Honey treatment: benefits and harms, effective recipes
Honey can be called a universal medicine, due to the richness of its composition and, accordingly, the variety of healing properties. And the combination of this product with herbs and some vegetables and fruits at times increases their effectiveness. It is worth considering what you need to know about apitherapy, what diseases can be treated with honey.
Peculiarities
Honey is one of the most nutritious and healthy foods. Its basis is the pollen of honey plants, which is collected by bees. Before the insects bring the "prey" to the hive, it is in their crop, where it is impregnated with certain secrets. After the composition is in the hive, another group of bees begins to process it. It is laid in honeycombs, but before that it is also processed with mixtures of bee glands. Honeycombs are sealed, which also affects the composition and properties of the finished product.
The beneficial properties of honey were noted by ancient healers. Over time, they were not only not forgotten, but a number of studies made it possible to discover new properties of the product. Today, the positive impact of honey nectar is recognized by official medicine, and its section on honey treatment is called "apitherapy". It involves the treatment of various diseases not only with the help of honey, but also with other bee products. For the first time, apitherapy, according to official sources, was resorted to in Ancient Rome.From a medical point of view, medical treatment received scientific confirmation only in the middle of the 20th century.
Beneficial features
Honey boasts a rich set of useful components in its composition - there are about 300 of them. It has a high content of sucrose, represented by fructose and glucose. The vitamin composition includes vitamins E, PP, B and ascorbic acid. It contains potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, calcium and others. The product contains organic acids - citric, malic, grape.
Such a variety of composition of the product determines its extensive healing properties. First of all, it demonstrates immuno-strengthening and tonic properties, which is associated with a high content of vitamins, biologically active components, micro and macro elements. Strengthening the immune system is a preventive measure in the fight against any disease. The product is no less useful if the disease has already attacked the body. With the help of honey, recovery will proceed faster, especially since honey is completely absorbed by the body without burdening the liver. In other words, the body will be able to deal with toxins and decay products, preventing intoxication of the diseased organism, "without being distracted" by the processing of honey.
Honey has antibiotic properties, so it is effective in the fight against colds and flu, intestinal infections. In addition, it has a mild analgesic and pronounced pathogenic effect. A very useful product for the cardiovascular system. Natural antioxidants, as well as vitamin PP, improve the condition of blood vessels - increase the elasticity of their walls, capillary permeability.
Thanks to the iron in the composition, it is possible to maintain hemoglobin levels at the desired level, which is the prevention of atherosclerosis and iron deficiency anemia.
Magnesium and potassium, which are part of the composition, strengthen the heart muscle, improve its conductivity, and normalize the rhythm. A similar positive effect of honey on the heart and blood vessels also allows you to normalize and stabilize high blood pressure. Magnesium, in addition, has the ability to relieve muscle clamps, prevents muscle hypertonicity. Honey contains B vitamins and the amino acid tryptophan. They are responsible for the state of the nervous system, providing a calming effect. With regular use, honey relieves stress, helps fight the symptoms of chronic fatigue, and normalizes sleep. A tablespoon of honey dissolved in a glass of warm water or milk will help you fall asleep faster and give you a sound healthy sleep.
Honey also has a beneficial effect on the digestive tract. The presence of acids allows it to improve the digestion of food. As a result, it brings more benefits to the body and does not "clog" the intestines. When using honey, intestinal peristalsis improves, toxins and toxins are removed from the body. As a result, the processes of metabolic and lipid metabolism are accelerated. That is why, despite the high calorie content, this product is used in dietary systems.
Honey has a laxative effect, so it will help to gently get rid of constipation. Being a natural antibiotic, it will destroy pathogenic microflora, prevent the development of intestinal infections, and help to remove mucus from the intestines.Softly enveloping the walls of the stomach, honey eliminates the aggressive effects of heavy, spicy, spicy foods, while not reducing the ability of the stomach walls to absorb. The bactericidal and immunostimulating functions of honey make it possible to use it to treat diseases of the upper respiratory tract. In addition, it demonstrates an expectorant effect, therefore it is especially useful for dry coughs of various origins.
