Updated on February 5, 2025.
Whether you drizzle it over pancakes, oatmeal, or melt it into tea with a squeeze of lemon, honey has a multitude of uses as a natural sweetener. But honey’s utility doesn’t stop there. Here some of the surprising ways you can use honey to boost well-being.
Lip balm
Do you have chapped lips? Apply a drop of honey directly to them and let it sit. A 2020 review published in the journal Molecules analyzed evidence for the health properties of bees’ products and found that honey may provide relief for roughness and chapping. It serves as a natural moisturizer, leaving lips feeling soft and smooth.
Hair conditioner
Honey boasts anti-inflammatory properties and is a natural source of antioxidants, which are substances that help prevent or delay damage to cells in the body. Some research hints that adding antioxidants to your shampoo and conditioner may benefit your scalp health and could even help prevent hair from thinning. A 2020 study published in Dermatologic Therapy suggested that adding antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents helped people who experience frequent hair loss.
Create your own natural hair conditioner by mixing 1/2 cup of honey with 1/4 cup of olive oil. Slightly warm the mixture on the stove. Test it to make sure it’s not too hot, then apply it to your hair and allow it to soak in. Rinse with cold water.
Breath freshener
Some research suggests that honey can help freshen your mouth and prevent bad breath. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Emerging Investigators suggests that Manuka honey was nearly as effective as Listerine or ACT mouthwashes in getting rid of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacteria that commonly produces bad breath.
If you experience bad breath and want to test out the benefit of honey, try mixing 1/4 cup of water, 1 teaspoon of honey, and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Gargle the mixture for three minutes to freshen up.
Need another reason to consider adding honey to your oral hygiene regimen? A 2019 review published in the Journal of Oral BioSciences indicated that honey may also be helpful in treating dental plaques, cavities, gingivitis, and some bacterial infections.
Skin softener
Honey may help keep your skin soft. A 2020 review of bee products in the journal Molecules described honey as an abundant source of skin-nourishing vitamins and minerals.
Nutrients found in honey may also help with skin irritation and rough hands caused by frostbite. A 2019 study published in the British Journal of Nursing suggested that skin cream made with honey could help prevent damage from dry skin or rashes.
For potential skin benefits, add 2 tablespoons of honey to a cup of hot water and let it dissolve. Then add two to three drops of lavender essential oil. The mixture can then be added to your bath.
