Healing Honey Patches: place it on your chest before bed to remove mucus from your lungs

Article originally published on Living Traditionally republished with permission

Humans have been collecting honey for at least 8,000 years. Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine used honey to treat various ailments including ulcers, gastric discomforts, skin wounds and burns.

Honey for Sore Throat

In the UK and in Canada, honey is often recommended by physicians as a treatment for coughs and sore throats. This treatment is included for children over 1 year old. A homemade remedy of honey and lemon juice taking orally is deemed as effective as dextromenthorphan (Benylin DM, Mucinex DM, Camydex-20 tablets, Robitussin, NyQuil, Dimetapp, Vicks, Coricidin, Delsym, TheraFlu) and even more effective than diphenhydramine (Allermax, Banophen, Benadryl) (1).

A 2010 study tested 139 children with upper respiratory infections. They found that honey was better at alleviating coughing and improved sleep quality better than the drug counterparts.

Honey for Cough and The Benefits of Honey

Honey wraps are an excellent topical treatment for respiratory issues, to help eliminate mucus in adults and children (6 months and older), overnight.

How to Prepare a Honey Patch

Keep this recipe handy for those dreaded coughing fits.

Ingredients:

Organic pure honey (local if possible)
Coconut flour

Gently melted, organic coconut oil
Gauze, handkerchief, paper towel or napkin
Cheesecloth

Adhesive medical tape

Directions:

Mix coconut flour with enough honey to make a paste. The honey should be coated with enough flour so that it is no longer sticky to the touch.
Add a little of the gently melted coconut oil and then add some additional flour to return the mixture to a paste-like consistency.

Spread the paste onto your chosen material (gauze etc) and wrap it in cheesecloth.
Place the gauze onto the center of the patient’s chest, just below the throat and secure into place with the medical tape. Cover the patch with clothing (shirt or pajamas).
For children it is best to apply this patch 2-3 hours before bedtime. Remove the patch when it is time for the child to go to bed for the night. Adults can wear the patch overnight and can enhance the effectiveness of the patch by adding mustard powder to the original paste.

Sweating is typical with this treatment because honey has a warming effect.
Significant relief should be experienced after the first treatment but it’s perfectly safe to continue this treatment as necessary.

*If you or your child is allergic or sensitive to any of the ingredients in this recipe, do NOT use this treatment. If you are unsure if you or your child is allergic to the ingredients, apply a very small amount to the arm and watch for redness or swelling. This is a sign of an allergic reaction and the treatment cannot be utilized by the affected person.