Honey: History And Health Benefits

The Interesting History Of Honey

Ira Riklis has discovered that the use of honey dates back 8,000 years. A rock painting found in Valencia, Spain depicts a honey gatherer stealing honey from a colony of wild bees. In our fast-paced world where we live on sugar and sugar substitutes in all shapes and forms, we forget the value of honey. People have been bathing in, eating, treating wounds and illnesses and trading honey for as long as history has been recorded. Interestingly enough, archeologists found honeycombs buried in the tombs with pharaohs, with the honey preserved and edible. In Biblical times, the land of Israel was referred to as the land flowing with milk and honey. Honey is also mentioned in the Koran, Talmud, and Orient. Romans would treat their battle wounds with honey. During the 10th century, the kings and queens of England would make honey wine. From this rich history, we can see that honey has been around for thousands of years and used for a variety of purposes that still continue in our day.

How It Is Made

Honey is made naturally by a process that starts with a flower and a bee. Bees land on a flower and collect the nectar. The bees then carry that nectar and store it in a honeycomb where it gets broken down into simple sugars. Evaporation caused by the honeycomb shape and the constant fanning of the bees’ wings creates the sweet liquid honey we know and love. The richness and color of the honey depends on the nectar from which it’s made. For instance, honey made from orange blossom nectar will be lighter in color versus honey made from wildflowers which would yield a darker amber color. Bees make a wax cap to seal the honey in each cell. Beekeepers extract the honey by scraping off the wax cap. The honeycomb frames are then placed in an extractor that spins and forces the honey out of the comb.

The Various Uses

Honey is one of the most versatile substances found in nature. You can use honey for cooking. It’s great for flavoring tea. Many people prefer honey over sugar because it is simply better for you than refined sugar. Honey can also be used as a health and beauty product. You can massage it into your hair for use as a hair treatment. You can also make a facial scrub from honey since it’s great for your skin. The uses for honey are endless.

Health Benefits

Honey is a natural substance that has many health benefits. You can use it for the following to promote better health:

• Honey has the power to kill nasty bacteria, such as E. Coli and salmonella. Because of its antibacterial properties, honey is effective in treating wounds.
• If you have a cold, keep your honey close by. Honey is known for its ability to soothe a sore throat and quiet a cough.
• If you want to increase your athletic performance, swap out your sugar water for honey water.
• Studies are currently being conducted to determine if honey can be used to fight cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. The outlook is promising, but more research is needed.

So, the next time you need to sweeten your tea, try a little honey. You’ll get a sweet treat that has some health benefits. If you experience a wound that won’t respond to antibiotics or other methods of treatment, try dabbing a little honey on the wound. You might be surprised when the wound starts healing. Always keep a little honey in your house. You never know what you might need to use it for, but its uses and health benefits are too extensive to ignore.