as chamomile, lavender, peppermint, or fennel.

10: As An Overall Disease & Promising Cancer Preventive

Several studies suggest raw honey’s historical use as a cure-all or even sacred food may not be too far off.

In addition to all the health benefits we’ve already mentioned, research also suggests that honey in moderation may help reduce the risk of certain cancers, including skin, breast, colon, lung, liver, kidney, bladder, and bone cancers, as well as leukemia.[2]

How does this work?

Research has demonstrated that honey inhibits cancer cell proliferation, induces apoptosis (cancer cell death), alters cell cycle progression, and destabilizes cancer cell mitochondria.[13-15]

It is important to note that research suggests sugar feeds cancer,[16] especially high fructose corn syrup and sucrose. No sweetener is a treatment for cancer and should be used sparingly, if at all, in the diet.

Unlike refined sugars, raw honey contains bioactive compounds that have demonstrated anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the dose and moderation should be guided by an experienced professional.

Looking For More Health & Wellness Information?

At Branch Basics, we’re on a mission to help people improve their health by removing harmful products from their homes.

If you’re interested in trying raw honey for allergies, you’ll also be interested to know that one of the best ways to eliminate seasonal allergies is to improve indoor air quality!

We teach you exactly how to do this in our free online course: Toss The Toxins.

In it, our co-founders, Marilee (that’s me), Allison, and Kelly, take you through the same step-by-step, room-by-room process I’ve used in my practice for decades to help clients rid their homes of harmful chemicals, foods, and other substances.

We’ve made this course free because it furthers our mission to help people create healthier homes and families—so please take advantage of it!

We also invite you to check out Branch Basics Starter Kits, our all-in-one refillable, human-safe, EWG-Verified, MADE SAFE Certified, Leaping Bunny Certified, biodegradable cleaning line designed to replace every harmful cleaner in your home with just one Concentrate.

References:

Marilee Nelson

Marilee Nelson is an Environmental Toxins expert who has spent nearly 30 years advocating for the chemically-sensitive and chronically-ill. She is a Board Certified Nutritionist, Certified Bau-Biologist and Bau-Biology Inspector and specializes in Food As Medicine. She has helped thousands of families and individuals identify, heal and recover from toxic exposures and is on a mission to revolutionize the way American families view their health.

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