TRIBUTE TO HONEY BEES
Food of the ancients: the history of honey
Honey is an embodiment of goodness and several people have written about this supple elixir. According to some ancient archives, Honey and longevity are interconnected. Many Beekeepers around the Po River and Apennine mountains lived over a hundred years as tax records in 76 AD indicated. This has nothing to do with their profession as Beekeepers but everything to do with their consumption of Honey on a regular basis.
This claim to health and longevity is explained through active lymph flow. As far as our body lymph flow is active, the cleansing power of lymph is perpetuated even in our old age. Honey is a great catalyst that keeps our lymph flowing actively.
The ancients have paid profound tribute to Honey. They believe that Honey has strange magical powers and some of them were convinced that Honey was a symbol of purity and eloquent expression. One ancient Egyptian record described how the burial chambers of the Egyptian pharaohs contained alchemically sealed jars of Honey. Thus, Honey was an essential food that would be needed in the hereafter life.
The healing powers of pure honey
Therapeutically, in the ancient Egypt, Honey was used for treatment of wounds, cataract, tuberculosis and burns. Almost all medicines were compounded of honey. This therapeutic use of honey has find application in our modern hospitals in granulating deep wounds.
The ancient Assyria, Greece, Rome, India, China, Persia and Arabia held Honey in high regard because of its dietetic and therapeutic values. Even the middle ages saw the widespread use of honey such that ‘Melizina’ was interchangeably used for ‘Medicina’.
Greater mysteries are gradually being unveiled by modern scientific experiments on Honey but its therapeutic and dietetic powers surpass the revelation made by chemical analysis. However, on a good note, nutritional findings show that Honey is composed of minerals, vitamins, amino acids and lots more.
Honey destroys germs because of its hygroscopicity; that is, the ability to draw moisture from anything in contact with it. Germs just like any other living organism cannot live without moisture. It is only a few germs that can thrive in Honey after 40 days! This limitless ability of Honey to draw moisture from anything is extended to non-living things like metal, stone and glass. Researches done by the USA and Canada’s departments of agriculture over several decades confirmed that Honey kills germs by its osmotic ability.
Honey promotes haemoglobin quantity and quality, superior vivacity, body growth, beneficial weight, healthy skin, good eyes and ears and premium mental status. Honey is good for children over two years and adults of all age brackets. According to another ancient archive, a jar of Honey can sustain the lives of a family of 4 during a war time for 30 days if each member takes a teaspoon of it daily.The kind of Honey that can promote all the above mentioned is pure honey. Pure Honey is undiluted, unboiled and expressed from honey combs. Pure honey crystallizes with months of storage.
The legendary producers of honey: the Bees
With all the aforementioned beautiful views on Honey, many of us forget about its real manufacturer — — the Honey Bees. They become insignificant outside our mentions but the Honey Bees have a lot to teach humanity. Some vegans do not encourage Honey consumption because Honey Bees are often exploited by men especially locals who use fire to burn up these Bees during Honey combs harvest.
Honey Bees dedicate their entire lives to Honey making. This is seen in their intention, movement, honesty, determination, focus, communication, unity, hard-work, team spirit, buzzing, vision and mission. If you study the philosophy and lifestyle of the Honey Bees, you would not only be amazed of their utter sacrifice but you would also be inspired to emulate their dedication and altruism.
The next time you see a bottle of translucent golden Honey on a commercial shelf; the next time you hold a spoonful of Honey to consume; the next time you feel the golden taste of Honey in your month, think of the life-time sacrifice of the Honey Bees and say a word of good-will to all Honey Bees in the world. This is no greater tribute than this.
NB
This article was first published in 2019 by myself on medium and can be accessed here: https://medium.com/@mikhailikpoma/tribute-to-honey-bees-46b651372a32
