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Therapeutic Uses of Honey in Ayurveda By Dr.Krishna.R.S 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 known as "Madhu". Its qualities are explained as follows. Sandhatru cchedanam ruksham kashayam madhuram madhu" It has sweetness (madhura rasa) with added astringent as its end taste (Kashaya anu rasa). It is heavy (guru guna), dry (ruksha) and cold (sheeta). Its effects on doshas are as follows It aggravates vata, scrapes kapha and normalizes pitta and rakta. It promotes the healing process." 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 and 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 and Dala. Pouttika - This honey is collected by very large bees from the nectar of poisonous flowers. It increases vata, causes gout and a burning sensation in chest. It is also a sedative and reduces fat. Bhramara - This honey is collected by large bees and is sticky in nature. Kshoudra - This is honey collected by medium sized honey bees. It is light and cold in nature and dissolves Kapha. Makshika - Is honey collected by small honey bees. It is very light and dry in nature. It is useful in Vata/Kapha diseases and kapha diseases. Chatra - Is heavy and cold in nature and useful in gout and Leucoderma (Shwitra). Arghya - Is good for eyes, but causes arthritis. Oudalaka - Is useful in skin diseases and helps in modulation of voice. Dala - Is dry and reduces vomiting. Amongst all of the above "Makshika" is considered 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, honey can be used as instant energizer. As it is hygroscopic it speeds up healing, increases growth of healing tissue and dries wounds. Honey acts as a sedative and is very useful in bed-wetting disorders. Honey is very good antioxident which restores damaged skin and provides skin that is soft and youthful. Honey has antibacterial properties due to its acidic nature and enzymatically produced hydrogen peroxide. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood cells to fight bacteria and viral diseases. In Ashtanga Hridaya the great classic of ayurveda, the therapeutic uses of honey are explained as follows. Mehakushtakrimicchardishwaasakaasaatisaarajit Vranashodhana sandhaanaropanam vaatalam madhu" Honey is good for the eyes and eye sight. It quenches thirst. Honey dissolves kapha. It reduces the effects of poison. It stops hiccups. It is very useful in urinary tract disorders, worm infestation, bronchial asthma, cough, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Honey cleanses wounds. It heals wounds. It helps in the quick healing of deep wounds. Honey initiates growth of healthy granulation tissue. Honey which is newly collected from the beehive 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 known as "Yogavahi". The substance which has a 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 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. Honey should never be mixed with rain water, hot and spicy foods or fermented beverages like whisky, rum, brandy etc. Honey should also not be mixed with ghee or mustard. Honey includes nectar of various flowers which may be poisonous. Poison has hot or Ushna qualities. When honey is mixed with hot and spicy foods the poisonous properties are enhanced and cause an imbalance in the doshas. A few home remedies with honey Mix two teaspoons of honey with carrot juice and consume regularly. This helps to improve eyesight and is beneficial for those who sit before a computer for long hours. With a cold, cough or congested chest mix two teaspoons of honey with an equal quantity of ginger juice consume frequently. A mixture of black pepper powder, honey and ginger juice in equal quantities helps to relieve the symptoms of asthma when consumed three times a day. Regular use of one teaspoon of garlic juice mixed with two teaspoons of honey help to control blood pressure. One glass of warm water taken with two teaspoons of honey and one teaspoon of lemon juice in the early morning reduces fat and purifies the blood. Consuming one spoon of honey daily help us to lead a healthy and long life. _________________________________________________ About Dr.Krishna.R.S Dr. Krishna.R.S has been an Ayurvedic Practitioner for 19 years. After receiving a degree in Ayurveda (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) in 1986 from the University of Mysore, India, he completed his post graduation diploma in allopathic medicine and surgery at the University of Bangalore, Karnataka, India. His articles about ayurveda and life sciences have been published in many magazines. Dr.Krishna.R.S lives in Mysore, Karnataka, India. He gives consultations in Mysore and also in Bangalore. Phone: 91-0821-2451405 Email: drkrishnars@ayurveda-increaselibido.com http://www.ayurveda-increaselibido.com http://www.ayurhelp.com |
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