Honey for the Children (source: Dr. Muhammed Salim Khan)

Honey being a natural, pre-digested food when given is immediately assimilated into children's blood stream, providing a host of vitamins, minerals and energy. The beauty of honey is that it is natural, safe, delicious to use and available all the year round. Honey is so safe that it can be used from the moment of birth onward for infants as a food and medicine. There are hundreds of studies all over the world confirming the usefulness of honey as a food and medicine for infants and children.




General Weakness in Children - Honey as Children's Tonic


As a practising physician for the last fifteen years, the most common conditions I get consulted for by parents is general weakness, lack of appetite and anaemia. Usually the parents have tried all sorts of vitamins and tonics from their doctors without any real lasting improvement. One teaspoon of honey diluted in water two or three times before or after meals works wonders, improving appetite, weight, complexion and energy. Some children prefer to use one teaspoonful of pure honey mixed in warm milk at night. Anaemic children respond well to honey in milk within a few weeks. For school children honey helps to improve their mental alertness and school performance. For this purpose honey can be used instead of jam on toast at breakfast time by children.

Bed-Wetting
Bed-wetting is a very common condition in many young children. Families and parents can experience anxiety and frustration due to this and it can also undermine a child's self-confidence. Many parents receive the advice from their doctors that the child will grow out of this situation. No doubt most children do grow out of this, however one or two teaspoons of honey before going to bed helps to clear bed-wetting. No liquids should be given to children a few hours before a child's bed time.


Constipation
Constipation is a very common problem in infants and children, particularly those who have not been breast fed. Honey is a mild and gentle laxative which helps to prevent and get rid of constipation.


Coughs and Colds
Children can catch cold very quickly. In winter, colds and coughs are very common and if not treated properly can lead to serious lung diseases. In England asthma is an increasing epidemic, particularly amongst school children.


For these conditions one teaspoonful of honey may be given in a glass of warm water three times a day. When there is a cough or fever then a quarter teaspoon of fresh lime or lemon juice can be mixed with one teaspoon of honey in hot water and given four times a day. Alternatively green tea (Sabzchi) with a small amount of liquorish (multhi) mixed with one teaspoon of honey will help to clear most colds and coughs.


Diarrhoea and Stomach Upsets
Diarrhoea is the opposite of constipation, and is more frequent in summer. A teaspoon of honey in eight ounces of Barley Water will help stop most cases of diarrhoea.





Sleep Problems
Infants and children can suffer with difficulty in sleeping. One teaspoon of honey in warm milk at night or in the evening is a natural sedative that promotes sleep in children.


Teething Troubles
When children are teething, these can be difficult times. Children may become irritable, have diarrhoea etc. A small amount of salt and honey mixed and massaged onto the gums helps the process of teething.


Accidents, Cuts and Burns
Serious accidents and burns need professional attention. However most parents can use honey to apply externally as an effective and safe dressing on minor burns, bruises and cuts that happen in most homes. Honey is a natural antiseptic.





Dr. Muhammad Salim Khan M.D.(M.A.),D.O. born in the north west frontier region of Pakistan, has international authority on Islaamic medicine and alternative medicine. He is founder-director of the Mohsin Institute - Leicester, an organisation devoted to practice, teaching and research on alternative medicine.