Ayurveda – Ayurvedic – India

Probably over 90% of Americans call their wives ‘Honey’! The name honey is synonymous with sweet taste. But it is just not a sweet. It is a wholesome food and has medicinal values.
Honey has an ancient history. It is perhaps the oldest sweetner known to men. It is one of the best gifts nature has bestowed human beings with. There is a mention of honey in every ancient religious scripture. Collection of honey from bee hives is a very ancient activity, probably 10,000 years old.
Honey is made from the ‘nectar’ contained in the cultivated as well as wild flowers. Honey bees collect this nectar from flowers, convert in to honey and store the honey in honey combs. Just to make one pound (0.454 K.G.) of honey, the bees collect nectar from 60,000 flowers making 37 lakhs trips! The flowering plants are also benefited because the bees cause cross – pollination crucial for propagation of the plants. The finest honey is the virgin honey that drains it self from the comb and that which is procured freshly, from the bee – hives. These days honey bees are raised in farms (Apiaries), their honeycombs are fixed in boxes and honey is collected on a commercial basis.
The nector collected from flowers contains 50 to 90% water, 10 to 50%  sucrose or other type of sugar and 1 to 4% aromatic substances, minerals and colouring substances. The bees reduce the moisture content of nectar and bring it down to 14 to 19%. They add an enzyme that convert nectar – sucrose to two sugars namely, levulose and dextrose. Levulose is sweeter than cane – sugar. Due to its high content of sugar, honey is an instant – energiser. It is better than cane – sugar, because it contains more nutrients but less calories and carbohydrates.
Constituents
According to the National Institute of Nutrition, ICMR, India, every 100 gm of honey contains the following:
Moisture- 20.6 g, Protein – 0.3 g, Fat – 0 g, Minerals – 0.2 g, Fibre – 0 g, Carbo-hydrates – 79.5 g, Calcium – 5 mg, Phosporous – 16 mg and Iron – 0.696 mg. It’s calorific value is 319 k.cal.
It’s Carbo-hydrate consists of Fructose (levulose in liquid form) – 38.5%, Glucose – 31.0%, Sucrose 1%, other sugars (Maltose etc) – 9%.
Honey also contains, Wax, volatile oil, mucilage, colouring matter, pollen dust, enzymes etc. It also contains a special protein secreted by the bees and saliva like ferment that can convert starch and sugar. It contains traces of vitamin and minerals. Honey can not be considered as a significant source of vitamins or minerals. The dextrose and levulose present in the honey are monosaccharides and are absorbed easily. Honey is 36% denser than water.
The composition of honey depends on the flowers available to the bees that produced the honey. Different flowers produce different nectars. Commercial honey may be a mixture of two or three honeys, collected from different floral sources. There could be variations in density, flavour etc depending on the geographical locations from where the honey was collected.
Nomenclature of Honey
Sanskrit: Madhu, Makshika Hindi: Madha, Madh Tamil: Thaen, English: Honey, LATIN NAME – MEL
Nomeclature of Honey bee
Zoological name – Apis Mellifica Family Apidae, Class: Hymenoptera. Honey bees are found in most parts of the globe. They produce two substances of medicinal value – 1. Honey, the sacharine secretion deposited by the bee in the honey comb. 2. Wax or cera
General characters:  Honey is a golden coloured viscid saccharine substance. (Saccharine is a sweetening agent 400 times as sweet as sugar). It is semi – translucent liquid with an aromatic odour and sweet acrid taste. It becomes, opaque and crystalline after some time.
Ayurveda calls Honey “Yogavahi” meaning that honey has a special quality of penetrating deep into the tissues when used with other herbs.
Classification of Honey
A. According to charaka samhita:-
1. Makshika – Prepared by big bees – Oil like in colour.
2. Bhramara – Prepared by honey bees – While in colour
3. Pauttika – Prepared by yellow coloured bees – Ghee like in colour
4. Kshandra – Prepared by small bees – Golden coloured
All these 4 types are cold, rough, heavy, sweet and Astringent. Honey,
ingeneral, perturbs vata, relieves rakta, pitta and kapha disorders. All honeys promote union and expectoration. Honey is forbidden for those suffering from heat.
Makshika variety is the best among honeys.
B. According to Susruta samhita

Variety
1. Makshika
2. Bhramara
3. Kshaudra
4. Pauttika
5. Chhatra
6. Argha / Aadharya
7. Audalaka
8. Dala

Bee collecting the honey

Common ‘Madhu makshika’ bee
Large black bee “Bhramara”
Small yellowish – browun coloured bee called “Kshaudra”
A small black bee, resembling a gnat, called puttika.
Nectar collected from poisonous flowers.
Yellow, tawny wasps which construct the hives in the shape of Umbrellas.
Wild honey collected by yellow coloured bees, like Bhramara
Bitter and Acrid substance found in the nest of white ants
Unprepared honey found in flowers.

