A spoonful of honey can do a lot more than sweeten your tea. Here are seven ways to put it to work, from calming a nighttime cough to hydrating dry skin. Swipe ahead for more.

Calm a Stubborn Cough

A teaspoon of honey, straight off the spoon or stirred into warm water, can ease coughing. An Oxford University review of 14 studies found it reduced both how often and how badly people coughed compared with usual care. Never give honey to a child under 12 months, since it can carry botulism spores.

Fuel Your Workout

One tablespoon of honey packs about 17 grams of carbohydrates, that are mostly quick-burning sugars. In a study of trained cyclists, honey powered them through a 40-mile ride about as well as dextrose, a common ingredient in sports gels. Spread it on a banana or stir it into water about 30 minutes before you move.

Hydrate Dry Skin With a Face Mask

Honey is a humectant, meaning it pulls moisture into the skin and holds it there. Smooth a thin layer over a clean, damp face, wait 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Test a dab on your inner arm first, especially if you're allergic to pollen or bee products.

Swap It for Sugar in Baking

Honey tastes sweeter than white sugar, so you need less of it when you're cooking. A common rule is 3/4 cup of honey for every 1 cup of sugar, with about 1/4 cup less liquid and the oven or cooking surface turned down 25 degrees to prevent over-browning. It does contain trace antioxidants, but it's still added sugar, so count it toward your daily limit.

Sweeten a Wind-Down Drink

A teaspoon of honey in chamomile tea or warm milk makes for an easy bedtime ritual. There's no solid clinical proof that honey itself improves sleep, but a warm, comforting drink can help signal to your brain that the day is over. Let the water cool for a few minutes first, because very hot liquid can break down some of honey's natural enzymes.

Soften Chapped Lips

Stir a pinch of sugar into a teaspoon of honey and rub it gently over your lips in small circles for about 30 seconds. The sugar buffs away flaky skin while the honey draws in moisture. Rinse with warm water and follow with your usual lip balm.

Protect Minor Wounds

Honey pulls water out of bacteria and is naturally acidic, which makes it hard for germs to grow. That's why hospitals use medical-grade honey dressings, including FDA-cleared manuka-based ones, on certain wounds and burns. Skip the pantry jar for this one. Table honey isn't sterilized, so look for products labeled medical grade and see a doctor for anything deeper than a scrape.