Medicinal Honey
While honey is a valuable medicine on its' own, you can add herbs to it, and create what I like to call, medicinal honey. In addition to its’ own medical properties, the honey acts as a carrier, helping direct and guide the herbs deeper into the bodily tissues. Medicinal honey can be used for general support of the respiratory tract, reduce the effects of allergies, support the immune system, aid in digestion, and help clear mucus and sticky toxins. You can put a wide variety of herbs into the honey for various ailments or preventative care. Though honey has an initial taste of sweet, it is actually astringent and heating. The heating action can liquify mucus or sticky toxins, and the astringent action will pull it from the system or dry it up.
Honey from your local area can help with allergies. The bees in that area use the pollen from the local flowers, which means the properties of those same flowers are in the honey. But it has bee-n processed by the bees and becomes a kind of "vaccine" or homeopathic medicine to minimize your reaction to that same pollen when it falls into the air. This is why I suggest using raw, local honey from your area if possible.
The honey itself acts as a preservative, which makes it possible to make a large batch of medicinal honey, and keep it for a while. Likewise you can mix one dose at a time. I will sometimes suggest an herbal formula be taken with honey, and offer that the person can prepare it either way. If you make a larger batch, like a small mason jar for example, the mixture will become more dry or hard over time, but it is unlikely to spoil. I have never seen any of my own mold or spoil, and sometimes have a jar in the cabinet for more than a year.
Below are two different recipes that I regularly make and sell. I am offering these recipes for your personal use and hope you will adjust the ingredients to your personal needs. The more times you make it, and the more familiar you become with the herbs, the easier it will be for you to add your own personal flare to the mixture. You can always use less or more of one or all of the herbs, or make smaller or larger batches.
How To Use Medicinal Honey:
For prevention you can have about a teaspoon once a day. For acute care you can have about a teaspoon three to four times per day.
You can simply eat if off the spoon. This is how I often use it, followed by some warm water. I like it this way because it feels like it can do its’ job without the distraction of other substances. It is also an easy way to have it, especially for folks who are out and about.
You can mix it into hot water and drink like a tea. Or mix into hot tea instead of plain honey. This is another of my preferred methods of intake.
You can use it in a warm spiced milky beverage, such as golden milk or ojas milk. If you are unwell, I suggest using a plant based milk substitute instead of cow milk.
You can mix into a morning porridge ot other meal.
Materials:
While you can mix it in a jar, you will have a more evenly mixed final product if you do it in a larger pan or bowl. I like to use something with a flat bottom, when possible.
Using a plastic, rubber, or metal utensil to mix it seems to work best. I like a hard spatula. I do not suggest using a wooden utensil to mix.
You will need a jar to put it in after it is made. It is always a good idea to label it!
All of the herbs used are dry, powdered herbs.
Each recipe below calls for 3/4 of a cup of honey.
It’s nice to have a cloth that you can slightly dampen to clean the rim of the jar before you put the lid on. You’ll understand after you transfer the honey from the mixing container into the jar…
The Process:
Pour/scoop the honey into your mixing container. You may want to warm it in its’ original jar so that is is easier to pour. You can do this by putting the honey jar into a warm bowl of water and allowing it to soften, but don’t cook it.
If you choose ot mix it in the jar you plan to store it in, instead of a mixing container, be sure the jar is large enough to give you space to mix.
Add the herbs.
Mix with spatula or other utensil until fully blended.
Transfer to the jar you plan to store it in. Clean jar as needed, but don’t get any water in the jar.
Recipe #1
Classic Formula: prevents colds and allergies & supports immune and digestive functions
about 3/4 cup of honey (preferably raw, local honey from your area)
1/4 cup turmeric
1 Tblsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. clove
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Recipe #2
Lung Rejuvenation Formula: does the same as recipe #1, but includes herbs with a special affinity for the lungs
about 3/4 cup of honey (preferably raw, local honey from your area)
3 Tblsp. turmeric
1 Tblsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. tulsi (holy basil)
2 tsp. pippali (long pepper)