Action of the honey
Useful in Vata, Kapha diseasese cough, Jaundice and T.B.
Beneficial in treating cough, fever, nose bleeds and phlegm.
Useful in treating eye diseasese. Has all the properties of makshika honey
Increases vata, causes gout & burning sensation in the chest. Reduces fat, sedative
Beneficial in treating Haematemesis, worms, leucoderma, gonnorrhoea, hysteria, Gout etc.
Useful in eye diseases, piles, cholera, cough, Jaundice & Ulcers.
Useful in skin diseases.
Improves disgestion, beneficial in phlegn and vomitting.

Of the above mentioned eight varieties, only the first four are important and described by scribes and the first variety, ‘Makshika’ is the one that is used in medicine.
Modern classification based on methods of processing
1. Honey extracted from honey combs:- This is the most readily available liquid “commercial” honey, much in use.
2. Comb – honey:- This honey is solid still in the bee wax comb. It is sold in plastic catridges. It is sold as pieces of combs with honey in the combs.
3. Raw honey – This is obtained by extraction, straining and setting without adding heat. It may contain pollen and small particles of wax. This pollen – honey is sought by Allergic persons.
4. Chunk Honey:- This honey is a combination of pieces of comb honey surrounded by extracted honey. It is packed in wide mouthed jars consisting of liquid honey and chunks (pieces) of comb honey immersed in if.
5. Strained honey:- This honey is filtered through a mesh to remove all pieces of wax, propolis (a resinous substance used in building beehives), without removing pollen, minerals and enzymes.
6. Ultrafiltered honey:- Honey processed by very fine filteration under high pressure to remove all extraneous particles and pollen. This honey is very clear and has longer shelf life because it crystallizes more slowly.
Other varieties are whipped honey (that has been processed to avert crystallisation), Ultrasonicated honey, pasteurised honey, Crystallised (granulated) honey etc.
Classification of honey by floral source of nectar
1. Monofloral:- Honey growers desirous of this type of honey, keep the bee hives in areas where the bees have access to only one variety of flower. This may be a bit difficult in practice.
2. Polyfloral:- This is derived from the nectar of several types of flowers.

