Can You Eat Honeycomb? Benefits, Uses, and Dangers

You can enjoy raw honey straight from the honeycomb, which is composed of beeswax. Some reported health perks include improved liver function and heart benefits, though overconsumption could be detrimental.

Humans have harvested honey and tended bees for millennia.

Consuming honeycomb is one way to savor the work of bees. Doing so may provide health advantages, from a reduced infection risk to better heart and liver health.

That said, eating honey straight from the comb can also carry certain hazards.

This article reviews the uses, advantages, and potential risks of honeycomb.

What Is Honeycomb?

Honeycomb is a natural structure produced by honey bees to store honey and pollen and to house larvae.

It’s made of interconnected hexagonal cells of beeswax that typically hold raw honey.

Raw honey differs from commercial varieties because it is not pasteurized or heavily filtered.

Honeycomb can also include small amounts of bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly — other bee-derived substances with possible health effects. However, these are usually present only in trace quantities (1, 2).

You can eat the entire honeycomb, including both the raw honey and the waxy cells.

Raw honey tends to have a more textured mouthfeel than filtered honey, and the wax cells can be chewed like a gum.

Summary: Honeycomb is a natural bee-made product used to store larvae, honey, and pollen. The whole comb — waxy cells and raw honey — is edible.

Rich in Certain Nutrients

Honeycomb provides carbohydrates and antioxidants and contains trace amounts of various other nutrients.

Its principal component is raw honey, which supplies minor quantities of protein, vitamins, and minerals — but is largely made up of 95–99% sugar and water (3, 4).

Because it’s unprocessed, raw honey contains enzymes like glucose oxidase that contribute to antimicrobial and antibacterial activity.

These enzymes are typically destroyed by the heating and filtration applied to most commercial honeys (5).

Raw honey is also less likely to be adulterated with sweeteners such as high-fructose corn syrup and often contains higher levels of antioxidants than processed honey (6, 7, 8).

Antioxidants are plant-derived compounds that support health by reducing inflammation and protecting against disease. Levels of these compounds may be up to 4.3 times higher in raw versus processed honey (8, 9, 10, 11).

Polyphenols represent the primary antioxidants in honey. Research indicates they may help lower risks for diabetes, dementia, heart disease, and some cancers (12).

Honeycomb also contains beeswax, which supplies long-chain fatty acids and alcohols that may be heart-beneficial. These compounds have been linked to reductions in cholesterol (13, 14).

Summary: Raw honey and beeswax are the main parts of honeycomb. Raw honey offers enzymes and antioxidants, while beeswax contributes long-chain fatty acids and alcohols — all possibly supporting health.

May Promote Heart Health

Honeycomb could support cardiovascular health.

Studies suggest that the long-chain fatty acids and alcohols in beeswax might lower high blood cholesterol, a risk factor for heart disease.

For example, one review reports beeswax alcohols may reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol by up to 29% and raise “good” HDL cholesterol by 8–15% (14).

However, those studies used relatively large doses of isolated beeswax alcohols, so it’s unclear whether the small amounts present in honeycomb would have the same effect.

That said, honey alone appears to have cholesterol-improving effects (15, 16, 17, 18).

One small trial gave participants either 70 grams of sugar or honey daily. After 30 days, those consuming honey increased HDL by 3.3% and decreased LDL by 5.8% (19).

Replacing sugar with honey may also lower triglyceride levels by up to 19% (15, 16, 17, 18, 19).

Additionally, antioxidants in honey may help widen the arteries that supply the heart, potentially improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure — which could reduce the risk of clots, heart attack, and stroke (9, 20).

Summary: Honeycomb may support heart health by improving blood flow and HDL levels while reducing blood pressure, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol.

May Protect Against Infections

Honeycomb might enhance your body’s defenses against certain bacteria and fungi.

In vitro studies indicate beeswax extracts can act against fungi and pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Salmonella enterica, and E. coli (21, 22, 23).

Honey itself is renowned for antimicrobial traits and may help protect the gut against the parasite Giardia lamblia (24).

Human research is still required to verify these findings.

Summary: Honeycomb may help fend off fungi and certain pathogenic bacteria, and honey might protect against specific gut parasites. More human studies are necessary.

