The Healing Powers of Honey (21 page)

Authors: Cal Orey

HONEY SPILLS ON YOUR STUFF?

Honey is a household must-have, but what happens when you or the kids spill honey on that sofa, love seat, or chair? First, scrape honey off sooner rather than later rather instead of letting it dry. Next, use your favorite mild liquid soap diluted in a cup of cold water. Repeat as needed. Also, you can try a mixture of lemon, white vinegar, and water. Let dry and the honey mark should be history. The same treatment can work for garments. Again, act fast and chances are sweet honey will not sour your favorite things.

HEALTHY HONEY FENG SHUI TIPS

Welcome your sweet home to the art of honey-ized feng shuiâthe ancient Chinese art of placement. Its goal is to bring you peace and harmony. By putting stuff in the right spots in your kitchen and other rooms you can enhance the flow of positive energy and zap negative vibrations. The end result: good health, happinessâand even fortune. Read onâyou, too, can enjoy a well-balanced hive that feels good from head to toe, with a touch of honey.

Use beeswax cleaners.
It's time to clean your kitchen from top to bottom to be clean like a clean beehive. If you keep it eco-friendly it will provide you with better health and energy.

Declutter your honeys.
Getting rid of things you don't use will up your energy. You will feel lighter with less kitchen baggage. I cleaned out my pantry and added a fresh box of baking soda to soak up odors. Then I tackled each honey jar and wiped each one, one by one (yes, they do last forever, but some packers recommend a two-year shelf life).

Clean the stovetop and oven.
This was a chore, but it feels right to have the stovetop shine. Use vinegar and water. Trust me, this is a feel-good must-do before baking and cooking with honey.

Brighten up with lighting.
You'll want to have sunny-type lighting, which can up your energy and is mood linked to good health. Go for full-spectrum lightbulbs. And, of course, remember honey can help boost your mood, too. The brighter the light, the better you can see which type of honey varietals to use.

Boost your mood with plants.
To help wipe out pollutants in your kitchenâlike beekeepers do with their coloniesâfill your space with healthy, hardy, happy plants. Your best bet: philodendrons.

Bring on the water.
Fish aquariums provide positive energy in the dining room, especially with a gentle filter.

Fish, fish, fish.
I read that goldfish can bring you good luck and prosperity. In fact, nine is the lucky number (and so is eight). The colors? Gold and one black one. The fish are a pleasant, calming treat. Also, this is a good strategy, for when you cook and bake honey dishes the odds are better that they will turn out better.

Bring out the fresh fruit.
Keep healthful seasonal fruits on display and ready to cut and pair with honeys. The feng shui gurus believe a full bowl may lead to a full life. Empty bowls with just a few pieces of fruit gone bad are not so good. And oranges? Nine is the lucky number. Put them in a wooden bowl and on the kitchen or dining room table. The bowl will be a sweet reminder to keep it filled and to keep getting your vitamin C each day teamed with antioxidant-rich honey.

Conceal knives and scissors.
My father gave me a black and white marble knife block, cutting board, and rolling pin. I love it. But the knives are out of sight. I do use these for onions and garlic and to open a sealed jar of honey or a package of honeycomb. (My black cat Kerouac likes to chew on the black knife tops. Yes, black cats can and do bring good luck.)

Hang pots and pans.
My cooking stuff is hanging on the wall in a perfect hexagon arrangementâlike a six-sided beehive. I'm thinking about getting one of those artsy-looking overhead pot-and-pan hangers (it would remind me of a honey bee in transit). If so, I will not, nor should you, hang it over a workplace, the area where honey recipes to live for are created. Not good energy, or so the feng shui wizards claim.

Hide the gadget honeys
. Too many jars of honey can clutter up all that positive decluttering you did. Also, you want to keep honeys stored in a dark, cool place.

Hang wind chimes with crystals.
If you don't have a colony (or more) so you can hear buzzing sounds, wind chimes may suffice. I brought one of mine in from the deck and put it over the kitchen windows. The one I chose is of a honey bee. Hanging chimes in the doorway to the kitchen or over the stove buzzes good energy.

A bonus tip: Purchase a honey bee calendar. It will provide you with inspiration when you use honey in your meals, and, of course, the dates of lunar cycles and seasons will remind you of what the honey bee is doing in your state.

FUN ART STUFF FOR ADULTS AND KIDS

Wax Crayons

Parts by weight:
2 parts beeswax
1 part talc
Pigment

Melt the wax in a microwave or small can placed in boiling water (a double boiler). Stir in the talc and dry artist's pigment or fresco colors. Pour the mixture into a lubricated aluminum foil mold. The crayon may be melted again and more pigment added until it is the exact color desired. Caution: These crayons should not be used by children because some pigments are not food safe.

Wax Pastels

Parts by weight:
1 part beeswax
1 part grated soap
Pigment

Melt the beeswax in a small can placed in boiling water. Add the grated soap and stir until the soap melts and the mixture is smooth. Color the mixture with dry artist's pigment or fresco colors. Pour into lubricated aluminum foil molds. After testing the crayon, it can be melted again and more pigment added. Caution: These crayons should not be used by children because some pigments are not food safe.

Wax Pastels for Children

Follow the directions above for “Wax Pastels” using concentrated food coloring as the pigment. The paste is sold with cake decorating supplies. The crayons are food safe and they blend well. Their color is almost as concentrated as the crayons made with the artist's pigment.

(
Source:
Courtesy of SoulShine Beeswax Candles; www.soulshinecandles @charter.net.)

IS HONEY A PET'S BEST FRIEND?

Like apple cider vinegar and olive oil, honey is rich in antioxidants and antibacterial propertiesâand has its place in the pet world, both internally and topically.

Scientific research proves honey works to heal abscesses, burns, and surgical wounds. Manuka honey, available from Dechra Veterinary Products, is now being used by vets to treat wounds. It has been shown to fight more than 70 strains of bacteria found in wounds. But that's not all. . . .
²

Not only can honey be used topically on animals, but honey is also used in some commercial pet treats and do-it-yourself recipes, too. Here is a sweet treat for four-legged companions.

Homemade Treats for Your Dog

Spicy Treat-Balls

cup whole-wheat flour

cup white flour
Â½ cup bran
Â½ cup brewer's yeast
Â¼ cup wheat germ
Â½ teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons corn oil
1 egg

cup milk

Preheat oven to 350ÂºF. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, beat honey, corn oil, egg and milk. Gradually add mixture to dry ingredients to form a dough. Form into 1-inch balls and bake at 350ÂºF on an ungreased cookie sheet for 15 minutes. Makes 18 balls. [For safety's sake, check with your veterinarian before you give Spicy Treat-Balls to your canine companion.]

(
Source:
Courtesy of PetPlace Veterinarians.)

Now that I've put versatile honey in the limelight and explained how to use it to make a happy home and maintain healthy kids and pets, take a look at how the ancient food of the godsâeither solo or as an ingredient in ready-made beauty products and do-it-yourself recipesâcan help to beautify you from head to toe without costing you an arm and leg.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLE HEALING HINTS TO CATCH