The Golden Elixer

The picture above is Devil's-bit Scabious, Succisa pratenis. It is the most invasive plant in our gardens and also the most welcome.  It's beautiful dome like flowers proliferate rapidly.  They wind up in small vases all around our house and in small beakers in my room at the spa.  I love them.  What I love most about them though is not only do they start to bloom early in the summer they will carry themselves through with endless blooms to the end of summer.  Devil's-bit is one of the latest flowering species here in Vermont which is vital to butterflies, beetles and most importantly BEES to help them prepare for the long Vermont winters.

Bee's can not stay away from Devil's bit.  Myriads and myriads of bees flock to that corner of my garden. Devil’s-bit Scabious has been historically used as a dye, a seasoning, tea, and medicinally to treat scabies, eczema, fever, and weeping wounds.  That being said, I am happy to have the bees feasting on them.
The honey I smear on my face, feasts on these flowers, which leads me to the point of this rant. HONEY and SKINCARE.

Honey is most definitely the most valuable Nutraceutical, meaning it is a food that provides health benefits in addition to it's nutritional value.  I have heard of a million and one things that honey cures and honestly, I don't doubt a single one.  As I mentioned in the second paragraph, honey has been historically the cure for all that ails you.

How is honey such an effective bacteria killer?

  According to Gloria Havenhand, the author of the amazing book, "Honey: Nature's Golden Healer" , honey is "saturated with simple sugars that suck the water from bacteria and mold. Water is the most important constituent of all living things, so draw out the water and all life-including germs-all will be destroyed."

It literally dehydrates germs and stops them in their tracks from dividing.  When honey touches wounds or cuts it starts its natural production of hydrogen peroxide which compliments the way our bodies work naturally.  Hydrogen peroxide is naturally produced in our bodies as a  first line of defense.   Avid gardeners also know the benefits of hydrogen peroxide for their plants as well, big blooms.

We know honey kills bacteria, which is great for anywhere it is applied topically.  At Skin and Tonic we love honey, the darker the better.  The darker honey, the more antioxidants.  Antioxidants are great for fighting free radical damage to our skin.  Honey also clarifies our pores by opening them up and drawing the dead skin cells and debris out.  
Honey contains anti-inflammatory properties which slow down the aging process. Most importantly honey is a humectant, meaning it attracts water and keeps the moisture in our skin. Our advice to you, slather it on, bathe in it, cleanse with it and eat it!

Skin and Tonic has a few DIY ideas using honey to keep your skin glowing and radiant.

• Mix 2 tsp of raw, unfiltered, local honey with 2 tsp of organic local milk.  Smooth over your face, neck, and decollete and let it sit for 15 mins. Rinse with warm water.
• Exfoliate: Mix 2 tsp of raw, unfiltered, local honey with a tsp of bicarbonate of soda. Gently scrub in circular motions.  Rinse with warm water.
• Draw a hot bath, add a cup of honey, and any essential oil you like

 To find Gloria's beautiful and informative book look here:

http://www.amazon.com/Honey-Natures-Golden-Gloria-Havenhand/dp/1554079152/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411583569&sr=8-1&keywords=honey+the+golden+healer