Flower honeys help with circulatory diseases, allergies, diseases of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract, and even neurosis and depression. However, they are underestimated by Poles, and the consumption – low, despite the fact that the honey is one of the most readily available medicinal substances.
Poland is one of the countries with high honey production – throughout 2012, beekeepers produced about 17,2 thousand honey. tone. According to the Polish Beekeeping Association, a Pole consumes little honey, only 0,65-0,7 kg per year. Meanwhile, in the old EU, a Greek eats more than 3,5 kg of honey a year, and a German about 2 kg. In Poland, there is currently no fashion for apitherapy, i.e. preventive and curative use of honey.
Meanwhile, the number of studies confirming the healing effects of honey and its active substances in the last 5 years has exceeded 100. And so a team of scientists from the University of California examined the healing properties of rapeseed honey from the USA. Used as an auxiliary in cardiac therapy, rapeseed honey along with agents regulating the work of the heart caused a lasting improvement and decreased by 40%. the frequency of arrhythmia attacks in relation to the control group, which was administered only the heart regulating and vasodilating agents alone. Polish honey in this type of therapy could play an important role – due to one of the highest content of ingredients in European honeys, such as simple sugars, enzymes, bioelements and bioflavonoids.
Polish specialty: linden, buckwheat, acacia and rapeseed
There are two types of honeys available on the market – nectar, ie floral, and honeydew. Nectar honeys have a distinct aroma. Most often, floral honey comes from the nectar of various plants, but beekeepers can obtain varietal honeys that predominantly contain nectar from only one plant. Such honeys are collected immediately after the flowering of a given honey plant, from which they are named, e.g. goldenrod or lime honey. In Poland, the most important plants from which such nectar is made are linden, buckwheat, acacia and rapeseed.
Acacia honey is one of the earliest obtained honeys. It has a pale straw color, sometimes fading into a straw yellow to creamy color, with a sweetish flavor. It smells a bit bland, with a noticeable note of acacia flowers. It crystallizes for a very long time, in a liquid form it can remain up to 8 months. After crystallization, it becomes white or creamy yellow. It has a complex pro-health effect – it can be used successfully in digestive disorders, cramps, gastroenteritis and excessive secretion of gastric juices (hyperacidity). Incidentally, it is used in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers, as well as in states of liver disorders. As it contains a large amount of simple sugars, it is also used in states of physical and mental fatigue, exhausting intellectual work and weakening of the body. It hinders the formation of deposits in the kidneys, therefore it is also used in the prophylaxis of the urinary system. This honey has low antibiotic properties.
Lime honey is harvested in June and July. This is one of the best nectar honeys. In the liquid state, the colors range from green-yellow to olive. After crystallization, it is fine-grained, sharp, slightly bitter and white-yellow to golden-yellow in color. Honey is very rich, because it contains a large amount of beta-carotene (67ug per 100 g) and organic acids: coumaric, chlorogenic and coffee, as well as essential oils from linden, flavonoids (including rutin and isoquertitine) and glycosides , bitter compounds and saponins. Has medium to high antibiotic activity.
For this reason, linden honey is the best medicine for colds, flu infections and flu steam, especially those with high fever and respiratory diseases. Its active compounds destroy microorganisms found on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, nose and throat, especially gram-positive bacteria such as staphylococci and streptococci, gram-negative bacteria, e.g. klebsiella pneumoniae and yeast fungi. It has diaphoretic, antipyretic, antispasmodic, antitussive and expectorant effects. It also supports the treatment of bronchitis and pneumonia. To increase its effect, it should be administered in a linden infusion, raspberry juice, in combination with lemon juice or with milk, the basic dose being a large spoon per glass of warm (not more than 40 degrees C) liquid. For treatment in this way, it is necessary to stay in bed for about 3 days – these mixtures are highly diaphoretic.