In gynecological diseases, the product also acts as an antibiotic and antiseptic, helps restore microflora. In addition, honey produces a slight diuretic effect, and also helps to cleanse the liver and kidneys, which is the prevention of urinary tract diseases. Externally, honey is used for dermatological diseases, helps relieve inflammation, promotes the healing of wounds and cracks, heals burns. It is effective in diseases of the oral mucosa - stomatitis, gingivitis.
A visual idea of what diseases honey helps with will be demonstrated by the following table:
Properties of honey | Disease |
Antiseptic, immunostimulating, antipyretic | Colds, flu, SARS, acute respiratory infections. |
Antiseptic, expectorant | Diseases of the upper respiratory tract |
Firming, cleansing, stimulating | Heart and vascular disease, anemia |
Enveloping, antibacterial, stimulating the production of gastric juice, laxative | Diseases of the digestive tract, constipation |
Antibacterial, diuretic | Diseases of the liver, kidneys, urinary tract |
Revitalizing, wound healing, antiseptic and antibacterial | External use for the treatment of diseases and injuries of the skin, mucous membranes |
Different varieties of honey have more pronounced certain properties of the product.So, for the fight against colds, linden blossom is most suitable, known for its transparent golden hue and delicate floral scent. It is also effective for the treatment of the digestive tract and liver. To strengthen the nerves, it is also advised to use oregano honey. In addition, its use promotes digestion - it improves intestinal motility, helps the production of gastric juices.
When treating nervous disorders, insomnia, overwork, it is recommended to take acacia honey. Its peculiarity lies in the ability not to be sugared during the year. In addition, it causes allergies less often than others, and in small quantities it is even allowed for diabetes. In the treatment of inflammation, sweet clover honey will be the most suitable, as it has the strongest antiseptic effect.
In addition, it is recommended for the treatment of diseases of the heart, blood vessels, hypertension, thyroid gland.
Contraindications
Honey belongs to allergenic products, therefore, if there is an individual intolerance, the use of honey should be discarded. Due to the high glycemic index and calorie content, the product should be used with caution in diabetes mellitus and obesity. A small amount of it can be allowed in type 2 diabetes, but only after consultation with your doctor. If medicinal compositions are made on honey, you should make sure that there is no allergy to its other components. When using garlic and lemon, which are aggressive in their action, you should make sure that there are no diseases of the digestive tract before taking the remedy. Aloe is not recommended for use in heart disease, as well as cystitis, hemorrhoids, constipation.
In the treatment of bronchial asthma, honey inhalations are prohibited, as they can provoke a severe attack. But ingestion and external use will give positive results. In the treatment of gastritis, it should be established what kind of nature the disease is - it is accompanied by increased or decreased acidity of the stomach. Otherwise, instead of a healing effect, you can get the exact opposite effect.
In other words, before starting treatment with honey, you should accurately establish the diagnosis, undergo a comprehensive examination of the body and get advice from a doctor.
The period of pregnancy and lactation, as well as children under the age of 14, is not the best time for experiments. At this time, the hormonal background changes dramatically, so the results of treatment may be unpredictable. Finally, it is important to remember that honey is not a panacea, and in case of serious diseases, it should act as an element of complex treatment along with medication or other therapy prescribed by a doctor.
How to use?
When using honey, you should be aware that it is a highly concentrated product, so it is important to remember to use it in moderation. Despite the fact that the maximum allowed daily dosage is 150 g, honey should be consumed, especially for medicinal purposes, 3-5 tablespoons per day. For treatment, you should take liquid fresh honey, for example, linden, flower or acacia. If honey begins to crystallize, it can be heated in a water bath. However, it is impossible to heat the product to a temperature of more than + 40ºС, since in this case its beneficial properties begin to collapse. It is important to keep this in mind when adding honey to liquids.
Combining honey with certain ingredients, you can turn honey nectar into a certain “medicine”. So, with a runny nose, it is recommended to mix 3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed onion juice with 50 ml of pure water and add 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix the ingredients and let it brew for an hour. Bury 3-5 drops in each nostril three times a day. Filter composition before use.
When coughing, honey is added to warm milk. You can flavor the drink with a piece of butter or cocoa butter. Famous for its effectiveness is a mixture of radish juice and honey. The first can be replaced with carrot juice. Lime broth helps to bring down the temperature (a tablespoon per 150 ml of water, insist on a water bath for a quarter of an hour) with honey (2 tablespoons per glass). You need to drink a decoction 2-3 times a day, after which the patient should sweat well.
