Expert explains reasons for ineffectiveness of honey treatment

Despite the over- whelming evidence
substantiating medicinal uses of honey in
the treatment of ailments such as pile, high
blood pressure, asthma and ulcer, and the
willingness by many to appropriate them, a
nutritional expert, Dr. Kayode Akinremi,
stated that a major limitation to the therapy
has always been how to identify pure
honey for the treatment of ailments.
He spoke at a three-day practical workshop,
organised by the Broadcasting Corporation
of Oyo State (BCOS), in collaboration with
EVIC Nutritional & Phytophysiological
Consult, Ibadan, on identification and
utilisation of herbs, pure honey, fruits and
vegetables for good health in Ibadan, Oyo
State.
According to Dr. Akinremi, said only pure
honey could be mixed with other herbs as
stipulated by a medicinal recipe for the
treatment of diseases to achieve the
stipulated curative uses.
According to him, “people should be wary
of consuming just any honey. Many honeys
on sale are adulterated or made from
sugarcane. Pure honey can be identified in
various ways. The odour of pure honey is
far distinct from that which was
adulterated. The taste of pure honey does
not last too long in the mouth unlike the
adulterated or fake honey.
Also, pure honey draws more slowly than
fake ones; has less attraction to ants; is
always cloudy like bee-hives and is a
natural preservative. ”
“Dip a match stick inside pure honey and
allow the stick to dry for a minute or two
before you light that stick. The match stick
will light again if it is a pure honey. Another
easy test is to dip a drop of fake or
adulterated honey on a hot plate. The
reaction is more vigorous than in the case
of pure honey.
“Since pure honey is a preservative and
does not go bad, irrespective of how long it
is stored, if you put a fresh piece of meat or
fish in a cup and pour pure honey on it, it
remains fresh if checked even after 10
days. But, with fake or adulterated honey, it
turns bad within two or three days.
Dr. Akinremi, explaining that pure honey
could either be black, brown or white in
colour, depending on the type of fruits and
vegetables the bees fed on, noted that pure
honey would not dissolve immediately if
added to water, but would sink fast to the
bottom of the container.
The Chief Executive, EVIC Nutritional&
Phytophysiological Consult, Ibadan, warned
against the abuse of honey by diabetics
because of its complex sugar content.
Highlighting how honey could be used in
the treatment of several ailments, Dr.
Akinremi, disclosed that taking tea made
with mistletoe and honey was beneficial to
diabetes patients, noting that applying
twice daily a mixture of charcoal powder
of maize cob and honey to the anus would
relieve anal congestion and the pain
associated with pile.
For individuals with asthma, he advised
them to mix one part of castor oil (or
coconut oil) to five parts of honey and take
one tablespoon of this morning and
evening.
While, a regular intake of a mixture of
honey and pineapple juice soothes ulcer, he
explained that people that experienced
sleeplessness should drink a glass of water
to which was added two tablespoons of
honey before going to bed as a remedy for
sleeplessness. He explained that honey
could help to relax the nerves and ease
tension.
According to him, “men with poor libido
should mix two tablespoons of honey with
four tablespoons of milk and eggs, and
drink the mixture freely thrice daily to
promote sexual powers. Also, a mixture of
honey, grinded kola nut and garlic licked at
regular intervals will relieve the pain from
tonsillitis and later cure it.”
Women that are worried about hair loss or
their hair breaking can also improve the
hair strength with honey. According to him,
such women should warm a mixture of
equal parts of honey and olive oil and rub it
to their hair. This is to be washed away
with warm water after 30 minutes.
In ladies with pimples and other facial
problems, he said that the mixture of
honey, few drops of lime and albumin (the
white part of an egg) could be used as a
face mask for 30 minutes before such is
washed away with warm water.
Other conditions that he highlighted as
treatable with honey therapy included
constipation, obesity, migraine, running
stomach, boils and whitlows, bleeding from
the nose and poisoning.
He pointed out that many plants contain
substances in them that could help prevent
and cure ailments without exception,
stressing that, “these treatments are both
for curative and prevention purposes,
without incantations or rituals. ”
Meanwhile, Dr. Akinremi pointed out that
people with arthritis after applying a hot
water compress on the affected part of the
body, should rub on it a mixture of blended
ginger and garlic.
His prescription for typhoid fever is grinded
fresh red ginger, mango bark/skin and
potash, which should be soaked in water
for about four days.
For healthy living, Dr. Akinremi warned
against obesity, alcohol intake and
excessive intake of fatty foods and salt. He
explained that these were contributory
factors to diseases such as hypertension,
stroke and diabetes.
Unlike the practice of many, he said more
vegetables and fruits should be eaten daily.
In addition, he emphasised an annual
medical checkups and exercises.