HealthLinks Charleston March/April 2023

84 | www. Char l es tonPhys i c i ans . com | www.Hea l thL i nksChar l es ton . com A growing number of South Carolinians share a reverence and passion for honey that rivals Winnie The Pooh’s thrill. They appreciate honey’s sweet taste, its soothing texture, even the soothing hum of the hive, but what they love best are the elements of honey that heal. They turn to the healing power of honey for skin wounds, cold sores and weak immunity. They seek the hum, the smell and warmth of beehives for meditative purposes. Apitherapy is the term used to define this type of alternative, bee-based therapy. “When people come to me for honey, most want help with allergies,” said Charleston resident Dana Blalock, DDS, whose passion for bees, their hives and their healing power often makes her a go-to person for honey and advice. “Natural, local, nonprocessed honey introduced in small doses helps ease allergy symptoms.” “Honey is also great for soothing burns and sore throats,” Dr. Blalock added. “When the bees have their hives, they seal it off with propolis. Beekeepers often collect it to use in tinctures or in a spray for sore throats. To me, it is a sticky mess, and I won’t take it because bees put it there for a reason.” Today, growing scientific evidence suggests that various bee products promote healing by improving circulation, decreasing inflammation and stimulating a healthy immune response. The healing power of honey has been recognized for thousands of years. THE HEALING POWER OF HONEY By Lisa Moody Breslin

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