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Honey - The nature's gift
Honey is the nature's gift to mankind. It is a pleasant food item having acquired of special reputation as medicine and as a nutritious food. Honey is a golden coloured syrupy substance made by bees from the nectar of flowers. The quality of honey depends on the prevailing flower blossom. Genuine honey will contain pollen grains, which can be detected under microscope. Glucose, starch, and cane sugar usually adulterate honeys that are available commercially.
Honey is healthier compared to refined sugar since honey has traces of minerals and vitamins to its credit. Honey contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than sugar since it contains water. But when substituting honey for sugar in recipes, due to the high density of honey compared to sugar, substituting honey for sugar by volume rather than by weight would give you more calories. Honey contains sugars in the form of glucose and fructose that gives the sweetness. The clearer the honey the higher the proportion of fructose although, honey will almost always granulate if it is kept long enough. Heating can make it loose. Honey consists of 20% water and about 79% sugar. Honey contains glucose 25- 37%, fructose 34- 43%, sucrose 0.5- 3% maltose5-12%, and 319 kcal per 100 gms.
- It acts as a decongestant
- It is good as anti septic.
- Honey is useful as a sedative
- It is useful in managing constipation, obesity,
For respiratory problems
- Honey in warm milk or water can give a soothing effect for patient with sore throats.
- Adding two teaspoons of honey and juice of half a lemon in a glass of hot water can make a drink of sore throats.
- 1/2 tsp. of Black pepper powder, 1/4 tsp. of long pepper powder and 1 tsp. of honey mixture is useful to overcome sore throat.
- Dried ginger powder 1/2 tsp, 2-3 black pepper cones, 2-3 cloves, 2-3 cardamom, 1/2 tsp. Cummins seeds should be boiled and add little tea leaves and honey and can be had hot. It gives good relief of the throat pain, cold, and cough. It can be taken two to three times in a day.
- Honey is used to remove phlegm. Take 8- 10 tulsi leaves, 1-2 cloves of garlic, 1/2 inch piece ginger crushed and 3-4 black pepper cones, boil it in 1 cup of water. Add 1 tsp. of honey to this and drink it warm. This is good for cold and cough with phlegm.
- Honey mixed with weak tea is useful for gargles in irritant cough.
- Mix equal parts of ginger juice and honey and have it 2-3 times in a day which is good for cough.
- Ginger powder, black pepper powder and honey is also good for dry cough and can be had 3-4 times in a day.
- 1 tsp. turmeric, 2-3 tsp. ginger juice, 2-3 tsp. lime juice and 3 tsp. honey can be mixed and taken 3 times for cough in a day.
- Asafoetida is useful in the treatment of respiratory disorders like whooping cough, asthma and bronchitis.1 tsp. of asafoetida mixed with honey will help to keep away these disorders.
- Pepper powder, dry ginger powder, liquorice root powder and honey mixture is good for dry cough.
- A pinch of turmeric and one teaspoon of honey in warm milk can be taken daily for children and adults who get frequent colds.
- Honey 50 ml per litre is recommended instead of sugar in the oral rehydration fluid.
- Gargling with honey is very useful in gingivitis due to inflammation of the gums.
- Honey and ginger helps in proper digestion and prevents stomach diseases. Ginger juice is made with a teaspoon of freshly squeezed juice of ginger and lime and a teaspoon of honey in hot water.
- The nutmeg should be powdered and mixed with honey and can be taken during diarrhoea. It can be given to small children also.1 teaspoon twice or thrice can be taken.
- One spoon of fresh honey mixed with the juice of half a lemon in a glass of lukewarm water taken first thing in the morning is very effective for constipation, hyperacidity, and obesity.
- Honey is useful for the skin diseases. It can be applied externally for wounds, sores, and burns. It is also believed to minimise disfiguring scar.
- Honey, turmeric, and gram flour is very good face pack. It can be applied for 15 - 20 minutes and washed off with water.
- Honey act as a mild sedative. Take one teaspoon of honey in warm milk before going to bed.
- Honey is useful in providing energy to the body.
- Asafoetida fried in ghee and mixed with a tablespoon of honey to be taken thrice daily for excessive flow and pain full menstruation and leucorrhoea.
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