We can’t count on having modern conveniences forever, so it makes sense to have some alternatives prepared ahead of time.

We can get a lot of useful things from nature, and one of the most useful resources is honey.

Honey has a variety of medical uses that are sometimes just as effective as regular medications.

The information in this post is simply for your knowledge and isn’t medical advice. Check with your medical professional before trying these.

Some of the uses on this list have been proven scientifically effective, and others are still considered “folk” remedies. Still, you might not have a choice in a crisis, and that’s why I’m sharing these alternative uses of honey with you.

Heals Wounds

Honey breaks down glucose sugars and makes hydrogen peroxide, which helps fight infections.

This means honey is an effective healing agent. It helps kill harmful bacteria and promotes the healing of wounds.

To get the healing benefits of honey, simply spread liquid honey over the wound and cover it with a dressing. Occasionally add more honey until the wound is healed.

Relieves Sore Throats

One of the most well-known alternative uses for honey is that it can be used to relieve sore throats. Some people say this home remedy is even more effective than over-the-counter medications.

Mix honey with freshly squeezed lemon juice and stir them together until they’re well blended. Drink the mixture and your sore throat should be completely gone, or at least reduced.

If your sore throat isn’t completely gone, simply drink more of the mixture and give it time.

Soothes Upset Stomachs

Try this home remedy to soothe an upset stomach and help digestion.

Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and one tablespoon of honey to one cup of warm water. Mix them together and drink.

Your stomach ache should be gone shortly. This same remedy can also be used to relieve the pain of heartburn.

Treats Burns

Burns are one of the most dangerous injuries you can get, especially if you don’t have access to proper medical care.

You should apply a soothing agent, such as aloe vera, to the burnt area. However, if you don’t have a proper burn cream, you can use honey as a substitute, which has many of the same benefits.

Read our full blog post on treating burns here.

Relieves Allergy Symptoms

Consuming local honey every day is said to reduce your allergic reactions to local plants. The honey has to be local because local honey will be made from the pollen of local plants.

The medicinal use of honey hasn’t been scientifically proven, but enough people swear by it that it’s worth trying for yourself if you have allergy problems.

Kills Parasites

Medical treatment for parasites can be costly, and that’s assuming you have access to adequate medical treatment.

However, you might be able to get rid of parasites in your body by using a home remedy which includes honey.

Combine honey, vinegar, and water in equal amounts and mix them together. Drinking this mixture will supposedly kill the parasites in your body.

This use of honey hasn’t been completely proven, but there are a lot of individual cases which claim using this remedy got rid of parasites, so it’s worth a try.

Suppresses Coughing

Coughing isn’t necessarily a bad thing because it’s the body’s way of clearing out mucus and bacteria. However, if your coughing is excessive or causing you pain, you might want to create a natural home remedy for relief.

Make a warm cup of tea and stir in some honey. The honey will sweeten the tea and act as a natural cough suppressant.

Boosts Immune System

Honey contains “phytonutrients” that have anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Eating honey or drinking a honey mixture will help your body fight off infections and viruses.

You can consume honey regularly to help prevent disease, or you can consume it to fight off current infections.

Boosts Energy

Honey contains glucose, which will quickly boost your energy levels. Keeping energy levels high is especially important during a crisis when your diet probably won’t be as well rounded as it used to be.

Sugar Substitute

Honey is a good substitute for sugar. For every one cup of sugar a recipe calls for, replace it with ¾ cup of honey.

Honey and sugar react slightly differently, so you’ll have to experiment to perfect your recipe.

One of the tips people have for cooking with honey is to reduce another liquid in the recipe by ¼ cup since honey is already partly liquid. You should also reduce the oven temperature by around 25 degrees or so.

Food Preservative

Just like sugar can be used as a food preservative, honey can be used as a food preservative as well. Food preserved with honey tends to stay fresh longer.

Know any other uses for honey that aren’t listed here? Share them in the comments below.