VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Mike Harrison

I've grown tired of having my body serve as a chemical lab with no result.

If there are any sinus sufferers, have you ever heard of using – or have you used – raw honey? It allegedly has the ability to kill infections.

Many thanks.
_________________
Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

vkuehn · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 7:51 am Post subject:

When you have lived in the Ozarks and in Appalachia, you can't believe how many "miracle cures" are part of the folklore.

When you grow up in the household where the father had been "sickly" all of his life and was constantly searching for some miracle cure, and was an ardent follower of the Rodale Press and everything that goes with it, you can't believer how many "miracle cures" are part of the genre.

I giggle a bit. What is "RAW" honey.... isn't it all raw? I guess some has been pasteurized or something but I have never seen a bottle on the shelf that said "Fully Cooked Honey".

Unprocessed honey does seem to have some great powers to improve health. Kill infections? It may enable your body to perform better and your natural processes do a better job of fighting disease and infection.

Oh, that father of mine taken out of school after the 5th grade or so because he was never going to live to be an adult..... we buried him 3 months shy of his 89th birthday. And he ALWAYS had unprocessed honey around the house so whether the honey cures your sinus problems or not... it is probably good for you.

richvoice · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:04 am Post subject:

How are you planning on using it? Eating it? Or snorting it? (I'm only half-joking here, people get a lot of weird ideas.)

I believe it's true that honey has some antimicrobial properties. However, if you're eating it, it's unlikely (I'd say impossible, but what do I know) that those antimicrobial properties are going to make their way into your sinuses.

Also, be aware that honey has a relatively high fructose-to-glucose ratio. As such, it's a high-FODMAP food, and not recommended for those with digestive problems. Also, fructose is processed by the liver, whereas glucose is not; the prevalence of high-fructose corn syrup is one of the suspected culprits in the rise of fatty liver disease in kids.

Cheers,
Rich
_________________
Cheers,
Rich
http://www.richvoiceproductions.com
@RichMillerVO

DeadDillo · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:27 am Post subject:

You're going to be hard pressed to find truly "raw" honey. Raw honey contains pollen and other stuff (honeycomb, bee parts, etc.) and the presence of pollen grains is supposed to offer anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Eating honey that is locally sourced is said to help relieve the symptoms of allergies.

Most stuff sold in stores is mildly pasteurized to help filtering out the parts that lower the honey's quality. Most honey sold in stores contains no pollen - which, by the FDA's definition - means its not technically even honey. The FDA just last year established a standard that any honey manufacturer that blends their honey with things like high fructose corn syrup must label their product a "honey blend" but this is just a suggestion and not a law, so there's no obligation for any company to change its labels.

With the grades of honey, the FDA is basically measuring "soluble solids" and moisture content. Grade C will have the most amount of solids in suspension in the honey, while Grade A honey will have the least.

I make mead for fun and love honey. Finding truly raw, local honey is not easy or cheap, but you can find it. Contacting a local bee-keeping club or local honey businesses will prove useful.
_________________
www.MarleyAudio.com

ricevoice · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 9:07 am Post subject:

Not sure if they're common in your neck of the woods, but here in NorCal you can find raw honey at Whole Foods, Sprouts, and independent natural foods stores. Some farmers markets will also carry it.
_________________
Chris Rice - Noisemaker
www.ricevoice.com

Mike Harrison · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 10:13 am Post subject:

Thanks, guys. There doesn't seem to be a problem finding raw (unfiltered, unheated and unPasteurized) honey, but I'm not yet sure how it is to be ingested to specifically address sinus infections. I am extremely careful about the information I find online and trust it only if it comes from either well-known reliable sources or if there is a alignment of consensus from several sources.

After spending the last 15+ years dumping all kinds of pharmaceuticals (OTC and prescription) into my body for allergies, asthma and whatever else I've forgotten I'm allegedly suffering from, I found a book which – after reading – convinced me that I was severely, chronically dehydrated. When the treatment involved only making sure I was drinking enough water (something no doctor ever asked about), I felt, "what do I have to lose?" So, beginning in November 2013, by increasing my intake of water (and making sure my salt and potassium levels were appropriate) my diagnosed "illnesses" began clear within WEEKS. I've taken NO medication since beginning the rehydration.

The sinus infection, which can be caused by several things, including deviated septum (a very common problem which I was found to have), has been exacerbated by the other things the lack of hydration had brought about.

So, while too many doctors are too quick to whip out the prescription pad, I'm perfectly fine trying alternative ideas that have the support of others who've tried them and report only positive outcomes.

And, when the Physician's Desk Reference says – for some drugs – stuff like, "It is not known how (drug name) works in the brain/body," that's a red flag that says, essentially, they're throwing shit against the wall to see what will stick. I'm done with that. Wink

_________________
Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

Bruce · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 7:13 pm Post subject:

You may be thinking of manuka honey which seems to have some strong effect against infection. Here's an article that may be of some interest from web MD.

http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/manuka-honey-medicinal-uses

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

richvoice · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:49 pm Post subject:

I've had a very ... interesting journey over the past year and a half that has led me to believe that 90% (or more) of all illnesses, especially chronic illnesses, are the direct result of diet. While I think that focusing on honey to treat a sinus infection would be mostly or entirely a waste of time, I think you're definitely looking in the right direction: food.

Feel free to ping me if you're interested in discussing the broader subject in more detail. And if not, that's fine too, best of luck on your own journey!
_________________
Cheers,
Rich
http://www.richvoiceproductions.com
@RichMillerVO

ricevoice · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 10:05 pm Post subject:

Dayo · Cinquecento Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK

Mandy Nelson · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 6:06 am Post subject:

Jen Gosnell · Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 12:46 pm Post subject:

Mike, although not on the topic of honey, I wonder if you have considered incorporating xylitol in any nasal spray/rinse option you may use.

Xylitol is good at breaking down biofilms which is one reason it's often used in toothpaste. I am acquainted with someone whom I consider very knowledgeable in a non-woo-woo way about alternative approaches, and she swears by the beneficial nature of xylitol for dental and sinus-related application.

Personally, I have only tried it once using an OTC nasal spray, and felt it beneficial. But mine was not a chronic sinus issue, so YMMV - but I don't think there's a downside to trying it.
_________________
jen@jengosnell.com
https://www.jengosnell.com
Skype: jen.gosnell
971.258.2448

markt · Been Here Awhile Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 217

Hey Mike,

How about a neti pot or plain ol' saline spray? Saline spray will not cause the nasal membrane to swell like some steroid-based sprays.

I drink straight honey during those screaming gaming sessions and it fixes me right up! (throat wise anyway)

All my best to your Mike!
Mark
_________________
"Dammit Jim, I'm a voice actor, not an audio engineer!"
Leonard McCoy

Shiromi · Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2015 5:26 pm Post subject:

I can't attest to the honey but I second Jen and her xylitol suggestion. I've used it for the past two years as part of my neti pot routine and aside from the sinus infection i'm recovering from now (which I had to go to the doc and get antibiotics for) I hadn't had so much as a sniffle for the past two years.

I've heard that Manuka honey can clear chronic sinus infections but like you, i'm not clear how you're supposed to take it.