Therapeutic uses of Honey in Ayurveda

[Guest guest]

Therapeutic uses of Honey in Ayurveda

 

The FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission defines honey as `the natural

sweet substance produced by honeybees from the nectar of flowers or

from secretions coming from living organisms feeding on plants, that

bees gather, transform and combine with specific ingredients, store

and leave to ripen in the combs of the hive.'

 

In Ayurveda honey is called as "Madhu". Its qualities are explained

as follows.

 

"Vaatalam guru sheetam cha raktapittakaphapaham |

Sandhatru cchedanam ruksham kashayam madhuram madhu ||"

 

"It has sweetness (madhura rasa) with added astringent as end taste

(Kashaya anu rasa). It is heavy (guru guna), dry (ruksha) and cold

(sheeta). Its effect on doshas is as follows It aggravates vata,

scrapes kapha and normalizes pitta and rakta. It promotes healing

process."

 

The contents of Honey are

1. Sugars like fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, lactose and

other disaccharides and trisaccharides.

2. Proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids,

3. Volatile aromatic substances.

4. Ashes and water etc.

 

 

Various ingredients of honey have helped it to become not only a

sweet liquid but also a natural product with high nutritional and

medicinal value.

 

 

The medicinal quality, taste, texture, color, aroma of honey differs

according to the geographical area and the species of plants from

which it has been collected.

 

Types of Honey:

 

Eight types of honey are described in ayurveda depending on the type

of bee which collects it. They are Pouttika ,Bhramara .Kshoudra,

Makshika , Chatra , Arghya ,Oudalaka ,Dala .

 

Pouttika - This honey is collected by very large bees from the

nectar of poisonous flowers. It increases vata, causes gout and

burning sensation in chest.It is also sedative and reduces fat.

 

 

Bhramara - This honey is collected by large bees and Sticky in

nature.

 

Kshoudra - (Honey collected by medium sized honey bees ) light and

cold in nature. Dissolves Kapha.

 

Makshika - (Honey collected by small honey bees) very light and dry

natured. Usefull in VataKapha diseases and kapha diseases

 

Chatra - Heavy and cold in nature usefull in gout, Leucoderma

(Shwitra),

 

Arghya - Good for eyes but causes arthritis .

 

Oudalaka - Useful in skin diseases, and helps in modulation of

voice.

 

Dala - Dry and reduces vomiting.

 

Amongst all the above "Makshika" is considered as the best type with

immense medicinal properties.

 

Therapeutic uses of Honey:

 

1. As it contains sugars which are quickly absorbed by our

digestive system and converted into energy, this can be used as

instant energizer.

2. As it is hygroscopic it speeds up healing, growth of healing

tissue and dries it up.

3. Honey acts as a sedative and is very usefull in bed wetting

disorders.

4. Honey is very good antioxident which restores the damaged

skin and gives soft, young looks.

5. Honey has antibacterial properties due to its acidic nature

and enzymically produced hydrogen peroxide.

6. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles

to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

 

In Ashtanga Hridaya the great classic of ayurveda, the therapeutic

uses of honey are explained as follows.

 

"Chakshushayam Chedi tritshleshmavishahidmaasrapittanut |

Mehakushtakrimicchardishwaasakaasaatisaarajit ||

Vranashodhana sandhaanaropanam vaatalam madhu ||"

 

• Honey is very good for eyes and eye sight.

• It quenches thirst.

• Dissolves kapha.

• Reduces effects of poison.

• Stops hiccups.

• It is very useful in urinary tract disorders, worm

infestations, bronchial asthma, cough, diarrhea and nausea -vomiting.

• Cleanse the wounds.

• It heals wounds.

• Helps in quick healing of deep wounds.

• Initiates growth of healthy granulation tissue.

• Honey which is newly collected from bee hive increases body

weight and is a mild laxative.

• Honey which is stored and is old helps in metabolism of fat

and scrapes Kapha.

 

 

 

Ayurveda explains another special quality of honey. Honey is called

as "Yogavahi" . The substance which has a quality of penetrating the

deepest tissue is called as Yogavahi. When honey is used with other

herbal preparations it enhances the medicinal qualities of those

preparations and also helps them to reach the deeper tissues.

 

 

Precautions to be taken before using honey:

 

• Honey should not be mixed with hot foods.

• Honey should not be heated.

• Honey should not be consumed when you are working in hot

environment where you are exposed to more heat.

• Honey should never be mixed with rain water, hot and spicy

foods, and Fermented beverages like whisky, rum, brandy etc, Ghee

and mustard.

• Honey includes nectar of various flowers of which some may

be poisonous. Poison has hot or Ushna qualities. When honey is mixed

with hot and spicy foods the poisonous properties get enhanced and

cause imbalance of doshas.

 

Few Home remedies with Honey

• Mix 2 tea spoon of honey with carrot juice and consume

regularly. This helps to improve eyesight and is very helpful for

those who sit before computer for long hours.

• In cold, cough and congested chest mix 2 tea spoons of honey

with equal quantity of ginger juice and should be consumed

frequently.

• A mixture of black pepper powder, honey and ginger juice in

equal quantities, when consumed thrice daily help to relieve the

symptoms of asthma.

• Regular use of one tea spoon of garlic juice mixed with two

tea spoons of honey help to control blood pressure.

• One glass of warm water taken with two tea spoons of honey

and 1 tea spoon of lemon juice in early morning reduces fat and

purifies blood.

 

Consuming one spoon of honey daily help us to lead a healthy long

life.

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr Krishna,

 

Thank you for the wonderful and informative post. I myself have got

relief during asthma attacks by using the ginger+pepper+honey

combination you have mentioned.

 

Many people are of the opinion that regular intake of honey reduces the

libido. Is that correct? Actually many medicines help control excess

libido but people do not take them fearing that they would be denied

their pleasures.

 

Regards,

Jagannath.