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CONSUME ONE SPOON OF HONEY DAILY TO LEAD A HEALTHY AND LONG LIFE.
It should be appreciated that Honey as natural food is delicious to eat. It has many curative effects too. Several Ayurvedic medicines are made from pure honey.It has tremendous positive effects on human body.There are various other aspects that have been proved by scintific research.
Due to the main components fructose and glucose, and due to the high osmotic pressure (osmotic value) of these monosaccharides, honey as a carbohydrate food is rapidly and directly absorbed into the blood. Therefore it supplies energy very quickly to the various organs, muscles, brain, etc. The absorption of fructose is faster than that of glucose. For weakened or over-exerted people, this rapid energy supply is of great nutritional value (especially for top class sportsmen, convalescent people, or babies).Liver function is rapidly activated by fructose. In the diet of liver patients, honey is very often recommended. Honey supports the detoxicating liver functions due to its glucose/fructose and cholin content.Honey promotes the peristalsis of the intestines, has a laxative effect, and stimulates the secretions of the intestines. The high osmotic pressure, the content of acetylcholin, and flavour components are responsible for this effect
In a study of 25 healthy adults, Gross and her colleagues showed that honey can boost antioxidant levels. For 29 days, participants added 4 tablespoons of buckwheat honey to their daily diet. The researchers tested two types of buckwheat honey with different amounts of antioxidants. Blood samples taken at the beginning and end of the study showed that the total level of phenolics increased in both groups of volunteers.In Ayurveda honey is called as “Madhu”. Its qualities are multivarius.
The contents of Honey are:
1. Sugars like fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, lactose and other disaccharides and trisaccharides.
2. Proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids.
3. Volatile aromatic substances.
4. 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 useful 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:
1. As it contains sugars which are quickly absorbed by our digestive system and converted into energy, this can be used as instant energizer.
2. As it is hygroscopic it speeds up healing, growth of healing tissue and dries it up.
3. Honey acts as a sedative and is very useful in bed wetting disorders.
4. Honey is very good antioxident which restores the damaged skin and gives soft, young looks.
5. Honey has antibacterial properties due to its acidic nature and enzymically produced hydrogen peroxide.
6. 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 ||”
a.. Honey is very good for eyes and eye sight.
b.. It quenches thirst.
c.. Dissolves kapha.
d.. Reduces effects of poison.
e.. Stops hiccups.
f.. It is very useful in urinary tract disorders, worm infestations, bronchial asthma, cough, diarrhea and nausea, vomiting.
g.. Cleanse the wounds.
h.. It heals wounds.
i.. Helps in quick healing of deep wounds.
j.. Initiates growth of healthy granulation tissue.
k.. Honey which is newly collected from bee hive increases body weight and is a mild laxative.
l.. 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:
a.. Honey should not be mixed with hot foods.
b.. Honey should not be heated.
c.. Honey should not be consumed when you are working in hot environment where you are exposed to more heat.
d.. Honey should never be mixed with rain water, hot and spicy foods, and fermented beverages like whisky, rum, brandy etc, ghee and mustard.
e.. 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
a.. 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 computer for long hours.
b.. In cold, cough and congested chest mix 2 teaspoons of honey with equal quantity of ginger juice and should be consumed frequently.
c.. A mixture of black pepper powder, honey and ginger juice in equal quantities, when consumed thrice daily help to relieve the symptoms of asthma.
d.. Regular use of one teaspoon of garlic juice mixed with two teaspoons of honey help to control blood pressure.
e.. One glass of warm water taken with two teaspoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice in early morning reduces fat and purifies blood.
Resources:
Taken from different ayurvedic sites