With abrasions, wounds, calluses, you can lubricate the affected areas with a thin layer of honey and leave for 5-10 minutes. Potatoes will help increase the effectiveness of such lotions. After cleaning, it should be finely grated and mixed with honey in proportions of 1: 1. Apply to the affected area, cover with a piece of gauze folded 2-3 times, and leave for a quarter of an hour. It is better to wash off the composition with a solution of chamomile.
You can prepare baths based on a teaspoon of honey and a glass of water, in which to lower the affected area of the body. A similar composition is suitable for the treatment of eyes with conjunctivitis. For diseases of the joints, including gout, honey is used in conjunction with onions, cranberries and garlic. The last three ingredients are crushed, after which they are combined in equal quantities. The mixture should be infused for 1 day in a warm place, then add 1-2 tablespoons of honey.Take three times a day for a teaspoon for 14 days.
With gastritis
Gastritis refers to inflammation of the stomach lining. The process may be accompanied by an increased or decreased level of hydrochloric acid secretion, which should be taken into account in the treatment and diet of patients with gastritis. However, honey is useful for gastritis with any indicators of acidity, which is primarily due to the antibacterial properties of honey. In addition, honey is characterized by a wound healing effect, which is important - cell regeneration is enhanced, which follows the speedy healing of ulcers and inflamed areas. Quality honey improves digestion - improves intestinal motility, the production of enzymes and gastric juice, which ensures more efficient and high-quality processing of food and helps to remove toxins from the intestines.
With constipation, honey will help to delicately cope with the problem, demonstrating a mild laxative effect. Finally, the richness of the vitamin and mineral composition provides an immune-strengthening effect, which has a beneficial effect on the body during the period of illness and accelerates recovery. For treatment, high-quality fresh honey should be used, which should ideally be purchased directly from beekeepers. With increased acidity, you can take honey dissolved in warm water. The drink will help lower the indicators of interest. If, on the contrary, they need an increase, then the natural sweetener should be put in cool water.
It is better to use honey with a neutral taste, such as linden. For treatment, 3-4 tablespoons are enough, the allowable daily dosage is 40 mg. You can combine the product with milk, herbal infusions. It is worth considering in more detail the most popular options for honey treatment of gastritis.
- With gastritis, accompanied by heartburn, you can take a glass of milk with a teaspoon of honey. The composition should be consumed 2-3 times a day, an hour and a half after a meal. The duration of the course is 2 months.
- With gastritis with high acidity, which threatens with the formation of manifestations, it is recommended to drink honey by dissolving a tablespoon in a glass of warm water. The liquid should be preheated to + 37– + 40ºС. The drink should be taken twice or thrice a day before meals. Water can be replaced with a decoction of chamomile, fennel, milk. In this case, the amount of honey should be increased to 2 tablespoons. Otherwise, the recommendations for use remain the same - the drink should be consumed warm before meals.
- During the period of exacerbation you can prepare a composition of equal parts of potato juice and liquid honey. It should not be consumed in its pure form, but by adding 2 tablespoons of the drug to a glass of warm water. The course of treatment is 10 days.
With low acidity, digestive problems are observed due to the insufficiency of gastric juice to digest food. As a result, it stagnates in the intestines, reducing its motility, causing fermentation processes and increased mucus formation. To increase acidity, it is worth considering different options for using honey.
- Increase acidity a teaspoon of honey eaten before meals will help. You can dissolve it in water at room temperature.
- To achieve the same goals you can use a medicinal composition based on honey and aloe (its age must be at least 5 years old).To do this, 200 g of the fleshy leaves of the plant must be wrapped in foil and kept for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, and then turned into mashed potatoes by scrolling through a meat grinder. Heat honey in a water bath to + 35ºС, add aloe and keep the mixture over steam for another 3-5 minutes. Transfer the finished composition to a jar with a lid and put in the refrigerator. Take a teaspoon before meals. In the morning and at night, you can increase the dosage to 2 teaspoons.
