HONEY: It’s Health Benefits and 8 medicinal properties.
“A spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar.” – Benjamin Franklin
Honey is a natural sweet substance produced by honeybees from the nectar of flowering plants. About 180 distinct types of substances, including water, sugars, free amino acids, proteins, enzymes, vital minerals, vitamins, and a variety of phytochemicals, can be found in honey. It is a highly prized and versatile food product known for its unique taste, numerous health benefits, and medicinal properties.
Honey has been used by humans for millennia. Cave paintings dating back to around 8,000 years ago in Valencia, Spain, depict humans gathering honey from beehives. Ancient Egyptians used honey as a sweetener, medicine, and even as an offering to the gods. Honey pots have been found in ancient tombs, indicating its value in their belief systems.
Honey in Different Cultures:
Honey holds cultural significance in many societies. In Jewish tradition, honey is a symbol of the sweet and prosperous New Year during Rosh Hashanah. In Hindu weddings, the couple exchanges honey during the ceremony as a symbol of sweetness and unity. In many other cultures, honey plays a role in rituals, celebrations, and folklore. The Greek philosophers such as Aristotle and Hippocrates praised honey and used honey as a remedy for various ailments and to treat wounds.
Ayurveda recognizes six primary types of
honey:
The types of honey are classified based on the flowers from which bees collect nectar.
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1.Makshika (Wild):
Makshika is wild honey gathered by bees from various wildflowers and flowering plants. It is considered the best type of honey in Ayurveda due to its potency and therapeutic qualities.
2.Bhramara (Bumblebee):
This kind is collected by bumblebees from the nectar of specific flowers. It is darker and thicker than regular honey and is believed to have unique medicinal properties.
3.Kshaudra (From
Cultivated Bees):
Kshaudra is produced by bees from cultivated flower gardens and orchards. It is the most common type of honey available in the market and is widely used for culinary and medicinal purposes.
4.Pauttika (From Flower):
Pauttika is sourced from a specific type of flower or plant. The quality and medicinal properties of Pauttika honey are determined by the characteristics of the flower from which it is collected.
5.Chatra (Brown Honey):
This type is obtained from the nectar of palm trees. It is darker in color and has a distinct flavor compared to other types of honey.
6.Arghya (Offering):
Arghya honey is honey specifically collected for religious or ritual purposes. It is offered as a sacred substance in ceremonies and rituals.
The qualities of good honey an Assessment of its purity.
These specifications are different than modern honey grades like Grade A, Grade B, etc.. According to Sushruta Samhita, good honey should possess the following qualities:
Madhura Rasa (Sweet Taste):
It should have a predominant sweet taste, which is characteristic of its natural sweetness.
Laghu (Light):
It should feel light in the stomach and should not cause heaviness or indigestion.
Snigdha (Unctuous):
This should have a smooth, unctuous texture that glides easily.
Deepana (Digestive):
This should stimulate the digestive fire (agni) and aid in digestion when consumed.
Grahi (Absorptive):
It is believed to have absorptive properties, meaning it can draw out toxins from the body.
Shramahara(Fatigue-Relieving):
This is considered energizing and rejuvenating, helping to relieve fatigue.
Kapha-Pitta Balancing:
This is known to balance Kapha and Pitta doshas in Ayurveda.
Nutritional and Medicinal Properties:
Honey is not only a natural sweetener but also offers numerous health benefits. Another unique property of this important
component is explained by Ayurveda. The word for it is “Yogavahi”. Yogavahi is the name for a substance that has the ability to penetrate the deepest tissue. When honey is combined with other herbal remedies, it strengthens their therapeutic effects and makes it easier for such remedies to penetrate deeper tissues. Honey offers several health benefits when consumed in
moderation as part of a balanced diet. Here are some ways honey can positively impact our body:
1. Energy Source:
Honey is a natural source of carbohydrates, mainly glucose, fructose, and sucrose are the sugars found in honey. The
simplest of the sugars is glucose. It can be found in fruit and vegetable juices as well as the blood of living animals. It is necessary for our bodies to regenerate and use oxygen.
Compared to glucose, fructose crystallizes more quickly and aids in tissue growth. Glucose and fructose are combined to
form sucrose. The pollen in honey contains all 22 amino acids, 28 minerals, 11 enzymes, 14 fatty acids, and 11 carbs, according to the latest research.
Athletes often use honey as a natural alternative to processed sugars for an instant energy surge during physical activities.
2. Soothes Sore Throat and Cough:
The antimicrobial and soothing properties of honey can help alleviate sore throat and reduce cough symptoms.
Even Ayurveda also state that using honey to ease a bothersome cough or sore throat is quite useful. It aids in calming the
upper respiratory tract’s mucous membrane since it is a demulcent (soothing agent).
Ayurveda Kashaya for Cough, Cold & Congested Chest
Servings : Individual
Soaking Time (optional) : No Soaking
Prep Time : 2 minutes
Cook Time : 5 minutes
INGREDIENTS
. Honey
. Ginger
. Rock Salt
DIRECTION
Mix 2 teaspoons of this flower nectar with an equal amount of ginger juice, a pinch of rock salt, or sendha namak for a congested chest, cold, and coughing. This needs to be consumed often.
