Best Honey for You

Honey has been used by man for healing for nearly fifteen thousand years. The oldest known record of an archaeological example of beekeeping dates back to Tel Rehov, Israel. That would place beekeeping in the times of King David and in the times of King Solomon. There is proof of ancient use of honey painted on a cave in Valencia, Spain. The cave is called the Cave of the Spider. The painting depicts a person descending with a honey pot with bees flying around the figure. Truly is amazing to know that the use of honey has been around for many of a millennia. Ninety-four years ago that painting was discovered in 1924 by a local teacher named Jane Gari i Poch. Honey has been used throughout time as a sweetener and as a healing agent. As a matter of fact, in ancient Egypt honey was used in agriculture, nutritional, medicinal, and ritualistic procedures. Egyptians understood every aspect of the value of honey. They cultivated bee hives and maintained a regular flow of honey for many different purposes. Honey was used to heal wounds by rubbing raw honey directly onto the wound. Honey possesses an antimicrobial property with which it provides a protective cover for wounds. This protective cover prevents further contamination while healing the wound with its antibacterial activity, providing a moist wound conditioner with high viscosity for wound healing. Hydrogen peroxide is produced by the enzymatic production from the bees in the development of honey. There are forms of honey that do not have these enzymes and this is called non peroxide honey. The non peroxide honey still has significant antibacterial effects that is considered beneficial for use in creating remedies for the healing of man's woes. Due to the low pH level of honey and its high content of sugar this bee's nectar gives us a strong natural defense against the growth of germs that are resistant to antibiotic treatments commonly used for deadly life threatening infections in humans and in their animals. In order for honey to work as effectively as it should work for the individual one should only use honey that is created by bees in their area. By harvesting honey that is created in one's living location and utilizing it for medicinal purposes one is introducing a super food into their system. Building their immune system and adding to their defense against local outbreaks of influenza and other transmitted diseases. Allergies to local area plants and trees will also lessen if using locally generated honey. If honey is used just as a sweetener with no intent upon building one's health then honey purchased from outside sources is acceptable, since all honey is good honey for the body no matter where it comes from.

Local bees will gather local pollens used in creating their honey which in turn strengthen the local individual's defense against becoming allergic to the plants from which the pollen was harvested. Using local honey will lessen a person's current allergies over a period of use time. By using local bee honey we are protecting ourselves with fortified supplements which will keep us healthy as we interface with people during our daily lives.

Bees pollinate seventy percent of the food crops needed to feed the world's population. Bees are a very intricate part of the food chain. If we lose the honey bee we also lose the plants which they pollinate, along with losing the bees and the plants we will lose the animals which feed on those plants.

Albert Einstein said, "If the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would only have four years to live."

Four years to live without the honey bee. Think about that for a moment.

There is a plight of the honey bee. Researchers have determined that a mite may be the cause of the far too many deaths of the honey bee. Other theories are that toxins used to spray the plants are killing the honey bee. Honey bees are dying in mass in the United States and in Europe. And though, it has been said that the bee isn't on the verge of extinction without help the honey bee is in danger of being extinct. With all the theories being argued back and forth it is time that everyday people become active is the saving of their honey bees.

Growing bee gardens is a great way to contribute to the survival of our honey bees. By planting flowers and vegetables and not using any chemical to treat the ground or plant we are giving the honey bee clean food for which to produce for us clean honey, in effect helping ourselves while helping the bees.

All for one and one for all. The honey bee and the human.

Listed below are a few uses of honey as a healing agent that I have used for many of my years. Along with using the honey on my cuts and abrasions these recipes have served me well throughout my lifetime. Every year I plant several bee gardens and enjoy seeing the bees fly in to grab the pollen. The bees will not sting you unless you bother them. I have seen them so laden with the pollen from my gardens that it was difficult for them to fly. They are beautiful little creatures and work hard providing a great service to humankind since the beginning of time.

In Neolithic Spain, the bee was thought of as a dancing goddess. When you watch them gather the pollen that thought will cross your mind if you have ever heard of that expression. The bees dance from flower to flower and are gracefully laden with pollen as they fly home.

Plant the bee garden no matter how large or small. The bees will appreciate your effort as much as those who love honey appreciate the product.

Calming Sore Balm

1 tsp coconut oil, 3 tbsp local honey, 6 drops of peppermint oil. Mix all ingredients together. Place on a hot cloth and then upon sore or abrasion. This eases the pain and soothes the nerves. Very relaxing when used. Store in the refrigerator no more than two days. Best used when made fresh.

Cough Syrup

1 tsp grated ginger, 1 grated garlic clove, 1 tsp apple cider vinegar, 4 tbsp water, 3 tbsp local honey. Mix all ingredients together well. Use 1 tbsp as needed to stop coughing. This is best when made fresh and used daily. But can be made and stored in the refrigerator but only for two weeks at a time.

Raw Throat Soothing Remedy

1 tsp local honey to 1 tsp of fresh lemon juice. Not the plastic lemon juice from the store. Use a real lemon. You can take this as is or you can freeze the mixture to make throat lozenges. This will ease the pain of a sore and raw throat by coating the area. If you really do not like lemons you can also just use the honey and let it gradually ease down the throat, coating and soothing as it goes, healing with its perfect power. You can freeze honey into small droplets as well. This makes a sweet lozenge. Or you can draw the honey up into straws and seal the ends. This is great if you're traveling. Just clip one end of the straw and slowly pull the honey up.

Honey Tea for the Flu and Sore Throat and Body

Half a cup of lemon juice, 3 tbsp of local honey, 2 cloves of smashed garlic, 5 pieces of ginger root cut into thin slices. Bring a cup of water to boil. Remove from heat. Put in the ginger and the garlic. Let sit for 5 minutes. Strain out the water to clear away the ginger and garlic particles. Add your local honey and lemon. Add as much honey as you would like to have in your tea. Since honey is also a natural preservative you can make this tea in excess and store in the refrigerator. You may also reheat the tea if you prefer hot tea. Only keep in the refrigerator for up to a week after making just to be on the safe side. I have never kept mine any longer than that. Fresh is always best.

Remember to only use local honey if using for medicinal purposes. Any other honey will not work as well for you.

Local honey is the best honey for you.

Now, let's see some seeds getting planted starting this year. One flower pot or an acre lot. We can all do our part in feeding the bees.