Medicinal uses
• For healing wounds:- Honey speeds up healing of wounds because it is hygroscopic. Its viscosity covers the wound like a cling sheet and prevents it from getting infected. It stimulates growth of the healing tissue, formation of new blood capillaries and collagen fibres. The wound is ‘repaired’ fast and honey also helps to prevent scarring. Honey is specially endowed with are enzyme that  converts oxygen in the system to hydrogen peroxide – a good disinfectant. It inhibits growth of harmful bacteria in the wound. It does not adhere to the wound tissues like a ‘band-aid’ sticker and hence there is no pain during changing of dressings. It acts as a good demulcent. Its anti – inflammatory activities quickly clear existing infection and provides protection against further infections. It  restores the damaged skin. For burns, apply honey mixed with turmeric powder. Honey could reduce the time if takes for a burn to heal.
• Honey can give instant energy. The reason is, its sugars are quickly absorbed by our digestive system and get converted into energy. It reduces fatigue and is beneficial to athletes and sportsmen. In old age, honey provides energy to the body in an easily digestible way.
• Regular use of honey strengthes the body’s immunity system and protects it from bacterial or viral attacks. It stimulates and strengthens the white blood corpuscles.
• Honey absorbs water. Hence it is very useful in treating children with bed – wetting problems. Even adults who suffer from frequent urination can take one tablespoon of honey before bed time.
• Honey has sedative properties. It calms highly emotional persons. Two teaspoons of honey taken in a cup of cold water promotes sleep.
• It cures indigestion, stomach aches and dehydration. It stimulates peristalsis and digestion. In moderate doses honey improves digestion and appetite of persons with weak stomach. It reduces flatulence. Diluted with water honey is beneficial in cases dehydration and stomach ache.
• Honey is a handy cough remedy. It gives good relief in cases of cold and cough. It can be taken two or three times a day.
• In cases of Arthritis, diarrhoea, obesity, Urinary tract infections honey, combined with other herbs / substances, proves to be an effective remedy.
• In cases of mal – nutrition with heart weakness, honey has been found to be effective in reviving the heart’s action. Honey gives energy to heart. It is a very good anti – oxidant and can prevent cancer and heart diseases.
• Honey is good medicine for obese people. It is taken carly in the morning with water. It dissolves the fat and helps reduce weight.
• Honey can cure mouth ulcers.
• Honey taken with milk reduces body – heat.
• Honey helps in the healthy growth of children: one or two teaspoon a day is enough for approximately  for every 228 gms of food.
• For muscle cramps, pain, take 2 teaspoon of honey.
Uses of Honey combined with other substances
1. For Arthritis – One part Honey + 2 parts water + 1 tsp cinnamon power – make a paste of these three, massage it on the affected part. For internal use take daily twice, one cup of hot water + 2 spoons honey + one tsp cinnamon powder.
2. Honey + turmeric powder – To heal burns.
3. For cold and cough -
a). 1/2 tsp black pepper powder + 1/4 tsp of long pepper powder + 1 tsp honey relieves sore throat.
b). Dried ginger powder 1/2 tsp + 2,3 black pepper + 2 or 3 cloves + 2 or 3 cardamoms + 1/2 tsp cummin seeds + 1 tsp honey – all these added to a brew of black tea – take 3 times a day, relieves cough & cold.
c). Honey 2 tsp + Ginger Juice, 2 tsp – Drink this frequently.
d) Honey + Lime Juice in equal parts, slightly warmed, relieves cough.
5.  Nutmeg powder + Honey for diarrohea.
6.  Indigestion:- Boil few sticks of cinnamon in a bowl of water. Add a little
honey and a pinch of pepper powder. Take this (1 tsp) after food.
7.  Boosting immunity – Honey + Cinnamon Powder
8.  Obesity – for reducing fat & purifying blood – Honey + cinnamon powder
boiled in 1 cup of water – take this is the morning on empty stomach and  also in the night. Another combination – Luke warm water, 1 glass + Honey (2 tsp) + Lemon Juice (1 tsp)
9. For Improving eye sight – Honey (2 tsp) + carrot Juice
10. General Health – Consumption of 1 tsp of honey daily helps us to lead a healthy life.
11. Take a tablespoon of honey before going to work. Tension and stress will be reduced. It keeps your moods calm.
12. For eary movement of bowels take 1 glass of luke warm water with 2 tsp honey + 1 tsp lemon juice.
13. For heart patients:- Take daily Honey + lemon juice with water before going to bed. Or take honey regularly during meals.
In cosmetics
1. For a facial scrub:  Mix a little almond flour with honey. Mix well and apply on your face.
2. For daily cleansing:- 1 tsp Honey + a little milk powder, mix well & apply on face
3. For conditioning the Hair: 1/2 cup Honey + 1/4 cup olive oil Mix well and apply on the hair. Leave for 30 minutes. Shampoo well and rinse.
4. Moisturiser for dry / old skins: Honey, 2 tsblespoon + 1 tsp milk. Apply over face and neck. Leave for 10  minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
5. Body lotion:- Honey 1 tsp + vegetable oil 1 tsp + Lemon juice 1/4 tsp. Rub this mixture over body or wherever it feels dry. Leave for 10 minutes and then rinse.
Old and New
Honey that is fresh or recently collected is “Navina Madhu”. Fresh honey increases body weight.
Old honey (Purama Madhu) reduces weight.
Some preparation with honey
Cut ginger into small pieces, soak it in honey in a Jar and keep it in sun – light. Regular use of it improves digestion and appetite. Stops vertigo. Ginger juice, extracted without using water is mixed with honey and “Ginger muraba” is prepared on small flame. This ‘muraba’ is a popular remedy for flatulence, indigestion and loss of appetite.
Similary, pieces of Amla can be soaked in the honey and used. This preparation is a very good health tonic. It controls High blood pressure.
Beeswax
Not oney the honey but the bees wax, extracted from the comb has also it’s own uses. It is called. Cera in technical parlance. There are two varieties. Cera flava or yellow wax and cera Alba, white wax. This wax exists in the pollen and surfaces of the leaves of many plants, chiefly wax myrtle. It is collected by the honey – bees and used for the construction of honey comb. Cera flava (yellow beeswax) is obtained by squeezing the honey – comb  (after honey is extracted) and melting it in hot water and allowing it to cool. This process is repected several time for full extraction and purifying the wax. Finally it is cast in to moulds. The bees wax has the odour of honey and harder than butter. It is yellow in colour. It contains hydro – carbons cerolein, Cerinor, certic acid, myricin etc.
Wax is an emollient and demulcent, chiefly used as a base for ointments, plasters etc. Its other uses are
• Equal quantities of  beeswax,  Guggulu (commiphora Mukul) and Balsamoclendron Pubescenes and sesame oil are melted to gether and when applied over boils, are effective
• Beeswax is excellent for skin care. It reduces dryness. Beeswax melted over fire and mixed with equal part of coconut oil is used for fomentation of body in cases of body ache.
• Take six parts of gingelly or coconut oil. Add one part of wax to it. Apply this paste on the fissurs in the feet.
• Cut beeswax into small pieces. Put it in fire and inhale the smoke for relief from cold and sinus
• Pinda Thailam (Available ready made) fortified with Beeswax is very good for relieving “rigidity”, swelling of the feet and painfull rheumatic joints
Cera Alba (White wax)
This is yellow wax bleached by exposure to moisture, air and light. Unani Hakkims prepare a paste with white wax, henna (lawsonia Alba) and rose water, for local application for fistula.
Dos and Don’ts in the use of Honey
1. Do not  refreigerate honey. It many lose its nutrients – keep it in a dry place, tightly closed. Because honey has a long sheef life, choose a good place and vessel (Jar or bottle) for keeping it.
Honey is suitable for long term storage and even after long storage it is
still edible and is easily assimilated. As long as it is in the combs, sealed naturally by the bees with wax caps, it does not get fermented or oxidised. Once extracted from the combs, it is prone to loss in quality; therefore extracted honey has to be preserved in suitable containers. Metal containers are not suitable as the acids in the honey may induce oxidation. The nutritive value decreases and there is even a danger of poisoning. Glass containers are the best folowed by ceramic containers. Honey has a tendency to absorb outside smells and moisture, do not store it with other food products. Store it in a dark, dry place. Normally preserved honey may have more than 2 years shelf life but do not keep the honey for longer than 2 years.
2. Do not take hot / warm honey. When the weather is hot avoid consuming honey. It should not be taken with greens, tomato and Manaththakkali (solanum Nigrum)
3. It should not be consumed excessively.
4. Do not eat a mixture of equal parts of honey and ghee
5. Honey should not mixed with hot, spicy food, alcoholic drinks, rain water, ghee and mustard oil.
Honey producing countries
China is the worlds largest producer of honey, followed by U.S.A., Turkey and Mexico. It is produced in Corsica (France),
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Honey and Diabetis
Ayurvedic texts say that honey, though is sweet, can be safely taken by diabetic and obese patients, provided it is taken in right dosages. Since honey contains velulose it is not harmful in diabetes. But still this a moot point. Till this is resolved by further scientific studies, let the diabetic patients steer clear of honey. Its glycemic index ranges from 31 to 78 depending on the variety.