May Reduce Coughing in Children

Honeycomb may help ease coughing in kids.

Children commonly develop upper respiratory infections that cause coughing. Evidence suggests honey can suppress such coughs (25).

In one trial, just 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of buckwheat honey taken 30 minutes before bed was more effective than cough medicine at reducing coughing-related discomfort in children.

Children who received buckwheat honey also slept better than those given cough syrup or no treatment (26).

Honeycomb likely delivers similar relief since it contains the same honey.

However, honey can contain Clostridium botulinum spores, which are dangerous for infants. For this reason, honey or honeycomb should not be offered to children under 12 months (27, 28).

Summary: Honeycomb is rich in honey, which may reduce children’s coughs. Do not give it to infants under one year due to botulism risk.

Potential Sugar Alternative for People With Diabetes

Honeycomb might be considered an alternative to refined sugar for some people with diabetes.

Honey is sweeter than sugar, so smaller amounts can achieve the same sweetness. Additionally, honey seems to raise blood glucose less than refined sugar (29).

Nevertheless, honey still increases blood sugar, so people with diabetes should limit intake.

Furthermore, alcohols in beeswax may reduce insulin resistance, a contributor to high blood glucose.

One small trial in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) — a condition often linked to insulin resistance — found beeswax alcohol extracts lowered insulin levels by 37% (30).

Lower insulin may suggest improved insulin sensitivity, which could benefit people with diabetes.

Still, larger and better-quality studies are required.

Summary: Honeycomb may raise blood sugar less than refined sugar and contains compounds that could reduce insulin resistance, but more research is needed.

May Improve Liver Function

Honeycomb may also support liver health.

In a 24-week study, a beeswax alcohol preparation was given daily to people with liver disease. Nearly 48% of those receiving the beeswax reported symptom improvement (abdominal pain, bloating, nausea) versus 8% in the placebo group.

Additionally, liver function normalized in 28% of the beeswax group compared with none in the placebo arm (30).

Although encouraging, it’s unclear how much actual honeycomb would be needed to replicate these outcomes, and more human trials are necessary before drawing firm conclusions.

Summary: Beeswax alcohols in honeycomb may improve liver function and reduce symptoms in those with liver disease, but further research is warranted.

How to Use It

Honeycomb can be enjoyed in many ways.

You can eat it plain, spread it on warm bread or English muffins, or use it to sweeten homemade desserts — or drizzle it over pancakes, oatmeal, or yogurt.

Some people like a piece of honeycomb on salads or served with fruit, charcuterie, or aged cheeses.

Honeycomb is commonly sold at health food shops or farmers markets and is also available online.

When selecting honeycomb, note that darker honeys generally contain higher concentrations of beneficial compounds like antioxidants (31, 32).

Honeycomb stores well at room temperature. Over time it may crystallize, but crystallized honeycomb remains safe to eat.

For more on differences between honey types, see raw honey vs regular.

Summary: Honeycomb is versatile as a sweetener or accompaniment and is often found at farmers markets. Store it at room temperature.

Potential Dangers

Honeycomb is generally safe to consume.

However, because it contains honey, it can harbor C. botulinum spores, which are particularly dangerous for pregnant women and infants under 12 months (27, 28).

In rare cases, eating large quantities of honeycomb may lead to gastrointestinal obstruction (33).

To reduce this risk, avoid consuming excessive amounts of honeycomb daily or spit out the waxy cells after extracting the honey.

People allergic to bee venom or pollen should exercise caution, as honeycomb might trigger allergic reactions (34).

Finally, despite its benefits, honeycomb is high in sugars and should be eaten in moderation.

Summary: Small amounts of honeycomb are usually safe, but avoid giving it to infants or pregnant women due to botulism risk. People with allergies should be cautious, and moderation is advised because of high sugar content.

The Bottom Line

Honeycomb is a natural bee product made of waxy hexagonal cells filled with raw honey.

The honey and comb are edible and offer several potential health benefits, such as antimicrobial effects and heart- and liver-supporting properties. Honeycomb may also act as an alternative sweetener for some people with diabetes.

Nonetheless, honeycomb is rich in sugars and should be consumed in moderation.