CBD Honey: What Is it & What Are The Health Benefits?

What Is CBD Honey?

CBD oil, hemp and its related products are relatively new to Australian consumers. Yet in a very short period, CBD oil has gained enormous popularity. As such, innovative CBD-infused products have begun to crop up, adding variety to this burgeoning arena. Items like CBD tinctures, oils, sprays and foods (edibles) are among some of the products now accessible to a worldwide marketplace. 

CBD honey is one of the latest trends here and it is a very interesting product combination from a therapeutic perspective. It’s a double down on several health benefits with the goodness of honey and the medicinal properties of cannabidiol. CBD honey is a unique product that could potentially be a healthful resource for many people.

Let's take a look at what makes CBD honey such a useful medicinal product.

Health Benefits of CBD honey

CBD honey is a blend of CBD (cannabidiol) oil and raw honey. This unique combination offers a host of health benefits that make this product ideal for use in a variety of complaints.

Overall, the combined effect of raw honey and CBD confers the following benefits:

• relieves anxiety
• reduces stress
• anti-inflammatory
• improves skin health
• supports wound healing
• promotes digestive health
• anti-diabetic
• antibacterial properties
• pain-relieving
• neuroprotective

Another reason why it’s so interesting is that it’s a fragrant take on a food people know already. The truth is, CBD oil has a grassy, herbal taste that requires some getting used to. So, it's a pretty genius move to infuse honey with it. 

This transforms what is an earthy oil flavour to a sweet botanical infusion. It's something that should certainly improve palatability, which can only be a good thing for those who want to enjoy the benefits of CBD but don't like the taste.

To get a better understanding of just how useful this product is, let's break down the health benefits of both CBD oil and raw honey.

Health Benefits of CBD Oil (Cannabidiol)

CBD oil is a naturally occurring compound found in cannabis plants that has a range of potential medicinal benefits. It has anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and pain-relieving properties, which make it useful for a range of conditions. CBD is effective for treating arthritis, chronic pain, inflammation, IBS and menstrual pain. It also has a positive influence on anxiety, depression and sleep.

There's no THC in CBD oil, which means you won't experience any psychoactive or euphoric effects from it. In other words, you can't get 'high' from CBD oil. Instead, most people feel a sense of muscle relaxation, reduced anxiety and less pain. CBD is therefore an attractive option for people who want to experience relief from various health issues, without the psychoactive/hallucinogenic effects of THC.

CBD Oil Relieves Pain, Stress & Anxiety

CBD is a cannabinoid that affects the body's natural endocannabinoid system. Endocannabinoids are a group of neurotransmitters made by the body that influence the immune system, appetite, pain, memory and mood. They bind to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and body and form a major part of the body's pain-relieving and mood-regulating pathways. CBD interacts with these same cannabinoid receptors to elicit a similar neurobiological effect.

In animal studies, CBD has been shown to alleviate nerve pain along with acute and chronic forms of pain. CBD oil also reduces the associated anxiety and stress from pain states by stimulating serotonin pathways in the brain.

CBD Oil Is Neuroprotective & Improves Memory

A randomised controlled study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that cannabidiol increases blood flow to a specific part of the brain called the hippocampus. This brain region is associated with memory processing and emotional regulation. The authors noted that CBD has valuable therapeutic potential in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety and PTSD. The compounds in CBD provide antioxidant protection to brain tissue, helping prevent damage to neurons from external stimuli.

Health Benefits of Raw Honey

Raw honey is incredibly beneficial to our health. The medicinal uses of honey have been in practice across many cultures for thousands of years. In ancient Egypt, China and Greece, honey was used to treat a range of ailments from stomach ulcers, respiratory infections and skin wounds. 

Another super cool thing about honey is that its biological functions are dependent on where it’s from. In other words, a single batch of honey will have its own special health-giving ‘signature’. Raw honey contains enzymes, antioxidants and active chemicals like hydrogen peroxide that have a wealth of benefits. These include helping support the immune system, reduce allergy symptoms, fight infections and promote gut health.

Honey Supports Skin Health & Improves Memory

Improving skin health would be one of the more well-touted benefits of raw honey. Topically, honey is an incredibly useful remedy. It's loaded with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and polyphenolic compounds. This adds up to a powerful skin-healing salve that not only protects against infection, but also promotes tissue regeneration as well. Honey is ideal for the treatment of eczema, dermatitis, skin lesions, burns and acne.

Honey Improves Memory & Cognition

Did you know that honey also has neuroprotective properties? Plenty of research demonstrates the protective effects honey has on brain function, memory and cognition. A recent trial evaluated the effects of honey consumption as a natural treatment for cognitive decline and dementia. The results showed that honey augments the cholinergic system in the brain, which aids in memory retention. Honey also boosts cerebral blood flow, which helps the growth of new brain cells. Overall, this means that honey helps restore the function of memory and protects the brain from neurodegeneration. 

CBD Honey: FAQs

Is CBD Honey available in Australia?

In some countries, CBD and honey are available as a combined CBD honey product. However, in Australia, this isn't the case. Currently, there are no ready-made CBD honey products nor are there prescription CBD honey available. While there are some suppliers overseas that sell CBD-infused honey, it's illegal to buy and import it into Australia. This poses a real risk that's simply not worth taking. Instead, a simpler option is to obtain high quality CBD oil from an experienced professional or reputable source and infuse your own natural, raw honey with it.

Does CBD Honey Contain THC? 

Generally, CBD honey will contain no THC. CBD honey combines the powerful medicinal properties of CBD and raw honey to create a potent natural remedy, without any psychoactive or hallucinogenic components. Because of this, CBD honey does not induce a 'high', making it safe for most people.

However, depending on how the CBD oil has been made, some CBD honey brands can contain up to 0.3% THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). Largely, this isn’t common and if the product is labelled as CBD, it should simply be as it says. Again, this is part of the risk of importing overseas CBD honey products. It's illegal to do so and overall not worth the risk.

Are there any health risks with CBD oil?

It's wise to consult the advice of a trusted medical professional before taking CBD oil. The reason for this is that CBD oil isn't standardised across the board, and variations in products will always occur between providers.

CBD can also interact with some prescription medications and it can change the effectiveness of some natural remedies. So, while CBD is generally safe and non-psychoactive, it's important to know if it's right for you specifically.

Where can I get CBD oil?

You can get CBD oil online from different providers, both in Australia and overseas. Though this is risky as these products are not always moderated or standardised, which means you can’t guarantee the quality of CBD you end up buying.

Alternatively, you can obtain prescribed medical-grade CBD oil from a qualified medical practitioner. In Australia, some doctors specialise in the prescription of medicinal cannabis and related products, including cannabidiol oil. So, it’s better to book a consultation with a GP, get a prescription and buy CBD oil knowing your bases are covered. 

CBD Honey: therapeutic benefits for the body and mind

CBD honey is truly a remarkable product for your brain and body. It contains all the health benefits of both CBD oil and raw honey with anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and pain-relieving properties. CBD honey can be used topically to improve your skin health, but it also works wonders for your brain, mood and digestion. While it may not be currently available as an all-in-one product in Australia, it's certainly a unique remedy that may expand into a broader market in years to come. Watch this space!