Uses of comb – honey
As told earlier, this is honey stocked in the wax comb, unextracted. Persons suffering from respiratory ailments are asked to ‘munch’ the comb sucking in the honey present in it. It gives the immunity power to fight infections of the respiratory system. Persons with sinus problem are asked to ‘hold’ the honey – comb in their mouth, ‘biting’ it for 15 minutes. This should be done every hour and repeated for 4 to 6 hours. This procedure opens up the clogged nose and relives the sinus pain.
Honey and botulism

Botulism is a serious form of food poisning caused by the bacterium “Clostridium Botulinum”. Honey, which is some times used in home made foods, has been identified as the only food source of this clostridium Botulinum spores in infants diet. Spores are small reproductive bodies produced by plants and micro – organisms. These spores are not destroyed in by the present methods of processing honey. It this spores are fed to an infant along with its food, they produce toxins in the bowels of the infant. This is infant botulism. The infants less than one year of age, do not have the immunity to resist the botulism spore development. Therefore honey should not be given to infants less than one year of age.
How to distinguish Good honey from adulterated honey:-
Honey is one of those foods that can be easily adulterated.
Jaggery / Sugar syrup are the common adulterants. To test honey:-
1. Put a drop of honey in a glass of water. If  it sinks straight to the bottom, if is good honey.
2. Dip a cotton wick in honey and light it. If it burns bright, if is good honey. If adulterated it will not burn properly and will produce a cracking sound.
3. Pure honey does not dissolve in water but adulterated honey does. Mix a spoon of honey in a cup of water and see whether it dissolves.
4. Heat the honey in a table spoon. Pure honey melts and when cooled returns to its normal form. Impure honey, on cooling solidifies, indicating that it is adulterated with jaggery.
5. Pure honey flows from a knife in a straight stream, without breaking into separate drops. After falling down it should form a bead.
6. Pure honey, in glass jars, should appear as a consistent fluid and should not set in layers.