"And your Lord revealed to the bee saying: Make hives in the mountains andin the trees and in what they build: Then eat of all the fruits and walk in
the ways of your Lord submissively. There comes forth from within it a
beverage of many colours, in which there is healing for men; most surely
there is a sign in this for a people who reflect. (Surat an-Nahl, 68-69)
Honey is a sweet treat. In fact, it is man's oldest sweetener. It can be a
good substitute for sugar in our drinks and food. But it is also good for
many other things and treating many other conditions. Reliance on
commercialized medicines which contains too much chemicals can become
hazardous to our health. Alhamdullilah, Allah has given us the knowledge
that Mother Nature can at least help to ease the pain we are suffering
from.
Honey is composed of sugars like glucose and fructose and minerals like
magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, iron and
phosphate. It contains vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3 all of which
change according to the qualities of the nectar and pollen. Besides the
above, copper, iodine, and zinc exist in it in small quantities. Several
kinds of hormones are also present in it.
Approximately one half of the human diet is derived directly or indirectly
from crops pollinated by bees. Today honeybees are an essential part of a
healthy agriculture economy. If you have allergies, honey can be
beneficial. If you eat honey that is local to your area, it may prevent
your seasonal allergies. Bees use the pollen from local plants and
eventually it ends up in your honey.
Honey may also be good for your skin. It has the ability to attract water.
You can use honey instead of alpha hydroxy masks because of its high
content of the acid. It is also safe for sensitive skin.
You can also use it as a moisturizing mask for your skin as well as your
hair. To use it as a conditioner, mix the honey with olive oil. Be sure to
wash your hair thoroughly before you go outside.
If you have a sore throat, take some honey.Due to its natural
anti-inflammatory effect, it will help to heal the wounds more quickly.It
also has different phytochemicals--chemicals found in plants and different
foods--that kill viruses, bacteria, and fungus making it a good substitute
for wound dressings. The taste may also take your mind off the pain.
There is evidence that honey diluted in water will help with your
stomachaches and dehydration.
Germ-Fighting Properties
Do you have a cut? Honey is a natural antiseptic. Medical journals cite
more than 600 cases in which honey was employed to treat wounds.By applying
honey to your wounds, you prevent infections. Honey contains antimicrobial
agents, which prevents infections by killing the bacteria in and around
your wounds. When using honey it may help to heat it up before putting it
on your wound (caution test the heat before you place it on the wound).Many
types of bacteria can’t survive in honey, so wounds heal, swelling eases,
and tissue can grow back.
Honey may also be effective in the treatment of your ulcers.In Europe,
honey has been used internally to help cure ulcers, particularly stomach
ulcers.
Burns, too, heal better with honey, studies show. The advantage of honey is
that it not only prevents infections from occurring, it actually
accelerates skin healing.. Since the sugar in honey absorbs water it helps
to trap some of the moisture so that the bacteria and other microbes can’t
grow as easily as in other food.
How Does It Help In Healing Wounds?
When honey comes into contact with body moisture, the glucose oxidase
enzyme introduced to the honey by the bee slowly releases the antiseptic
hydrogen peroxide at a sufficient level to be effective against bacteria
but not tissue damaging. Not only is honey anti-bacterial, it also draws
body fluids and nutrients to the area and so assists cell growth and
prevents a scar forming by drying out of the wound.
The osmotic action of the honey draws out and provides a film of liquid
between the tissues and the dressing, allowing the dressing to be removed
painlessly, without tearing of the re-growing cells. There are reports in
medical journals of large bed sores, otherwise needing skin grafts, that
have healed without scarring after honey treatment.
In treating diarrhea, honey promotes the rehydration of the body and more
quickly clears up the diarrhea and any vomiting and stomach upsets. The
anti-bacterial properties of honey, both the peroxide and non-peroxide, are
effective in the laboratory against MRSA strains of bacteria which are
notoriously resistant to antibiotics and are sometimes responsible for the
closing of hospital wards.
Other Benefits of Honey
Easily digested: Because sugar molecules in honey can convert into other
sugars (e.g. fructose to glucose), honey is easily digested by the most
sensitive stomachs, despite its high acid content. It helps kidneys and
intestines to function better.
Good source of antioxidants: It plays a big role in the prevention of
cancer as well as heart disease.
Has a low calorie level: Another quality of honey is that, when it is
compared with the same amount of sugar, it gives 40% less calories to the
body. Although it gives great energy to the body, it does not add weight.
Rapidly diffuses through the blood: When accompanied by mild water, honey
diffuses into the bloodstream in 7 minutes. Its free sugar molecules make
the brain function better since the brain is the largest consumer of sugar,
thus, reduces fatigue.
Supports blood formation: Honey provides an important part of the energy
needed by the body for blood formation. In addition, it helps in cleansing
the blood. It has some positive effects in regulating and facilitating
blood circulation. It also functions as a protection against capillary
problems and arteriosclerosis.
Does not accommodate bacteria: This bactericide (bacteria-killing) property
of honey is named "the inhibition effect". Experiments conducted on honey
show that its bactericide properties increase twofold when diluted with
water. It is very interesting to note that newly born bees in the colony
are nourished with diluted honey by the bees responsible for their
supervision - as if they know this feature of the honey.
Royal Jelly: Royal jelly is a substance produced by worker bees inside the
beehive. Inside this nutritious substance are sugar, proteins, fats and
many vitamins. It is used in problems caused by tissue deficiency or body
frailty.
It is obvious that honey, which is produced in much higher amounts than the
requirements of the bees, is made for the benefit of man. And it is also
obvious that bees cannot perform such an unbelievable task "on their own."
