Reprint of our
newsletter on Honey & Ayurveda...
Honey is a very revered substance in Ayurveda. The Vedic texts talk at length about it's benefits. However if it is not processed correctly, especially if it is heated above 40 Degrees Celsius , it is said to becomes toxic to the system. Unfortunately many commercial honeys are heated during processing.
Recently we have been selling a brand of honey called "Olaya" which was highly recommended to us by some Ayurvedic experts in the UK. We are very happy with the honey and the customers who have bought it, love it. However I decided to go to Asturias to see for myself the environment in which the hives are kept and the process of extracting and packaging the honey.
Asturias is a province in Northern Spain, the capital is Oviedo. It is primarily a mountainous region. The owner of the business is a lady called Luisa Fernandez Alonzo. Her factory is located in a small village in the mountains called, "Ferechosa", where Luisa was born. She named her honey "Olaya" after her daughter.
Luisa set up the business and controls everything from the placement of the hives, the extraction of the honey, to the finished product. She is well aware of the damage heating can do to the quality of the honey.
Luisa has over 1000 hives placed in the wilder regions of Asturia. From these she produces four main types of honey, Eucalyptus, Chestnut and Heather and wild Forest. The extraction process does not involve heating the honey, so all the minerals and enzymes are preserved.
I have to say I was very impressed with the whole process. Luisa is a person who loves what she is doing and the quality of her honey shows this. I visited the remote regions where the hives are kept, away from pesticides and traffic. I believe this to be a very pure honey.
Currently we only stock the Eucalyptus honey, which is said to be particularly beneficial for the respiratory system, soon we will carry more varieties.
If you wist to try it for yourself, we stock it in our shop or you can order online here
Now you can read about the traditional uses of Honey in Ayurveda
The traditional uses of honey in healthcare stretch back into antiquity. Its value, beyond a sweetener, is being rediscovered. The ancients of Vedic civilization considered honey one of nature's most remarkable gifts to mankind. Modern research indicates this substance does possess unique nutritional and medicinal properties. This article is a historical review of how the ancient physicians used honey, and for what purposes. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any disease.
Honey's food value
The sugars in honey are glucose, fructose and sucrose. Glucose is the simplest of the sugars. It occurs in the blood of live animals, in fruit and vegetable juices. It restores the oxygen that is replaced by lactic acid when fatigue sets in.
Fructose, which is also known as levulose or grape sugar, crystallizes more easily than glucose and builds up tissues. Sucrose is a combination of glucose and fructose. Dextrin, which is a gummy substance, is found in small amounts in honey, but it makes honey so digestible.
The latest research indicates that the pollen in honey contains all 22 amino acids, 28 minerals, 11 enzymes, 14 fatty acids and 11 carbohydrates. Unfortunately much of these nutritive qualities are lost by heating the honey for commercial use.
Natural benefits and curative properties — what the ancient ayurvedic texts say
Honey is one of the finest sources of heat and energy. Energy is generated mainly by the carbohydrate foods, and honey is one of the most easily digested forms of carbohydrats. It enters directly into the bloodstream because of its dextrin content, and this provides almost instantaneous energy.
Traditionally, according to the texts of ayurveda, honey is a boon to those with weak digestion. The texts state that all the organs in the body respond favorably when honey is eaten. Honey is considered as an all-purpose medicine for all types of diseases.
The texts also state that a spoon of fresh honey, mixed with the juice of half a lemon in a glass of lukewarm water and taken first thing in the morning, is an effective remedy for constipation and hyperacidity. Fasting on this honey-lemon juice water is highly beneficial in the treatment of obesity without loss of energy and appetite.
A mixture of honey and alcohol is believed to promote growth of hair.
Honey and the heart
Honey is easily digested and assimilated; it is the best sweet food, as it does not cause flatulence and can prevent it to a certain extent, promoting the activity of the bowels. It can be easily added to the five meals a day, and the texts of ayurveda recommended it in cases of arteriosclerosis and weak hearts.