3. Supports Digestive Health:
Honey has prebiotic properties, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and supporting digestive health. The sticky
component dextrin, which is present in honey in trace levels, is what makes it so easily digestible.
Ayurvedic scriptures claim that honey acts as a laxative and emetic and aids in the removal of waste products from the alimentary canal when undigested meals and other toxins are present.
4. Wound Healing:
Honey’s antibacterial properties make it effective for wound healing. Applied topically to minor cuts, burns, and wounds, honey can prevent infection and promote faster healing.
5. Antioxidant Benefits:
Honey contains antioxidants, such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body and protect cells from oxidative damage.
6. Promotes Eyesight & Sleep:
The natural sugars in honey can increase insulin levels and allow the amino acid tryptophan to enter the brain more easily. This promotes the production of serotonin, which is converted to melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep.
Ayurveda Kashaya for Eyesight & Sleep
Servings : Individual
Soaking Time (optional) : No Soaking
Prep Time : 2 minutes
Cook Time : 5 minutes
INGREDIENTS
. Honey
. Carrot
DIRECTION
Consume frequently a mixture of carrot juice mixed with two teaspoons of honey. This is especially beneficial for people who spend a lot of time in front of computers and other gadgets because it helps to enhance eyesight.
7. Skin Benefits:
Honey is used in various skincare products due to its moisturizing and antimicrobial properties. It can help soothe and nourish the skin, making it a popular ingredient in natural skincare remedies.
Honey has Hygroscopic Properties: Honey is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts and retains moisture from the air. This quality makes it a natural humectant, making it ideal for use in skincare products to help retain skin moisture.
According to Ayurveda the composition of honey aggravates Vata. but reduces rakta, kapha, and pitta. Acne and pimples are allegedly brought on by the vitiation of rakta, pitta, and kapha. Its external application aids in the external reduction of acne and pimples because it balances vitiated rakta, pitta, and kapha. It is said in the above verse that madhu is a superb facilitator of the healing process (sandhatru). When used externally, this swiftly heals inflamed acne and pimples. The healing process is sped up by its antibacterial qualities.
8. Supports pulmonary health:
According to Ayurveda, honey is very helpful in promoting lung health and respiratory equilibrium. Ayurvedic literature also state that using honey to treat asthma-related symptoms is very effective. It aids in calming the upper respiratory tract’s mucous membrane since it is a demulcent (soothing agent).
Ayurveda Kashaya for Asthma
Servings : Individual
Soaking Time (optional) : No Soaking
Prep Time : 2 minutes
Cook Time : 5 minutes
INGREDIENTS
. Honey
. Black Pepper
. Ginger
. Carrot
DIRECTION
A mixture of black pepper powder, honey, and ginger juice in equal quantities, when consumed thrice daily helps to aid with the symptoms of asthma.
It’s important to note that while honey offers several health benefits, it is a concentrated source of natural sugars and should be consumed in moderation. And one should consult Ayurvedic doctor’s before consuming them because mixing agent, proportion and quantities may differ for each individual.
Finally! Here are some interesting facts:
1. Honey has an eternal shelf life:
Archaeologists have found honey pots in ancient Egyptian tombs that are over 3,000 years old and still perfectly edible. Due to its low water content and natural acidity, they create an inhospitable environment for bacteria and microorganisms, preventing from spoilage.
2. Honeybees Travel Long Distances:
To produce just 500 grams of it, those honeybees travel a distance equivalent to three times around the world. They visit thousands of flowers and make around 50,000 trips to gather enough nectar to produce that half kg.
3. Honeybees Communicate with Dance:
Honeybees have a unique way of communicating with each other to share information about the location of nectar sources. They perform a “waggle dance” inside the hive, where the direction and distance of the food source are indicated by the angle and duration of the dance.
4. Never Consume heated Honey:
“Nothing is as troublesome as the Ama caused by improper intake of honey,” the ancient Ayurvedic sage Charak said. According to Ayurveda, ama—toxic, undigested stuff in the body—is considered to be the main contributor to the majority of
diseases. The accumulation of toxins in the body can serve as a breeding ground for a variety of unpleasant health conditions. Charak makes it very obvious that heating honey makes it extremely difficult to digest and causes undesirable effects.
When it is heated, especially at high temperatures, can lead to the formation of hydroxymethylfurfural or (HMF), a chemical compound that is not naturally present in fresh honey. HMF is considered potentially harmful and may have adverse effects on health.
5. Offering Honey to God holds various symbolic and practical significance:
Honey’s natural sweetness represents the essence of life’s joys and blessings. By offering them to the gods, people express gratitude and seek blessings for an abundant and sweet life. Also, Honey is considered pure and uncontaminated, symbolizing the sacred and divine. Offering them is an act of purity and devotion. In some cultures, honey is associated with immortality and the divine essence of life. By offering honey, people seek blessings for eternal life and spiritual growth.
