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
-
Sugars like fructose, glucose,
sucrose, maltose, lactose and other disaccharides and
trisaccharides.
-
Proteins, fats, vitamins,
minerals, enzymes and amino acids,
-
Volatile aromatic substances.
-
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:
-
As it contains sugars which
are quickly absorbed by our digestive system and converted into
energy, this can be used as instant energizer.
-
As it is hygroscopic it speeds
up healing, growth of healing tissue and dries it up.
-
Honey acts as a sedative and
is very usefull in bed wetting disorders.
-
Honey is very good antioxident
which restores the damaged skin and gives soft, young looks.
-
Honey has antibacterial
properties due to its acidic nature and enzymically produced
hydrogen peroxide.
-
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.
Biography of Dr.Krishna.R.S
Dr. Krishna.R.S has been an Ayurvedic Practitioner since 19 yrs ,
after getting a graduation degree in ayurveda (Bachelor of
Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) in 1986 from University of Mysore,
India. He completed his post graduation diploma about allopathic
medicine and surgery from University of Bangalore, Karnataka,
India.His articles about ayurveda and life sciences have been
published in many magzines.
Dr.Krishna. R.S is a star athlete and has represented state and
universities when he was in high school, pre university and
college.
Dr.Krishna . R.S lives in Mysore , Karnataka, India. He gives
consultations in Mysore and also in Bangalore the silicon valley
of India.
Ph:91-0821-2451405
Mob: 09448433911
Email : drkrishnars@ayurveda-increaselibido.com
http://www.ayurveda-increaselibido.com
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