HONEY is a natural sweetener which is easily found in every house. From colorless to dark brown, its flavor differs from mild to bold. Due to its many uses from culinary to medicinal, honey is seen in every pantry. Honey is mostly used as a mixing agent in Ayurvedic Medicines, but in itself is helpful to cure many diseases. Honey from ancient times is known for its medicinal values. It is also called as Madhu in Sanskrit, Makshika, Madwikam, Kshoudram, SaradhamVantham, Varadi, Bringavantham, and Pushparasolbhavam. It is an auspicious ingredient used in Puja, especially in making panchamrut which is one of the sacrament distributed after the prayer of Lord Krishna.
Its details are very well mentioned in Sushrutha Samhita and Charaka Samhita – The great encyclopedia of the Ayurvedic medicines. Two forms of honey available are raw and pasteurized. Raw honey is natural. It is removed from the beehive and bottled directly which may contain traces of yeast, wax, and pollen. Whereas, pasteurized honey is heated and processed to remove impurities. Raw honey is helpful in treating seasonal allergies caused due to pollens. There are main eight types of honey in Ayurveda which differs with the different type of bees namely Pouttika, Bhramara, Kshoudra, Makshika, Chatra, Arghya, Oudalaka, Dala. Among these, Makshika Honey is considered best for medicines. It is collected by small honey bees which is very light in weight and dry nature.
Honey contains a high level of fructose, about 68 calories, and 17.2 grams of carbohydrate in one tablespoon. This natural sweetener is also referred as liquid gold for its useful medicinal properties. In recent researches, it is found that a pollen of honey contains 22 amino acids, 28 minerals, 11 enzymes, 14 fatty acids and 11 Carbohydrate. Due to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, it is used for both external and internal treatments like healing wounds, skin care, weight control, cough, eye disease, diarrhea, asthma, worm infection, etc. Regular use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles (WBC) in fighting bacterial and viral disease.
Healing Wounds When Honey is applied on wounds, it soothes pains and acts as antiseptic on it and helps in healing wounds. It is very helpful in curing burns.
Skin Care Honey is extremely moisturizing and soothing and gives a natural glow to your skin. The antioxidants properties in honey make it a great anti-aging aid. Try a mask of honey, gram flour, and turmeric, for a glowing skin.
Acid Reflux Honey is believed to be an excellent home remedy for acid reflux. It instantly relieves the symptoms of heartburn. According to a theory, honey is more viscous than water, which may help in preventing acid reflux. A teaspoon of honey can be taken directly or can be mixed with a glass of warm water, reduces the inflammation of the esophagus.
Weight Loss Honey can help in weight loss when had with a glass of warm water and lemon juice. This cuts of the extra fat from the body and helps in controlling weight.
Eye Disease Honey improves the eyesight when applied daily in the eyes. It controls itching of eyes, helpful in conjunctivitis and other similar diseases. Its regular internal, as well as external application, will prevent glaucoma in the initial stage of the disease.
Cough It is very useful in treating chronic coughing in kids as well as adults with upper respiratory infection and improves sleep. Ayurvedic medicines or ginger juice is mixed with honey and given to one who is suffering from a chronic cough. Also, honey soothes throat when taken during a cough.
Asthma It is mentioned in Ayurveda that 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. Honey is believed to be highly beneficial for lung health whether inhaled, eaten directly, or taken with warm milk or water.
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 teaspoons full in a big cup of water.
Diarrhea Honey provides energy to the patient suffering from diarrhea when taken with a glass of water.
Apart from its medicinal properties, honey is used in cooking, baking, and in desserts. Honey is not only an energy booster but also lowers cholesterol. With all the benefits of honey, who would not want to include honey to their diet? But remember, intake of excess honey is not advisable as it contains more sugar. Honey should never be given to a child under the age of one-year-old as it can cause botulism in infants.
* The sole purpose of this article is to provide information about its uses in Ayurveda. If you have any serious health conditions, please consult a health professional who can assess your needs and address them effectively. Always check with your health physician before making any changes to your routine.
