Honey is - or should be - an indispensable ingredient in every kitchen! From therapeutic & medicinal to skin care; it has benefits for almost everything!

Honey has always had great symbolic & ritual importance in Indian culture. In the Vedas, the honeycomb is compared to the sun, and honey is called the ‘nectar of the sun’. In rituals, honey, along with ghee, milk, sugar and buttermilk comprise ‘Panchamrit‘’, and is often the first thing given to a newborn. In fact, honey has even been used in Ayurvedic & Yunani concoctions for thousands of years,
Apart from Indian culture, the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Russians and Chinese also attributed various health and beauty benefits to honey. In terms of religion, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and several other religions mention the healing powers of honey.

Composition

Commercially available honey contains roughly 80% natural sugars (like fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, lactose, disaccharides and tri-saccharides), 18% water, and about 2% Proteins, vitamins, minerals & enzymes. It is not only a natural sweetener, but has high nutritional & medicinal value. The medicinal quality, taste, texture, colour & aroma of honey varies with the geographic location and type of plant from which it has been collected.

What are Raw & Pasteurised Honey?

Raw honey is honey that has not been heated, pasteurized (heated at 70 degrees Celsius or more, followed by rapid cooling) or processed in any way. Most of the commercially available honey available to us is not raw honey but honey which has been pasteurized and filtered so that it looks cleaner and smoother. It is relatively low in moisture content (14% to 16%) and has a high antioxidant level. It will usually granulate and crystallize to a margarine-like consistency after a month or two. It doesn't ferment in the stomach and it can be used to counteract acid indigestion.

While pasteurization kills any yeast cell in the honey, prevents fermentation & slows down the speed of crystallization in liquid honey, pasteurized honey loses some delicate aromas, yeast and enzymes which are responsible for activating vitamins and minerals in the body system. That’s why raw honey is said to be more nutritious.

Locally produced raw honey purchased is an excellent way of treating seasonal allergies, because of the likelihood that it will contain small amounts of the specific pollens an individual may be allergic to.

Therapeutic uses of Honey:

• It’s a natural & instant energizer, as its sugars are quickly absorbed by the body.
• It helps improve immunity and is beneficial in urinary tract disorders, worm infestations, bronchial asthma, cough, diarrhea and nausea -vomiting.
• It is an antibacterial and can be used to cleanse & heals wounds, and even speed up healing of deep wounds.
• Honey acts as a sedative and is very useful in bed wetting disorders.
• It’s an excellent antioxidant, which restores damaged skin and improves complexion.
• It is good for the heart Honey is very good for eyes and eye sight.
• Having a spoon of honey everyday makes for a healthy and long life… but did you know that honey quenches thirst stops hiccups too ☺

Honey Caveats!

• While Hindu culture mentions honey as one of the foremost foods for a newborn, allopathic doctors say that honey could be potentially fatal due to botulism.
• Don’t mix it with hot foods. In fact even if you have to heat honey, make sure you do so very mildly.
• Do not consume honey mixed with hot and spicy foods, alcoholic beverages or ghee.
• It is not recommended for diabetics, even though it is better than refined sugar as honey has a low glycemic index (its sugars are gradually absorbed into the bloodstream and do not spike the sugar levels in the body!)

Some useful home remedies with Honey

• For cough, cold or congestion, mix equal amounts of honey and ginger juice (just grate & squeeze the ginger) and consume 1 teaspoon thrice a day. This also helps clear sinuses & reduces mucus.
• Mix equal amounts of Long black pepper powder (pipli), ginger juice & honey and consume a teaspoon thrice a day to relieve symptoms of asthma.
• Mix a teaspoon of honey & the juice of half a lemon in a glass of warm water, and have it empty stomach in the morning to reduce obesity & purify the blood.
• Mix equal amounts of honey with carrot juice and have 2 tea spoons regularly. This is very beneficial for the eyes, especially if taken an hour before breakfast.
• Consuming a mix of garlic juice and honey mixed in the ratio 1:2 regularly helps control blood pressure. Honey contains natural minerals and vitamins which help metabolize cholesterol & fatty acid on organs and tissues, preventing obesity.
• Honey is used to moisturize skin, reduce redness & acne. It can also be used as a hair conditioner when mixed with olive or castor oil.
• A lot has been said of the benefits of a mixture of honey & cinnamon. It can lower cholesterol, revitalise arteries, cure stomach aches, relieve symptoms of asthma & arthritis and can cure infertility. It is also good for hair health, and a paste of honey, cinnamon & warm olive oil applied to hair for 15 minutes prior to washing can help people suffering from baldness and hair loss.
Varieties of Honey:
There are many varieties of honey, some of which are used to treat specific health conditions. Here are a few of them:
Manuka honey has strong anti-bacterial properties and is used to treat a variety of conditions which include colds, sore throats, indigestion, stomach ulcers, and acne.
Buckwheat honey is a strong tasting and dark honey with strong antioxidant properties.

Acacia honey cleanses the liver, promotes intestinal health, and reduces inflammation in the respiratory tract.

Eucalyptus honey can be used to prevent colds and headaches.

Neem honey is important in Ayurveda for its medicinal properties. It is used to treat high blood pressure, diabetes, skin conditions, periodontal infections, throat infections and allergies.