A common natural cure for a sore throat is tea with honey and lemon.

The main thing to remember when it comes to honey is that not all honey is created equal. The antibacterial activity in some honeys is 100 times more powerful than in others!  Processed, refined honey is NOT appropriate as it does not impart the same health benefits as raw honey when consumed.

So make sure you're only using raw honey from your area, or Manuka honey, which is so potent it is now being used in medical products such as wound dressings.

You don't want to give honey to children under the age of two as botulism can occur due to the child's immature immune system if the honey is contaminated.

Additionally, keep in mind that honey, if not consumed in moderation, will increase your insulin and leptin levels and can lead to poor health. So avoid using it for chronic conditions. If you or your child tend to get frequent colds, coughs, sore throats or flu, please understand that this is a sign of a poorly functioning immune system. If that's the case, then you really need to stop treating the symptoms and focus on healing the underlying cause.

Raw Honey for Wound Care

Manuka honey in particular can also be applied topically to wounds, in lieu of wound-care creams containing the questionable benzocaine or lidocaine. It's anti-viral, anti-bacterial properties will allow the wound to heal faster, which will reduce associated pain.

Good quality raw honey, such as Manuka, offers several topical wound-care benefits:

• It draws fluid away from your wound
• The high sugar content suppresses microorganism growth
• Worker bees secrete an enzyme (glucose oxidase) into the nectar, which then releases low levels of hydrogen peroxide when the honey makes contact with your wound
• A chemical reaction between the honey and tissue also makes healing wounds smell good