Uses of Honey

“Medicinal vegetation and juices maketh honey. It is like nectar. Honey is like the vital force. Honey is like the cereals. Even God taketh honey with great relish.”

-Indian Hindu Scriptures

In the Bible, honey is considered as a symbol of soft sweetness. Honey is mentioned in Bible for more than sixty times. In the Holy Quran, Sural El Nihal is about honey. In the scripture Budhacharya, Lord Budha had instructed all his followers to make liberal use of honey in the diet.

The original bardic name of Britain  was “Honey Isle of Beli”. Earlier the Britishers were famous beekeepers. South Egypt was known as “the land of the bee”.

Now let us see the chemical composition of honey. It contains about 76% of sugar: 34% of dextrose, 40% of lebulose and 2% of sucrose. The rest 1.5% to 2% is dextrine and gums. Four types of enzymes are also present in honey. Amongst minerals, carbonate of calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium and silicate are present. Dark honey has iron, copper and manganese in a greater amount than other lighter varieties. Honey consists of all minerals and vitamins in correct proportion as required by the body.

Honey has moisture absorbing capability because of the presence of potassium salts in it. So, when honey comes in contact with bacteria, it absorbs all the moisture from them and subsequently the bacteria dies. Thus, it works like a disinfectant.

Honey helps in decreasing blood pressure, as it increases the blood flow to the heart and also draws excess fluid from the blood stream. Honey also helps in reducing weight. For reducing weight, it must be taken on empty stomach early in the morning. For simple throat problems, honey must be taken with a tea spoon of ginger juice for relief.

Asthma patients are always advised to take two tea spoons of honey in a glass of boiling water. Honey is good for arthritic, rheumatic and gout cases also.

The most interesting use of honey is as face pack. When a face pack consisting of honey with rose water, gram flour is applied and washed away after 15-20 minutes, then it brightens up the face.

In our daily diet, there must be two tea spoons of honey involved to be blessed with its so many helpful uses.