Honey
蜂蜜 · Fēng Mì
Soothes your throat, stomach, and skin all at once
What it does
Honey eases dry, scratchy coughs, sluggish digestion, and constipation. In TCM, it's used to restore qi, your body's baseline energy, especially in your digestive system. It's also traditionally applied to burns and sores to help them heal. Honey's range stands out. Few botanicals in TCM are this mild and this versatile.
How to take it
Stir 1–2 tablespoons of raw honey into warm (not boiling) water. Drink for a sore throat or dry cough. Add to herbal teas as a natural sweetener with benefits.
Stir a spoonful into warm water before bed when your throat feels dry
Drizzle raw honey on toast, yogurt, fruit, or roasted vegetables. Stir into dressings, glazes, and marinades. Skip the heat to keep its enzymes intact.
Drizzle a spoonful of raw honey on Greek yogurt with berries and walnuts
Safety
- Never give honey to children under 1 year old. Risk of botulism
- High in natural sugars. Use mindfully if you manage blood sugar
- Raw honey may contain allergens. Test a small amount first if you have pollen allergies
- Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you take medication
Where it comes from
Honey is one of humanity's oldest medicines. Cave paintings in Spain depict honey harvesting from 8,000 years ago. In TCM, it's been used since the Shén Nóng Běn Cǎo Jīng (roughly 200 CE) and is also valued as a processing agent. Many TCM botanicals are honey-roasted to enhance their tonifying properties. With 38 clinical trials studying everything from wound healing to cough suppression, honey is one of the rare substances endorsed by both traditional and evidence-based medicine.