- With exacerbations honey will also help relieve painful symptoms. In a water bath, you need to combine 2 tablespoons of butter and honey and 100 g of sour cream. After the ingredients are mixed, they need to enter the contents of 1 ampoule of novocaine and remove the composition from the fire. With severe pain, you should drink a little more than half of the composition, and after 15-20 minutes - the rest of the composition. This tool can not be called curative, it is rather a method to quickly relieve acute pain.
For cleaning vessels
Elevated cholesterol levels can lead to the formation of plaques on the walls of blood vessels. They interfere with blood flow, slowing it down. At the same time, the elasticity of blood vessels decreases, which also leads to an even greater deterioration in blood circulation. These plaques can break off, forming a blood clot. The latter can close the vessel, preventing the access of oxygen to the tissues and causing irreversible necrotic consequences in them. If a blood clot travels to the heart or brain, the person is likely to die.
A preventive and therapeutic agent in the fight against atherosclerosis can be called a folk composition based on honey, garlic and lemon. Each of these ingredients is known for its healing properties. Honey has an immunostimulating and strengthening, wound healing, bactericidal effect.Garlic effectively fights viruses, being an antioxidant, removes toxins from the body, slows down the processes of age-related cell changes, and also stabilizes high blood pressure. Lemon contains a record high amount of ascorbic acid, which explains its positive effect on blood vessels, the body's immune forces.
Together, these components significantly increase their effectiveness and become one of the means to improve the state of the cardiovascular system - it reduces the indicators of "bad" cholesterol, eliminates tachycardia, increases the elasticity of the walls and the permeability of the capillary walls, and fights hypertension.
The main component of the tincture is allicin contained in garlic. This chemical element is the most powerful means of combating atherosclerotic plaques, which will cleanse the vessels. The remaining two components of the tincture help to reduce pressure, as well as remove toxins and improve capillary function. They also provide the body with vitamins and minerals, in particular, potassium, magnesium and iron necessary for the heart.
To obtain the tincture, you will need 4 heads of garlic, 6 lemons and 350 g of linden or acacia honey. Fruits should be thoroughly washed, doused with boiling water and cut into 6–8 pieces together with the peel. Remove bones. Peel the garlic, combine with lemon and chop them with a blender or meat grinder. Enter honey and mix. Insist in a dark place for 10 days. It is not necessary to close the container with a lid, it is enough to cover it with a clean cloth or napkin to avoid getting litter inside.
The composition is taken 2 times a day. In the morning this is done a quarter of an hour before meals, in the evening - an hour after the meal. A tablespoon of infusion is diluted in a glass of warm water and drunk in small sips.The course of treatment is 2.5 months, during which strong tea and coffee, as well as alcohol, are prohibited.
It is also important to maintain a drinking balance - you should drink at least 2-2.5 liters of pure water (juices, tea and broths do not count).
There is another option for preparing a tincture for cleaning vessels. It involves the use of 4 lemons and the same number of garlic heads. As in the previous recipe, the components are prepared and scrolled through a meat grinder. After that, they need to be put in a 3-liter jar, and the rest should be supplemented with warm boiled water, close the jar with a nylon lid. The infusion is aged for 3 days, shaking regularly. Then it is filtered and taken daily, 100 ml three times a day. You can add a third of a teaspoon of honey. The duration of treatment is 40 days.
One jar is enough for 10 days, you do not need to prepare the infusion for the future, it is better to prepare the composition directly for each "ten day". This composition can not be used for ulcers, gastritis. During the period of remission, you can try to use it in 1-2 tablespoons, diluted in 150 ml of water. During exacerbations, it is forbidden to take tincture. Contraindications also include epilepsy, diseases of the genitourinary system, the time of bearing a child and breastfeeding.
Since the composition has an invigorating effect, it may not be suitable for people suffering from insomnia. In any case, this category of people is better not to use it in the evening. During the preparation of the infusion, it is useful to know that crushed garlic is healthier than chopped. For greater effectiveness, it can be passed through a press and left on a plate for 5-7 minutes, and only then added to the rest of the ingredients.
From hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are nodules caused by impaired circulation in the rectal canal. As a result of congestion in the circulatory system of the peritoneum, and then the rectal canal, there is an increase and sagging of the blood-filled sections of the vessels. Such phenomena are provoked by a sedentary lifestyle and sedentary work, malnutrition, which provokes an increase in salt levels, a tendency to constipation, in some cases, pregnancy and labor. In this case, honey acts as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic, the use of which allows you to eliminate soreness and swelling of hemorrhoids. Thanks to its antibacterial properties, honey destroys pathogenic bacteria and also prevents the spread of the disease.
The bee product accelerates the healing of tissues, saving from anal fissures, participates in cell regeneration, which contributes to the faster elimination of hemorrhoid "bumps" and the consequences of their appearance. Taking honey inside can increase the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels. They become more elastic, which eliminates their sagging.
Almost any kind of honey is suitable for the treatment of hemorrhoids, but raspberry, rowan, buckwheat and linden species demonstrate the greatest effectiveness in this case.
Honey can be used in various forms - as an infusion for oral administration, as suppositories, solutions for enemas and baths, ointments.
The easiest way to help the body get rid of the venous expansion of the hemorrhoidal veins is to eat a tablespoon of the product every morning and evening. It should be washed down with warm water and, before swallowing, hold it in your mouth a little, dissolving. For greater efficiency, it is recommended to prepare infusions. It is worth paying attention to the recipes of the most effective proven formulations.
- Mix honey and rowan juice in equal volumes, apply 100 ml 2-3 times a day one hour before meals. The tool helps to get rid of bleeding "bumps", relieve inflammation.
- Mix honey and onion juice in equal proportions to get an anti-inflammatory agent. Take half an hour before a meal 2 times a day (during the daytime), a single dose - 1 tablespoon.
- Use equal amounts of honey and ripe aloe juice. Mix and drink 2 tablespoons three times a day before meals.
The external use of honey involves lubricating the nodules with the product to reduce their soreness and inflammation. This is the simplest but most effective way to treat hemorrhoids with honey. You can prepare a useful ointment, the ingredients of which are honey and cinnamon. Mix them in equal amounts and apply to formations in the rectal area, after taking a shower.
An ointment based on honey and birch leaves will also help to heal wounds and stop bleeding, as well as reduce inflammation. The latter must be young. They will need 2 parts in crushed form. One part you need to take butter and honey product. Mix the ingredients and apply the ointment after washing. Compresses can also be prepared from aspen leaves. To do this, they are crushed, combined with the same amount of honey and applied to hemorrhoidal formations. Apply a clean cloth on top and leave the composition for an hour, then rinse with warm water.
Suppositories are widely used for the treatment of hemorrhoids. As a rule, they have a complex effect - they relieve inflammation, eliminate swelling, pain and bleeding, and promote the healing of cracks.Rectal suppositories can be prepared from "old" candied honey. His age must be at least 3 years old. From the product you need to make candles and freeze them. Use 2-3 times a day. Potato candles have a similar property. The root crop needs to be washed, cleaned and cut out of it a candle of a characteristic shape and diameter. Then lubricate its surface with a thin layer of honey nectar and enter into the rectum.
Recommendations
Reviews demonstrate that the treatment of hemorrhoids with honey is a long process (at least 1.5–2 weeks), but the result is impressive. It is possible to completely get rid of the "bumps", there are no side effects, and the result is stored for a long time. If you use honey at the first manifestations of the disease, then it does not even have time to develop. There are many reviews that at a temperature it is effective to use not lime infusion, but sbiten.
It is prepared on the basis of fruits, for example, apples and pears, or berries, dried fruits and herbal infusion (you can use the same linden, chamomile for its preparation). The drink should be infused for 2-3 hours, before drinking, add 1 tablespoon of honey to a glass of sbiten.
When using honey inside, you should reduce the amount of sweets eaten so as not to cause jumps in blood sugar, not to provoke an increased load on the pancreas. Reducing the level of salts in the body is also achieved by consuming honey instead of other sugar-containing foods. This is true for patients with gout and other ailments that affect the joints, since excess salt contributes to the progression of the disease.
When treating folk remedies based on honey, an allergic test for this product should be carried out. To do this, a small amount of honey should be applied in a thin layer on the wrist or the inner side in the bend of the elbow, left for a quarter of an hour and washed off. If during the day there is no negative reaction, you can start treatment.
See the video below for another 50 honey treatment recipes.