How To Make an Infused Honey

I've been planning on infusing honey's for awhile so when Kris got sick this weekend it seemed like the perfect medicine for him.
Honey is a great delivery medium for strong tasting medicines not only because it tastes good but it has amazing healing properties on it's own.

Thanks to its antimicrobial action, it not only soothes sore throats but can also kill the bacteria that sometimes cause them including the influenza virus. Moving down the esophagus and through the digestive tract, honey can help to heal ulcers and upset stomachs and has also been proven to regulate intestinal function, alleviating both constipation and diarrhea. Honey also contains a variety of antioxidants, which may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Honey is also used for a sleep aid, treating hair loss, controlling weight, treating tooth decay and much much more! Yay go honey!
So to increase the anti-microbial virus fighting sore throat soothing energy of honey I infused this batch with some dried Bear root, Sage, Lemon peel, and Propalis (that I just picked up locally from the market)

Propalis is another amazing medicinal product from the bees that comes from their collection of leaf buds and bark from trees, that they then use to line the walls of the hive for protection.
The propalis is shown here in the jar on the right ground into a powder.
It tastes very bitter so best used with honey:)

Bitter root/Bear root or Osha root, very strong medicine used for sore throats, virus', respiratory and mucus membrane ailments.
Lemon peel for sore throats, coughs, colds and flu
Sage for inflammation of mouth, gums and throat, laryngitis, loss of appetite, weak stomach, and night sweats.

Cut up root and put dried herbs in into a cup of honey on very low heat or in a double broiler. 
You do not want to heat the honey too high as it will reduce the healing properties of the honey. You just want to cook out the medicinal properties of the dried herbs.
I left mine to simmer for 1 hour.

You then want to strain before the honey cools too much while the consistency of the honey is thin.
As it cools the honey starts to thicken and it gets harder to strain and then things get messy!!!

I then pour into sterilized jars and save the honey'd herbs to suck on or eat later.
Kris liked the honey and found it very soothing for his sore throat but would not try the honey'd herbs.
They were still very strong but the honey made them quite palatable, plus the strongest medicine is still going to be in the herbs!












You can use this format to infuse honey for flavor, medicinal qualities and gifts for friends, such as flavoring with Lavender flowers, Mint leaves, Lemon or Orange peel, Cinnamon or Cayenne.
Use your imagination and favorite flavor pairings to get creative!