Temporarily, no visitors aged 11 and under are permitted. This year's dominant flu virus is a mutated flu A virus that appears to make children and teens sicker than the typical flu. We are restricting visitors aged 11 and under because young children often can carry and transmit viral infections with no symptoms, especially early in the infection. As always, visitors should not come to the hospital if they have respiratory viral symptoms or nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Effective 1/1/26, all UNC Health Appalachian (UNCHA) teammates (including providers and staff) will be required to wear masks when they are around other people indoors.
Patients and visitors will also be encouraged but not required to wear a mask when they are around other people (e.g., in the hallway, in the waiting room, in the exam room being seen). This applies to all UNCHA hospitals, outpatient facilities, and offices.

Published on March 26, 2025

Healing Power of Honey

Honey has been used as a healing agent since ancient times, dating back at least 8,000 years (1). While we have far more advanced health care practices now, you may come to realize honey is still the answer to a lot of your day-to-day health problems. Honey is loaded with antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. These benefits along with the high viscosity, or thick, sticky consistency, makes honey great for treating irritation or minor wounds.

Energy

Feeling tired before a workout? A tablespoon of honey is an excellent, quick source of energy due to its 17 grams of easily digestible carbohydrates, which is our body's primary source of energy. Honey has a unique carbohydrate composition of natural sugars, as well as enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, making honey a nutritious, energy-packed snack (2). 

Healing 

Due to its antioxidants and antimicrobial properties, honey is known for effectively soothing irritated, sore throats by reducing inflammation and irritation. In addition to soothing a sore throat, honey also can be used to relieve a cough. Due to its antimicrobial effects, it may help break down mucus in the throat. In certain studies, it has been shown to work as well as diphenhydramine, a common ingredient in over-the-counter cough medicine (3).

Topical 

Honey is the ultimate healer when it comes to irritated skin, burns, and minor wounds. Not only does it work to soothe the pain of these injuries, but it can also help kill any bacteria inside of the wound and create a barrier to protect against new bacteria from entering. Due to its soothing properties, honey can also be used as spot treatment on acne.

Honey is a natural and effective healing agent for many different aspects of our health. Next time you reach for an energy drink when you need a pick-me-up, cough syrup when you have a pesky cough, or a throat lozenge when you have a scratchy throat, give honey a try first.

Ask your primary care provider if the healing benefits of honey are right for you. If you do not have a primary care provider, UNC Health Appalachian has four primary care offices - AppFamily Medicine in Boone, AppInternal Medicine in Boone, Baker Primary Care Center in Linville and Elk River Medical in Banner Elk.Schedule an appointment today!

***Important disclaimer: Honey is not suitable for infants under the age of one due to the risk of botulism.  

References:

  1. National Library of Medicine. Traditional and Modern Uses of Natural Honey in Human Diseases: A Review. 2013.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3758027/#:~:text=It%20has%20been%20used%20both,depicted%20by%20Stone%20Age%20paintings
  2. National Honey Board: Recharge Your Day with Honey. https://honey.com/newsroom/campaign/re-charge-your-day-with-honey
  3. Mayo Clinic. Is it true that honey calms coughs better than cough medicine does? 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/cough/expert-answers/honey/faq-20058031#:~:text=In%20these%20studies%2C%20honey%20appeared,child%20younger%20than%20age%201

Reviewed by Emily Rafford on March 26, 2025