Honey, an Amber Ode

My father has always espoused the values of raw honey and cod liver oil. As a child growing up, I watched his daily ritual as sunlight spilled into the back windows of our kitchen, with its yellow wallpaper of cornucopia. Whoosh went the container of cod liver oil as he swigged it like that, unaltered. We always made fun of him behind his back; none of us wanted to drink it. None of us would.

These days I have a new perspective about my father's folk-remedy approach, and I tend to be extremely earthy, in part because of my father's core belief in the gifts of the plant kingdom.

I find it really interesting that doctors discount the power of the herbal world when evidence is mounting that tea tree oil, white birch oil, garlic, and honey are more effective against penicillin-resistant strains of staph bacteria than antibiotics. Research indicates the power of allacin and honey, and more and more anecdotal reports are emerging from people who choose these natural alternatives to treat such atrocities as MRSA. Some have had no relief in years before they try honey as a last-ditch attempt.

Having had a skin rash for eight weeks, I can say that I tried most everything--and while antibiiotics were effective, I could not take them because of an allergy. That left me in tears and with little recourse; I could choose to keep trying new antibiotics; do nothing; or choose to empower myself and put my trust in the earth--as my father had done for years before me.

The result was pretty astonishing. Honey, taken internally, at a high rate of 4 teaspoons per day worked where all else had failed.

The first day didn't bring dramatic effects though the rash certainly seemed a bit smaller and a bit dryer. I didn't raise my hopes but just kept taking the honey, which is kind of intense at that level!

Day 2 on honey: The rash seemed to stabilize. It stopped spreading and getting bigger.

Day 3 on honey: I thought I noticed a slight improvement all around. The rash stopped itching. The inflamed joint in my ankle began to quiet a bit; the ankle stopped burning and itching under the skin.

Day 4: I woke up at a campground in Lake George, NY, to find that the rash had started to dry up and flake off in honey-colored strips like scotch tape. I have to say this particular end to the rash seemed ironic since the honey colored crusts of impetigo match in color the honey I have been consuming in large doses.
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I am convinced that it is the honey that is finally ridding me of the bacteria. People have known for thousands of years that honey is antibacterial. When eaten, the sugars in honey destroy bacteria even in the gut. We tried the remedy on our son when he got diarrhea. The honey was a little yucky going down, he reported, but within an hour the diarrhea had stopped. By the next day, he was as good as new. Honey was more effective than pepto bismol at stopping his symptoms.
This was sort of awe-inspiring and fascinating to me. Who knew that such a naturally good substance could be so healing?
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Here is some information about honey, from http://www.onelebanon.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-12372.html:
Honey has been held in high respect for centuries with its potential to
heal the body and soul. It has often been referred to as the nectar of
the gods and the elixir of life.

Honey contains natural preservatives and will never go out of date.
Honey found today in Egyptian tombs is still safe for humans to eat.

Honey is said to facilitate better physical performance and resistance
to fatigue, particularly for repeated effort; it also promotes higher
mental efficiency.

Raw honey is a treasure chest of nutritional value and medicinal
remedies. The major components of honey are sugars, which include fructose,
glucose, sucrose, maltose and other di- and trisaccharide sugars.
Besides sugars, honey contains a wide variety of chemical components such as
proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, volatile
aromatic substances , etc. It contains traces of pollen and propolis. The
diverse nature of these ingredients means that honey is not just a
simple sweetener, but a nutritionally worthwhile product. It is a natural
and powerful medicine both, internally and externally.

Ayurveda treats honey as a rasayana, promoting health and longevity and
to be used regularly in small quantities. Honey has been used as a food
product for thousands of years. In Hinduism, it is considered as one of
the five components of Panchamrit 'the nectar of immortality' and used
in many religious ceremonies.

The average composition of honey is as follows:

Water 17 %
Fructose 38 %
Glucose 30 %
Maltose 7 %
Assorted Sugars 2 %
Carbohydrates 82.4 %
Proteins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals 0.5%

Honey is an excellent source of easily-assimilated energy, containing
64 calories per tablespoon. In fact, it is one of the most effective
forms of carbohydrate gels to ingest before exercising, as well as an
excellent carbohydrate source for post-workout muscle recuperation and
energy repletion.

Nutritionists think that honey is super food of the cells, tissues and
organs. In its natural infiltrated and unpasteurized state, there have
been identified over 180 nourishing ingredients. With filtration and
pasteurization honey loses its essential ingredients.

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I am going to close this post with a poem that I wrote about honey, an ode to the life-giving, amber, flowing, sweet substance that has historically been celebrated throughout the world over centuries...Honey truly is the food of the Gods...May you all find the sweetness in all that is simple and good.

The Beekeeper

The amber fluid fills his
draught as he tips the glass
to study the golden
fluid that is his joy
so many months spent
readying: smoking
the bees, tending the hives--

Turning the clear glass
he feels love, nothing
mysterious, just pure
and unabated, flowing
over him sweetly:
the oracular-golden
movement of his heart.