How do you know you are getting quality honey? Honey is great for many respiratory and allergy issues. Pure honey can also be used for wound care. Be sure and test your honey before you use it for any holistic healing. Adulterated honey can make the issue worse.

Use these easy tests and don't ever buy it from the grocery store:

Scent — Your first test is the aroma coming from the jar, which should be reminiscent of the flowers and grasses the bees collect pollen from, industrial honey has an industrial smell.

Thickness — The movement should be slow and dense. Place a droplet on your thumb. If it starts to spread, the honey is not pure. Dense, pure honey will remain intact.

Taste — When eating pure honey, the taste disappears quickly, but adulterated honey is sugary rich.

Dissolving — When added to water, pure honey will form a lump and stick together, while adulterated honey dissolves. Pure honey will not be absorbed into blotting paper or cloth, but adulterated honey will leave stains as it absorbs.

Heat and flame — When heated on the stove, adulterated honey will form bubbles. Try dipping the end of a match in honey and lighting it. If it lights, the honey is likely pure since the added moisture in adulterated honey makes it nearly impossible to light.

Tests — Consider these additional tests:

Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of vinegar to a glass of water. Add honey and stir well. Adulterated honey will foam.

Spread some honey on a piece of bread; pure honey will solidify the bread while adulterated honey will make it wet and soft. Check for impurities by looking at it through a clear container. Adulterated honey will be clear while pure honey will have particles from pollen or bee parts.

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola