Mad Honey: The Sweetest Gift of Nature with a Powerful Punch

If you search online, you will find a variety of jars of honey from all over the world. With different kinds of honey come different tastes and aromas. Each honey has a set of advantages and properties. Out of all the honey, mad honey stands out for its unique composition and soothing properties.

In general, honey is a sweet, juicy, and viscous food product that comes from the nectar of flowers. We have been using honey as a natural sweetener(as an alternative to sugar) in our meals for ages.

Also, Honey is popular for being a food ingredient, medicine, and beautiful ingredient in the cosmetic world. Interestingly, in Ayurvedic scriptures, there have been mentions of honey in multiple texts dearly and openly. 

What is Mad Honey? 

A particular species of rhododendron flower, particularly those that can be found in regions of Nepal, produce nectar that bees use to make mad honey. This honey includes a substance called grayanotoxin that can result in a variety of symptoms.

Interestingly the honey bees that collect the mad honey are also the world’s largest honey bees. It is twenty-two times larger than the regular honey bee. In the world, it is known as the Apis Dorsata Laboriosa with the nickname “ The Giant Himalayan Bee”. 

Taste and Aroma of Mad Honey 

When it comes to honey, its colour varies somewhere between brownish to reddish depending on the flower and the season. If you are new to real mad honey, it would take some time for you to get used to the taste of the honey. The taste of the honey is slightly bitter and can cause a tingling sensation in your throat right after its consumption. 

The History of Powerful  Honey 

There is an interesting anecdote of mad honey and the Turkish army. Almost ten thousand years ago, when the Roman army invaded the Black Sea of Turkey, the Turkish army grew resentful towards the Roman troops. 

As a plan to take revenge, they paved the entire way with mad honey to fool the Roman. Naively, the Romans accepted the invitation as a gesture of peacemaking. They consumed the mad honey in large amounts, which caused them to die instantly or fatally wounded. 

However, it is important to note that the mad honey is not at all dangerous to intake. But you should never exceed one tablespoon mark for a day.

Significance of Honey in Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the traditional medicine system of India that dates back almost five thousand years ago. The word ‘Ayurveda’ is a Sanskrit word that translates to the literal meaning “Science of Life”.

Ayurveda believes that there is a connection between mind, body, and spirit. And if we maintain all three aspects of our lives, we can promote overall wellness and prevent diseases. 

Subsequently, in Ayurvedic medicine, honey has a balancing impact on the body’s three energies(doshas) - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. In particular, it is meant to be beneficial for balancing Pitta energy(dosha), which has an association with heat and inflammation in the body.

Back in the days, when there were no modern treatments and technologies, people then would use honey as their secret ingredient to heal any health ailment. They would use honey to fix skin and hair problems, soothe throat irritation, to boost immunity. 

Ayurveda frequently uses honey as a medium for various medicinal treatments. It is thought to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant qualities.

Yet, it is crucial to keep in mind that not every honey has equal medicinal qualities and benefits. And the quality varies due to several factors such as the nectar that the honey is produced, the region of production, the type of bee collecting the honey, and so on. 

Therefore, mad honey tops it all when it comes to maintaining both the qualities and benefits of the honey. Now let’s dive more into the mad honey and its making and amazing benefits. Not only the unique honey has a range of advantages but also has a distinct composition. 

Read our blog: Mad Honey vs Regular Honey: Which is Better for Your Health? In this blog, you will read about different factors that differentiate our mad honey from regular honey. 

How is Mad Honey Collected? 

Local communities of the Annapurna and Manasalu regions of Nepal are the real heroes behind the collection of the mad honey. They are known as the Gurungs that play with death to collect honey from the dreary cliffs. 

For a thousand years, the Gurung community has been practising the honey-hunting act with their traditional method. With only the use of flimsy rope and a ladder, they go on the hunt to gather the juicy fluid. 

Before they begin their hunt, they make a group of honey hunters. Subsequently, they divide the tasks amongst themselves. And, a day before the hunt, they organise a religious ceremony - a puja to pay respect to their bee spirit - Rangkemi.

In the hunt, one hunter burns the grass to distract the giant bees from attacking them and uses a bamboo stick to collect the honey while another honey hunter lowers the basket to collect the dripping from the hive. 

Then they process the honey without using any alteration and prepare them in batches to sell them. Recently, due to the media coverage, they and their ancient honey-hunting technique is gaining recognition all over the world. 

Many tourists are visiting the mountains and their homes to interview them and know their culture. Due to this, the honey-hunting business is flowering. 

Benefits of Mad Honey

From ancient times to modern times, mad honey is celebrated for its optimal health benefits that can improve your overall mental, physical, and spiritual health. Due to the presence of the neurotoxin called grayanotoxin, it also plays an impeccable role in boosting your mental health. 

Some of the wonderful advantages of the unique honey to your health: 

1. Improves Immunity Power: Since it contains antioxidants, it can accelerate your immunity system, making you fit to fight your disease. Antioxidants are a great substance to prevent any kind of cell damage. Due to this prevention, you are less likely to be prone to the disease.
   
   Also, it contains one of the major vitamin oxidants i.e. Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to detoxify your body, lowers blood pressure, betters the iron absorption in your body, reduces dementia risk.  Take a tablespoon of honey in a glass of warm water and drink it every morning on an empty stomach. Additionally, you can also add turmeric powder into it for better results. 
   
   
   
2. Fixes Skin Problems: Honey has a long history of use in cosmetic products, using honey tightens and smoothes your skin. If you have dry skin, use turmeric powder, lemon juice and mad honey blend on your face before sleeping and wash your face in the morning. You will see the magic for yourself.
   
   Since it contains vitamin C and antioxidants, it protects from cell damage and fights against anti-ageing. Also, it may improve  your skin texture and appearance.  Mad honey is a perfect combination of enzymes, beneficial compounds that plays an exceptional part in the cosmetic world.
   
   For a dull and dry skin, the honey can moisturise and hydrates your skin on another level. It is also a wonderful gentle exfoliator and cleanser that can cleanse any dirt in your face after a long day.
   
   Honey contains anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that reduces puffiness in the face and fixes skin breakouts and acne. It can relieve your sunburn due to its antiseptic property. You can apply the mad honey on the affected area of skin and leave it for a few minutes, performing this act everyday for a week. Soon you will notice your sunburn heals. 
   
   Furthermore, you can  use honey as lip oil to gently scrub your lips to make them look smoother and plumper. Not only for a lip scrub, but you can also use it as a body scrub to remove the dust and dirt in a shower. 
   
   
   
3. Helps to Lose and Maintain Weight: Mad honey contains macronutrients like carbohydrates and protein that can help you to give energy and help recover your muscles after the workout.
   
   Also, it contains the micronutrients like vitamin B6, and vitamin C, and minerals like zinc, iron, and magnesium that balance your immune function and prevent any kind of disease.
   
   One of the tips to lose weight is to consume a tablespoon of mad honey before you go to bed. Honey fuels the production of glucose in the liver. By forcing the brain to generate chemicals that burn fat, this glucose maintains the brain's blood sugar levels high.
   
   If you want, you can also take it with milk before you sleep. Milk is a source of tryptophan that promotes better sleep and healthy weight loss.
   Some of the drinks with honey to lose weight are:
   - Lemon and Mad Honey in Warm Water
   - Lemon, Turmeric Powder, and Honey  in Warm Water or Milk
   - Honey and Warm Water
   - Honey and Cinnamon 
   
   
   
4. Low Glycemic Index: Since it has a low glycemic index, people with diabetes can use this as an alternative to sugar in their delicious recipes without any guilt.
   
   Nowadays people are conscious about their health and want to cut down on their sugar intake. But it is tempting not to eat any sweets or desserts. Therefore, without thinking any further, you can incorporate mad honey in your diet as per your liking. And you will not regret your choice. 
   
   The sugar that you buy from the market is a refined form of sugar that might drastically increase your insulin level, causing you to have several fatal diseases. Not only the sugar but also regular honey found in the market contains additive sugar in the name of organic products.
   
   Beware of the honey that you buy in the store. However, the mad honey is a natural sweetener with a nutty flavour. But even with this delicious honey, you need to consume it in moderation. Afterall, it also contains sugar in it. 
   
   
   
5. Improves Your Mood: Also known as “Mad honey psychedelic”, it can boost your mood and take away the sadness from your life in an instant. It contains a good amount of carbohydrates that will give you a great kick to start the day. 
   
   Only by taking a tablespoon of it in the lukewarm water and consuming it every morning, you will begin to feel great about yourself. It gives you a massive clarity. One main thing that makes this unique type of honey is the presence of grayanotoxin. 
   
   The grayanotoxin helps you to relax and motivates you to make better decisions. And, if you are in the creative field then you are in luck since it enables awesome creativity. With mental clarity comes unlimited creativity. 
   
   
   
6. Improves Gut Health: It contains a probiotic element that makes it easy for your gut to digest food and reduces bloating, prevents diarrhoea and difficulty in indigestion. Also, it contains the good bacteria called gut flora that enables a smooth digestion.  
   
   Mad honey contains a special kind of enzyme that helps to break down the complex carbohydrates and sugar. Furthermore, it has a compound called methylglyoxal that cures any infection in the gut. 
   
   
   
7. Improves Cardiovascular health: Taking honey only in small amounts can do wonders for your heart health and regulate the blood properly. The presence of antioxidants in it can control the cholesterol level that helps to reduce the risk of any heart injury. Plus, it is good for your lungs as its  antibacterial and antimicrobial properties clear the chance of lung congestion. 
   
   
   
8. Promotes Wound Healing: It contains antiseptic properties that can heal any bad wound in just a couple of days. Additionally, due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties, you can use it as a wound dressing as it will rapidly promote wound healing.
   
   Take honey in a cotton ball and apply it on the affected area for about 20-30 minutes and then wash it off. Try this once a day until you find the wound completely healed. 
   
   

Is Mad Honey Legal? 

Despite the rumours that mad honey is illegally exported or consumed, it has shipped all over the world, except for a few nations like Spain and New Zealand. As a result, mad honey is completely legal and safe to consume.

Is Mad Honey safe to consume? 

Mad honey is safe to consume but there are a few exceptions such as breastfeeding and pregnant women. And, it’s advisable to keep honey away from the reach of kids below 15 years old.

If you have any special type of health issues, it is always best to consult your physician since it is a strong type of honey. Also, if you are easily susceptible to allergies, again it is wise to speak to your physician or doctor. 

And, caution would be to never mix the honey with any alcoholic beverages. Of course, you can mix it with any drink such as milk, juice, or coffee but it’s dangerous if you take it with alcohol. 

Mad honey, certainly is a chart-topper in the honey world, it has the perfect combination of aroma and taste that blends well with your meals. And, with just a spoon of it, you can get multiple advantages in your daily life. Visit our store Everest Organic Home to buy various organic products that will inspire you to live a healthy life.