Honey: potent wound ally but not a universal cure

Honey has antimicrobial components and may aid wound healing, but it is not an antibiotic and its effects vary by source; medical-grade honey is used topically for wounds due to sterilization requirements, while raw honey can carry botulism spores and should not be given to infants under 12 months. Evidence for cough relief and gut health is limited and inconclusive, and standardizing non-Manuka honeys for clinical use remains challenging.