Guest guest Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Nowadays we see cosmetics containing honey as one of the component, claiming it to be a natural moisturiser; but on the other hand we know madhu to be a kaphahar and having lekhana properties. how do we comprehend this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 On 3-Jun-08, at 6:04 AM, ayurveda wrote: > properties of honey > Posted by: " kaus_sh123 " kaus_sh123 kaus_sh123 > Tue Jun 3, 2008 1:00 am (PDT) > > Nowadays we see cosmetics containing honey as one of the component, > claiming it to be a natural moisturiser; but on the other hand we know > madhu to be a kaphahar and having lekhana properties. how do we > comprehend this? by not having a dogmatic perspective!! fresh honey is definitely more demulcent than aged honey, and this alone accounts for a significant difference in properties also, the different varieties of honey also have some impact - Sushruta mentions eight varieties alone, and now contemplate how many more varieties are found outside of India! here in Canada there are several varieties that are different just based on source, e.g. dandelion, buckwheat, alfalfa, etc. - and these are produced by the same variety of bees! to contrast the general Ayurvedic perspective, the Chinese definitely use honey as a demulcent, and have a number of honey-based syrups to treat problems such as mucosal dryness for long standing constipation in elderly patients, I have a favorite recipe using demulcent Chinese herbs such as prepared in a base of honey - it has worked for me when all laxatives and stimulants fail: Paeonia lactiflora (Bai shao) 3 parts Morus alba (Sang shen) 3 parts Polygonum multiflorum (He shou wu) 3 parts Prunus persica (Xing ren) 2 parts Ophiopogon japonicus (Mai men dong) 2 parts Rehmannia glutinosa (Shu di huang) 2 parts Glycyrrhiza glabra (Gan cao) 1 part Mix all the above, to make 16 parts. Make as a strong decoction, boiling for several hours, until the final volume equals that of the original weight of the herb. Strain well and when cool mix with equal parts unpasteurized honey. Dose is 15-45 mL, 2-3 times daily with warm water, before meals I developed this formula when I had an elderly patient with grand mal seizure who was seriously constipated, for which nothing was working although she had seizures about every 2 weeks, with this formula, in combination with another anti-seizure formula, and general vata- reducing techniques, we eliminated the constipation and reduced the seizures to 1-2x/year while eliminating all her antiseizure meds so we must have an open mind to reality, and formulate a practice of medicine that accepts contradictions after all, nature cares very little for our human-made rules about the way things are supposed to be! Caldecott, Dip. Cl.H, RH(AHG) Ayurvedic practitioner, Medical Herbalist 203 - 1750 East 10th Ave Vancouver, BC V5N 5K4 CANADA web: http//:www.toddcaldecott.com email: todd tel: (1)778.896.8894 fax: (1)866.703.2792 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 > > Nowadays we see cosmetics containing honey as one of the component, > claiming it to be a natural moisturiser; but on the other hand we know > madhu to be a kaphahar and having lekhana properties. how do we > comprehend this? > > by not having a dogmatic perspective!! fresh honey is definitely > more demulcent than aged honey, and this alone accounts for a > significant difference in properties > > also, the different varieties of honey also have some impact - > Sushruta mentions eight varieties alone, and now contemplate how many > more varieties are found outside of India! has already explained the difference in the property of the honey, depending on the geographical location, climate, the source of flowers from which it is picked up by bees and ageing of the honey. Author would like to add some more points, the main points which would have caused the confusion in the mind of the member who posted the original querry reg. honey not being moisturiser. The Fresh honey being highly demulcent is evident by its extended use in several herbal cough syrups directed to dry cough; e.g. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demulcent Author uses fresh honey also for throat infections, tonilitis, swallowing difficulties, voice problems along with turmeric and liquoorice. But one more basic principle of ayurveda is applicable here. Many herbs are used together, since sum of ingredients is more than the mathematical total. Toxicity or undesirable property of one herb gets suppressed by presence of other herb. Honey is exception in one respect. it assumes the property of the substance mixed in it, even if mixing herb is small. This property is termed " 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. (Post#5052). This property is also shared by sesame oil, only thing is that herbs need to be mixed in under warm temperatures. A very informative post for this is #5598. Use of honey in cosmetics owes its property to cleanse pitta (read toxins accumulated in caked up cell-membranes) from the deepr tissues of skin. HOney is also used with many other herbs in ayurvedic cosmetics itself.(post#4705), Mixed with cinnamon powder, it is an anti- acne remedy applicable for some. Many blemises clear and skin looks so fresh with use of honey alone. IF you take 1 tsp honey mixed with 1 lemon juice and a glass of water (2-3 pinches of sea salt can be mixed in for taste), thrice a day for one week, see the change in the skin, expecially face. While fresh honey is not so good kaphhara, old honey is. The file honey.pps in file section of group website, stored under folder articles, subfolder " Dr.BhateFiles " contains wide spectrum of therapeutical uses of honey. As Todd says, many contradictions need to be understood and digested well for good practice. Rules are just guidelines, but exceptions are sometimes significant in number. And one should take the basic principles, else generalizations of principles across the globe becomes impossible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Thank you Todd! I have long been looking for a chronic constipation formula for the elderly when all else fails. I will try this and let you know how it works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.