As it would be unwise to leave such a hard-working organ as the heart without food over the long hours of the night, the ancient texts recommend taking, before going to bed, a glass of water with honey and lemon juice in it, and also to take it when awakening at night. Traditional ayurvedic experts recommend honey for cardiac pain and palpitation of the heart.
Honey and anemia
Honey is remarkable in building hemoglobin in the body, which is largely due to the iron, copper and manganese contained in it. The ancient texts declare it beneficial in the treatment of anemia, as it helps maintain the right balance of hemoglobin and red blood corpuscles.
Honey and pulmonary health
Ancient ayurvedic experts regarded honey as highly beneficial in the support of lung health and treatment of all imbalances of the lungs. The texts of ayurveda state that if a jug of honey is held under the nose of an asthma patient and he inhales the air that comes into contact with the honey, he starts breathing easier and deeper. The effects last for about an hour or so.
This is because honey contains a mixture of "higher" alcohols and ethereal oil, and the vapors given off by them are soothing and beneficial to the asthma patients, according to ayurveda. It usually brings relief, whether the air flowing over the honey is inhaled or whether it is eaten or taken either in milk or water. Some ayurvedic experts recommend one-year-old honey for respiratory diseases.
Honey and skin
The texts of ayurveda also describe how honey applied externally is considered useful in the treatment of wounds and sores. Honey, they state, soothes pain, acts as an antiseptic, hastens healing and is especially effective in curing burns and carbuncles.
Honey and irritating coughs
The texts of ayurveda also say the use of honey is highly beneficial in the treatment of irritating cough. As a demulcent or soothing agent, it produces a soothing effect on the inflammed mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract and relieves irritating cough and symptoms like difficulty in swallowing. For the same reason, it is used in the manufacture of various cough mixtures. Honey gargles are also useful in irritant cough.
Honey and insomnia
Honey has been used for centuries for the treatment of insomnia. It has hypnotic action in bringing sound sleep. It should be taken with water, before going to bed, in doses of two teaspoonfuls in a big cupful of water. Babies, the texts say, generally fall asleep after taking honey.
Honey and oral diseases
Honey is regarded by ayurvedic experts as valuable in keeping the mouth healthy. Applied daily over the teeth and gums, it cleans and gives sparkle to the teeth. It prevents the deposit of tartar at the base of the teeth, and prevents decay and early falling of the teeth. Being a mild antiseptic, it prevents the growth of harmful microorganisms.
It also keeps the gums in a healthy state, increasing their vascularity. In case of ulcers in the oral cavity, honey helps in their early healing and prevents further sepsis and pyogenic infection-related bad odor and pus formation. Gargling with honey water is very useful in gingivitis due to inflammation of the gums.
Honey and the eyes
Honey has a long history of ayurvedic use for various eye ailments. Applied daily in the eyes, it improves the eyesight. It is very useful in the treatment of itching of the eyes, trachoma, conjunctivitis and other similar diseases. Its regular internal as well as external application will prevent glaucoma in the initial stage of the disease.
Honey and the stomach
Ayurvedic experts have long regarded honey as useful in maintaining the health of the stomach. It tones up the stomach, helps in proper digestion and prevents stomach diseases. It also decreases the overproduction of hydrochloric acid, thereby preventing symptoms like nausea, vomiting and heartburn.
According to the texts of ayurveda, when putrified fecal matter and undigested foods are present in the alimentary canal, honey acts as a laxative and emetic and clears the digestive canal of the waste matter.
Honey and age
The texs also state that honey is especially useful in providing energy and heat to the body in old age. It dries up the phlegm and clears the system of mucus, to which a person generally falls victim in old age. One or two teaspoonfuls of honey in a cupful of boiled water that has been cooled to lukewarm is a refreshing and strengthening drink.
Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. If you are seeking the medical advice of a trained ayurvedic expert, call or e-mail us for the number of a physici
