Honey Series of Prophetic Medicine
“There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying color wherein is healing for men. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for people who think.” (Soorah Al-Nahl, 16:69)
This heavenly declaration of the Noble Qur’an is enough for the endorsement that there is healing for people in honey. With the passage of time, even doctors are now in agreement that there are many benefits to honey, and a number of experiments and different kinds of research has testified to its advantages. Before proceeding to its qualities, general usage, and consumption in medical science, let’s have a quick overview of its composition.
Composition of Honey
Honey has nineteen 19 vital nutrients that are vibrant and beneficial for the human body. These include:
Proteins: These give energy and help muscles to grow.
Carbohydrates: It contains carbohydrates in the form of sugars that are easy to digest.
Vitamin B1: It is beneficial in cases of nerve paralysis and numbness of the extremities.
Vitamin B2: It is used in the treatment of skin diseases, mouth ulcers, cracked lips, infections, and redness of the eyes.
Vitamin B6: It is used to treat convulsions in children and some skin diseases.
Nascin: Its deficiency in the human body leads to pellagra.
Vitamin H: Its deficiency leads to infertility in both women and men.
Phosphorus: Helps to calm the nerves in cases of psychological and nervous disturbance.
Calcium: Helps children to walk and promote the growth of teeth. It also strengthens the bones.
Iron: strengthens the blood and increases the levels of hemoglobin in its cells, especially in children and convalescents
Natural honey also contains Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Chlorine, Magnesium, Copper Sulphur, and some other traces. So here, we can say that honey has a big number of the essential nutrients and minerals that are required by the human body on a daily basis. Even some of us pay a lot of money for these nutrients in the shape of supplements. You cannot find a better substitute for natural honey in any regard.
Wondered, how honey is so rich in nutrients? It is all because of the bees who made it. The bee, which produces delicious honey, does not produce it until after it has moved among flowers and plants, which produce good nectar and beautiful fragrances, and it keeps away from all poisonous plants. The bee works hard to collect nectar and keeps away from filth. It has a system and a kind of self-pride.
After the bee has sucked the nectar from the flower, it pulls out its tongue while returning to the hive, to expose it to the rays of the sun, which helps to vaporize the water from it and concentrate the nectar. When the bee reaches the hive, it begins the process of making honey. It discharges enzymes in its saliva, which turn it from sucrose to laevulose and dextrose.
Thus, it saves man the task of digesting these sugars, as they are already digested in honey. That may not be so important for healthy individuals who are able to digest sugar easily, but it is very important for those who are sick, weak, or convalescing because it is more easily digested and more rapidly absorbed by the body. The bee also performs another process that is more important, namely preserving the vitamins in honey and preventing them from being thinned. One bee produces almost 10 g of honey each day; this requires it to fly back and forth 60 times. Producing 1 kg of honey requires approximately 300 bees to make 40 trips.
Health Benefits of Honey
Regardless of the fact that honey has a high level of sugar, studies have shown a great difference between normal sugar and honey in nutrition. Sugar that is extracted from honey does not cause fermentation or the growth of germs, hence children who are treated with honey have less need for antibiotics than those who do not use it.
Therefore, it is clear that honey is one of the best medicines for treating stomach pain and cases of severe diarrhea. It is easily digested and quickly absorbed, hence the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) told that man to give his brother honey to drink and to carry on giving more doses of it until he was healed by the will of Allah (SWT).
Honey as an Antibiotic
Dr. Sackett, a germ specialist and researcher in the Colorado Agricultural College carried out tests to find out the efficiency of honey against germs. He put germs that cause different diseases in test jars of pure honey, and he found that all the germs died including the germs that cause typhus, which died after 48 hours; the germs that cause typhoid fever, which died after 24 hours; and the germs that cause dysentery, which died completely after 10 hours. It has also been found to work as an antibiotic when used topically on wounds and burns.
Anaemia and Rickets in Breastfed Infants
Doctors advise giving the child a spoonful of honey every day, beginning in the fourth month, by adding it to milk. This will also minimize the risk of deficiency in iron and calcium in the mother’s milk.
Bedwetting
The child who is suffering from this problem, which is usually due to psychological or nervous causes, is to be given a small spoon of honey just before bed, which will have a positive effect in relaxing his nervous system, which will help the bladder to relax and expand while he is sleep; the amount of sugar in honey also absorbs water from his body.
Treating Stomach and Duodenal Ulcers
Honey is alkaline in nature, it reduces the acidity of the stomach and takes away the pain of ulcers. It also reduces the vomiting and stomachache that result from ulcers. In order for the remedy to be effective, it must be taken 1 to 2 hours before food by mixing it in warm water.
Remedy for Colds, Flues, and Throat Infections
Honey may be inhaled after making a solution composed of 10 percent honey in water. Alternatively, it may be inhaled for five minutes to treat flu, throat infections and coughs.
Treating Chronic Liver Infection
Honey increases the liver’s store of glycogen by increasing the glucose in the blood, thus helping the liver to perform its functions and reduce its burden.
Healing Eye Infections
This is done by using cream of honey and sulphonamides (with a ratio of 3% sulphonamides) and applying it to the affected eye several times a day.
Undoubtedly, the healing effect of honey on diseases of the surface of the eye is astounding and calls for a great deal of pondering and points to the power of Allah, the Almighty, may He be Glorified and Exalted, as Allah has not created it in vain.
Studies have shown that applying pure local honey to the lower conjunctiva led to a temporary burning sensation in the eye and caused the eye to water accompanied by redness in the eye, but this quickly disappeared.
Honey in Cosmetic Skin Preparations
The mixture that contains honey, lemon, and glycerin is considered one of the best ancient medical prescriptions for treating cracks and roughness in the skin, infected lips cracked lips, and as a remedy for skin spots and sunburn.
Treatment of Muscle Spasms
Honey may be used as a remedy for muscle spasms resulting from any sports activity and offers similar benefits for the muscles of the face and eyelid. These may be relieved by taking a large spoonful of honey after every meal for three days.
In order for honey to have its healing effect it requires some time. The length of this time may vary from one patient to another. All we need is pure intention and faith in the words of Allah (SWT) and in the hadith of our Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) while taking honey as a remedy. There are many other health benefits mentioned in books of At-Tib -e-Nabvi, the most authentic of them which is published by Darussalam Publishers is named, “Islamic Medicine”. It is a must to have a book in your home for such home remedies and health tips.
