Honey

Natures Gift of " Liquid Gold"

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AS A FOOD
Honey is such a versatile and wonderful product, my husband keeps some bees and I find their life within the hive and organisational abilities quite awe inspiring. Have you ever studied bees, they are truly amazing. The Queen, Drones & Worker bees all have their role to play, and they are not just four winged stinging insects as many perceive them to be! These little creatures can fly miles & miles in search of pollen and yet still know where home is, they work so hard creating a vibrant hive of activity and honey as their food source, so it is vitally important to never rob their hives of all the honey if collecting some for personal use. We also like to feed our bees in the Winter months to maintain a strong and healthy community; a food source can be very difficult for them in the cold, especially if honey reserves in the hive are low.
If we only use honey for it's sweet taste and glorious texture, we miss out on a whole spectrum of other applications. A small collection from my husband's bees of organic, unpasteurised raw honey offers a wealth of nutritional benefits and digestible simple sugars, but honey is much more than just a delicious food. Honey contains minerals like iron, calcium,potassium and magnesium, and it can boost energy levels, I often think of it as "liquid gold" with all its many uses and benefits;
Bee Pollen Granules, Propolis and Royal Jelly are additional products that are readily available in Health Food Shops. The bees collect pollen from the flowers & this is highly nutritious & acts as the main nutrient source for the bees and their only source of protein. For this reason alone, I like to think that the bees welfare is seriously considered when harvesting any product from their hive;  Bee Pollen Granules, Propolis and Royal Jelly are found on our shelves & are considered amazing health products; propolis is made when the bees collect plant resins which they add to beeswax and a little honey & enzymes, it protects the hive from disease and has strong antibiotic properties; Bees Pollen is considered Nature's Multi Vitamin with enzymes, amino acids, folates and minerals, and is  highly prized in many circles as a natural health giving solution for many ailments.
For those of you who follow a purest Vegan diet, then honey will not be for you, but from this post, I hope those who enjoy honey, may be a little more interested in who you purchase it from.....farmer's markets can tell their own story & it is usually possible to access the integrity of the product you are buying & the treatment of any animal or creature on their farm in the process.
FOR HEALING
I have often used honey for scrapes and cuts or to soothe a small burn. It has natural antimicrobial properties, so can act like an antibiotic cream with superior antiseptic and healing qualities. Manuka Honey is well known for knocking out the antibiotic-resistant MSRA bacteria. I remember many years ago my father-in-law had a nasty ulcer on his leg which was not healing and Manuka Honey came to the rescue.
Most of us would have had our mothers bring out the lemon & honey for coughs, sore throats & colds as children, some think a tablespoon of raw honey in some warm water is as effective as cough mixture in calming down nagging coughing fits.
FOR PARASITES
If any of you have backpacked, particularly through Asian Countries, you have probably taken some honey & apple cider vinegar along with you, to mix in some purified water each day, to keep parasites at bay.This little mix is fabulous for destroying these intruders!
AS A BEAUTY TREATMENT
Honey naturally draws moisture to the skin and there are numerous recipes that hydrate and moisturize dry areas; for elbows; simply leave some honey on them for 30 mins & wash off, the result will surprise you. I like to use it as a facial too, add some mashed up avocado to some honey & relax with a blend of this on your face! A bit sticky & messy but your face & skin will love it!
Hair responds well to a teaspoon of honey in some warm water as a rinse after shampooing. Those frizzy parched locks and unruly hair is given a glossy finish.
PRODUCTS GALORE
Beeswax Candles, aren't they wonderful and such an array to choose from these days. I have even seen Beeswax Furniture Polish which I can imagine would be excellent for those precious old pieces.
REMEMBER PETER RABBIT
With his chamomile tea & a teaspoon of honey before bedtime..... definitely a recipe for a good nights sleep!

What a gift these tiny creatures bring to our World. Without them we would starve to death in a short period of time, as they are also responsible for our crops producing food. They fly from bush & tree to bush & tree pollinating as they go so that fruit & vege can develop after flowering; many farmers lease large numbers of hives for their orchards for this very purpose when the trees are in flower, we saw this being reported in the almond orchards this last year in Australia; bees are becoming less in number world wide due to disease outbreaks in some Countries and this could pose a serious threat to food production if these issues are not addressed. It is refreshing to see Community Groups honoring these beautiful little creatures & including a hive or two in many Community Gardens, within our Cities. They seem to adapt to most situations & continue their busy lives working not just for their own survival, but for ours too. Thank You to our Bees!