Honey A Sweet Medicine | Ferhat Ozturk | TEDxSST Corpus Chirsti Youth

Key Concepts

Honey bees, honey as medicine, honey composition (sugars, enzymes, phytochemicals), honey color variations, nectar collection, bee regurgitation (not vomit), honey's biological activity, local honey, Manuka honey, acne treatment, diarrhea/constipation relief, stomach ulcer treatment, comb honey, honey preservation, honey's medicinal properties, importance of honey bees.

Honey Bees and Their Importance

Honey bees are crucial for sustainable human life because they have been preparing the earth for our existence for 103 million years. Without them, we would lose approximately 75% of our food supply, including fruits, cereals, coffee, tea, and even cotton-based clothing. Honey bees are the only insects that provide us with food, specifically honey.

Honey as Medicine: A Historical Perspective

Honey has been used as medicine for thousands of years by various civilizations, including Egyptians, Sumerians, Hittites, Aztecs, Mayans, Chinese, Indians, Turks, Arabs, and Persians. Prominent figures in medicine and pharmacy, such as Hippocrates, Galen, and Avicenna, frequently used honey in their prescriptions, particularly for wound healing. Honey is considered the ultimate wound-healing agent.

Honey Composition and Enzymes

Honey is primarily composed of sugar (84%), mainly glucose and fructose, with smaller amounts of sucrose and maltose, and up to 13 different sugars. However, honey is a "living food" containing enzymes like glucose oxidase, diastase, and catalase. These enzymes are crucial for honey's medicinal value. Enzymes are proteins and are vulnerable to heat, so honey should not be added to very hot liquids to preserve their activity. If the drink doesn't burn your mouth, it won't burn the honey.

Honey Color and Phytochemicals

Honey color varies from water white to dark amber, depending on the phytochemicals present. Honey bees collect nectar from flowers, which contains phytochemicals (phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids) that contribute to the honey's medicinal properties. These phytochemicals are beneficial for both honeybee and human health.

Bee Regurgitation vs. Vomiting

Honey is made from nectar that bees regurgitate, but this is not the same as vomiting. Bees have a one-way valve that prevents nectar from mixing with intestinal products. The invertase enzyme converts sucrose (a disaccharide) in nectar into fructose and glucose in honey.

Honey's Biological Activity and Variation

The medicinal properties of honey come from the phytochemicals derived from plants. The composition of honey varies from year to year, even from the same hive, due to changes in forage, landscape, climate, and blooming plants. Darker honeys (amber to dark amber) generally have higher medicinal value than lighter spring honeys.

Practical Applications of Honey

• Acne Treatment: Honey's antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties can help treat acne by killing Cutibacterium acnes and reducing inflammation. Apply honey to the face before bed for 30-45 minutes and then wash it off. Results can be seen within the first week.
• Diarrhea and Constipation: Warm honey drinks can help with constipation, while cold honey drinks can help with diarrhea.
• Stomach Ulcers: Honey can fight Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers.

Manuka Honey and Other Medicinal Honeys

Manuka honey, discovered in the 1990s by Professor Peter Molan, is the most studied medicinal-grade honey. Its antibacterial activities have been extensively researched. The price of Manuka honey has increased significantly due to its proven medicinal benefits. Other medicinal honeys include chestnut honey (Turkey), Tualang honey (Malaysia), Ulmo honey (Chile), Mad honey (Turkey), oak honey (Balkans), and buckwheat honey (US). Buckwheat honey has a distinct taste and smell and is considered more of a medicine than a food.

Choosing Honey for Medicinal Purposes

For medicinal purposes, it is best to use local honey from local beekeepers. Darker honeys have higher antioxidant and medicinal properties. Comb honey, which is honey sealed in its wax comb, also has additional benefits.

Honey Preservation and Longevity

Honey bees seal honey in comb cells with wax, which allows honey to last for up to 3,000 years. Honey does not spoil due to its high sugar content, acidity, phytochemicals, and hydrogen peroxide activity, which prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Honey found in King Tutankhamun's tomb was still edible after 3,000 years.

Conclusion

The three main takeaways are:

1. Honey is medicine.
2. Not every honey is created equal.
3. Honey bees are the most important organisms on earth for a sustainable human life.