Linden honey is also recommended for other diseases – especially cardiological and nervous system diseases. It has a mild relaxing and calming effect, which supports the treatment of heart and vascular diseases. Its positive effect is also revealed in the treatment of neuroses, anxiety, stress and insomnia. Due to the high content of fructose, it is recommended as an auxiliary for patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (type II diabetes)
Rapeseed honey is obtained during three weeks, at the turn of April and May, during the flowering of rape. It is almost colorless to straw-colored, crystallizes quickly – even within a few days – due to the advantage of glucose over fructose and low water content. Then it changes its color to white or cream with fine crystals. The smell is weak, similar to rapeseed flowers, and the taste is mild, slightly bland. Although it has a low content of minerals (although it contains iron, potassium, magnesium and a large amount of boron), it contains essential oils, tannins, bitter compounds, flavonoids, bioelements, vitamins B, K and C, nicotinic acid and choline. Due to the high content of boron, this honey is recommended for women as it regulates the functioning of hormones and the thyroid gland. Because it contains almost exclusively simple sugars with a predominance of glucose, e.g. in one of the recorded compositions it was 51%. against 48 percent glucose, it is especially recommended in diseases of the heart, mainly of the coronary vessels and the circulatory system (it worked especially in the conditions of angina). It is also a valuable regenerative nutrient in states of physical and mental exhaustion, especially for people after illness and the elderly (a tablespoon of honey per 1 glass of warm boiled water). Its other ingredients, such as acetylcholine, potassium and magnesium, stabilize blood pressure and contribute to the inhibition of the atherosclerotic process and dementia.
Buckwheat honey is a typical summer honey with a color from dark tea to brown. This honey crystallizes in layers with a liquid layer on top and a coarse crystalline on the bottom. Evenly crystallizes only at the temperature of 10-12 degrees C .; after crystallization, its color ranges from dark brown to almost black. It gives off an intense aroma of buckwheat flowers, and its taste is sweet and spicy. It contains a large amount of fructose, magnesium, iron, zinc and other bioelements such as: phosphorus, copper, zinc, boron, iodine, nickel, cobalt, which is characteristic of dark honey. Its high antibiotic activity has been found, and at the same time it contains significant amounts of vitamin C.
Like other honey of this type, buckwheat honey plays a large role in the treatment of heart and circulatory diseases, usually atherosclerotic. This is made possible by the high content of simple sugars. Moreover, the flavonoid compounds contained in buckwheat honey have a beneficial effect on the heart muscle, regulating the permeability of the capillary walls and increasing their elasticity and strength. The content of quercetin facilitates the capture of free oxygen radicals that destroy cells and are responsible for the aging of the body. Buckwheat honey is especially valuable as a liver protecting and detoxifying drug, the fresher the more active.
The multiflorous honey, a favorite of children, is obtained throughout the summer and autumn. It has a light yellow color, and light brown after crystallization; the later the darker it is. It is not so much honey as honey, because, due to the different content of nectars, they differ in composition. Summer honeys usually have the most nectar from linden, mustard, phacelia, and later also sunflower and buckwheat. It crystallizes quite slowly, depending on its composition. Likewise, its composition is also different; in the later harvest, in general, there are more bioelements and protein, in the earlier harvest – more simple sugars. The antibiotic properties of this honey are low, but it is called “cosmetic” because of its high silicon content. So it’s worth using it to improve the quality of skin, hair and nails. Preferably dissolved – 1 tablespoon of honey in 3 cups of warm water. This honey is recommended in the symptoms of allergies and allergic diseases of the upper respiratory tract and in hay fever.
We recommend multi-flower honey with the addition of herbs, eg Honey with turmeric and cayenne pepper or Honey with spirulina, which strengthen the body and support its proper functioning.
Honey can also be found in the composition of Pukka Chamomile, Vanilla & Manuka Honey – chamomile tea with vanilla and honey, which has a calming effect and helps you fall asleep. We also recommend Pukka Lemon, Ginger & Manuka Honey – tea with honey and ginger with a warming and anti-inflammatory effect.
Tekst: Marek Mejssner