Orange Eucalyptus Honey:
Before we check out the benefits of eucalyptus honey, it’s important to reinforce the best advice for buying any honey: processed, supermarket honey is never as good as raw honey. In fact, the stuff you find in most grocery stores is virtually useless in terms of nutrition and health. That’s because the ingredients responsible for honey’s benefits, bee pollen and propolis (bee glue), are eliminated when honey goes through pasteurization and ultra-filtration so it will look smoother on the shelf and last longer before crystallizing.
Raw eucalyptus honey contains much more vitamin C and vitamin B9 than other mono-floral honeys; that’s its primary nutritional benefit, since it’s quite low in essential vitamins and minerals. A single tablespoon contains 17 grams of carbohydrates from sugar and 60 calories, making it a food which should be eaten in moderation and not for its nutritional benefits.
Health benefits, though, are a different story. Most honey has natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antiseptic properties. But the eucalyptol compound that gives eucalyptus honey (and other products derived from the eucalyptus plant, like essential oil and royal jelly) its trademark aroma and taste is a potent anti-inflammatory on its own – adding to the medicinal power of this honey.
Eucalyptus honey is often used with great effectiveness to treat coughs and colds as well as upper respiratory infections; some studies have shown it to be more effective than cough syrups for sore throats, the menthol-like properties of eucalyptus makes it an excellent decongestant, and it has strong expectorant power to clear mucus. Some believe that eucalyptus honey may eventually be proven as a first-line treatment for more serious respiratory diseases.
As with many honeys, eucalyptus honey produces good results when applied topically for treating and healing wounds, including cuts and burns, thanks to its antiseptic and antibacterial action. It has also been shown to act as a vasodilator helpful in treating heart diseases, and it can help ease diarrhea.
