Ayurveda recommends honey for cough, cold, asthma, obesity and to boost immunity. It is also used in beauty therapies for acne, pimple, wrinkles, and pigments.
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Table of content
Precautions to be taken before using
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.’
Ayurveda Properties
In Ayurveda this sweet substance is called “Madhu”. This is used in many ayurvedic recipes. Its qualities are explained as follows.
“It has sweetness (madhura rasa) with added astringent as the 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 dosha, scrapes Kapha dosha and normalizes pitta dosha, and balances rakta dhatu (blood). It promotes the healing process.”
The composition
This contains Sugars like fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, lactose, and other disaccharides and trisaccharides, Proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and Volatile aromatic substances. Ashes and water etc.
The above-mentioned ingredients have helped this natural sweetener to become not only a sweet liquid but also a natural product with high nutritional and medicinal value.
The medicinal quality, taste, texture, color, and aroma of honey differ according to the geographical area and the species of plants from which it has been collected.
Types According to Ayurveda:
Eight types 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 type is collected by very large bees from the nectar of poisonous flowers. It increases Vata and causes gout and a burning sensation in the chest. It is also sedative and reduces body fat or helps with obesity.
Bhramara –
This one is collected by large bees and is Sticky in nature.
Kshoudra –
(Collected by medium-sized bees ) light and cold in nature. Dissolves Kapha.
Makshika –
(Collected by small bees) very light and dry-natured. Useful in Vata Kapha diseases and Kapha diseases. Recommend for regular use and also for medicinal purposes.
Chatra –
Heavy and cold in nature useful in gout, Leucoderma (Shwitra),
Arghya –
Good for the eyes but causes arthritis.
Oudalaka –
Useful in skin diseases, and helps in the modulation of voice.
Dala –
Dry and reduces vomiting.
Amongst all the above “Makshika” is considered as the best type with immense medicinal properties.
Health benefits and uses
- As it contains sugars that are quickly absorbed by our digestive system and converted into energy, this can be used as an instant energizer.
- As it is hygroscopic, it speeds up the healing, and growth of healing tissue and dries it up.
- It acts as a sedative and is very useful in bed-wetting disorders.
- This is a very good antioxidant that restores damaged skin and gives soft, young looks.
- This has antibacterial properties due to its acidic nature and enzymatically produced hydrogen peroxide.
- Regular use of this sweet elixir strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.
In Ashtanga Hridaya the great classic of ayurveda, the therapeutic uses are explained as follows.
- This is very good for eyes and eyesight.
- It quenches thirst.
- Dissolves Kapha.
- Reduces effects of poison.
- Stops hiccups.
- It is very useful in urinary tract disorders like UTI and Cystitis, worm infestations, bronchial asthma, cough, diarrhea, and nausea -vomiting.
- Cleanses and heals the wounds. Initiates growth of healthy granulation tissue. Helps in the quick healing of deep wounds.
- The newly collected from the bee hive increases body weight and is a mild laxative.
- The one which is stored and is old helps in the metabolism of fat and scrapes Kapha. Usually, old honey is recommended for weight loss.
Acts as a “Yogavahi” or Best Carrier
Ayurveda explains another special quality of this vital ingredient. It is called “Yogavahi”. The substance which has the quality of penetrating the deepest tissue is called 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 :
- This should not be mixed with hot foods.
- It should not be heated.
- Madhu should not be consumed when you are working in a hot environment where you are exposed to more heat.
- This should never be mixed with rain water, hot and spicy foods, and Fermented beverages like whisky, rum, brandy, etc,
- Should not be used along with Ghee and mustard.
Honey includes nectar from various flowers of which some may be poisonous. Poison has hot or Ushna qualities. When this is mixed with hot and spicy foods the poisonous properties get enhanced and cause an imbalance of doshas.
Ayurvedic Beauty Treatments with Honey
This substance aggravates Vata. But alleviates pitta, rakta, and Kapha. According to ayurveda principles acne and pimples are caused by vitiation of rakta, pitta, and Kapha. As this balances vitiated rakta, pitta, and Kapha, its external application helps to reduce acne and pimples. In the above verse, it has been said that madhu is an excellent promoter of the healing process (sandhatru). Inflamed acne and pimples get healed very quickly when this is applied externally. Its antimicrobial properties help to accelerate the healing process.
Honey-A home facial mask benefits
We all know that this ingredient has innumerable medicinal properties. Now people use this regularly as a substitute for sugar. This concentrated nectar can be used externally on the skin. According to the principles of Ayurveda, this has cleansing properties. It cleanses the body when consumed internally. This sweet nectar removes toxic plugs and rejuvenates body tissues. It is the best ayurvedic skin detox
The same action can be seen when it is used externally. It clears the clogged skin pores and rejuvenates the skin. Its anti-aging properties help the skin to look younger. Wash your face thoroughly with a suitable face wash. Pat dry skin. Take 2 teaspoons of organic honey and apply it on the face. Leave it for 15 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water. These facials increase the fairness and glow of the skin. It helps to reduce wrinkles and other aging signs.
As this exhibits astringent (kashayam) properties its external application helps to tighten the pores created by acne and pimple. Its heaviness (guru) and cold (sheeta) properties help to increase the moisture level of the skin. This helps to prevent wrinkles. This ingredient helps to increase the moistness of dry skin.
This has another excellent property of drying extra oil secretion. It scrapes the excess oil secretion without stripping the natural oil of the skin. Persons with Oily skin can take advantage of this quality.
6 Home remedies with Honey
#1
Mix 2 teaspoons of honey with carrot juice and consume regularly. This helps to improve eyesight and is very helpful for those who sit before the computer for long hours.
#2
In a cold, cough, and congested chest mix 2 teaspoons of this flower nectar with an equal quantity of ginger juice and a pinch of rock salt or sendha namak. This should be consumed frequently.
#3
A mixture of black pepper powder, honey, and ginger juice in equal quantities, when consumed thrice daily helps to relieve the symptoms of asthma.
#4
Regular use of one teaspoonful of garlic juice mixed with two teaspoons of shahad help to control blood pressure.
#5
One glass of warm water taken with two teaspoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice in the early morning reduces fat and purifies the blood.
#6
Consuming one spoon of this golden liquid, daily helps us to lead a healthy long life.
About Author: This article is copyrighted. The author Dr.Krishna.R.S is an Ayurvedic Physician .
Reference : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6225430/
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