The benefits and harms of honey at temperature

Each of us remembers that in early childhood, our grandmothers or even mothers treated us for colds not only with bitter pills, but also with various “popular” recipes. Among them, the most common use of honey with fever, cough, sore throat. How well such methods are justified, and what is the real use of honey, let us consider in more detail.

An increase in the temperature of the whole organism, in medicine this phenomenon is called hyperthermia, can develop for various reasons.Most often, when it comes to diseases, we are talking about the pathological fever of the whole body, since this process is a direct consequence of dangerous and serious changes.

Of course, we can face high temperatures in the summer, when the sun's rays affect our body, conditions of closed and stuffy rooms, and much more. Usually in this situation, we practically do not feel this, since such changes are normal and completely natural.

Another thing - pathological hyperthermia is directly related to the processes of the disease of our body. At the same time, the high temperature is not at all the main danger for us, since it means only one thing - the immunity is trying to cope with the alien organisms on its own.

Let us see why our body’s struggle with foreign bodies is accompanied by a rise in the temperature of the whole body. First of all, it is associated with the entry of toxins into the blood. Such substances are secreted by bacteria and viruses during their activity, but, as a rule, the mere presence of microorganisms is not enough to cause pronounced hyperthermia. This condition can be traced in the first days of the disease, when it is accompanied by a slight chill and a temperature of 37-37.5 degrees.

When the immune system of our body works, then there is an active destruction of all external organisms. In this case, a significant part of their “remains” enters the bloodstream, which leads to general intoxication and, as a result, a significant increase in temperature. Thus, high fever is just a consequence of the disease, or rather, the body’s fight against “strangers”.

Of course, sometimes such a symptom can be endured. However, in some cases, too high body temperature is dangerous. There are quite a lot of means to reduce it, but most of them do not affect the very cause of the disease, so they do not solve the problem, but only temporarily alleviate the condition of the patient. That is why, at the first signs of a rise in temperature, complex means should be used, for example, honey.

For a long time, honey has been considered a very useful product that can cure for many diseases, especially those that are accompanied by fever and fevers. Of course, this is directly related to the unique composition of this substance.

Today it is known that honey contains many useful ingredients.

• Ascorbic acid is one of the most powerful sources of vitamin C, as well as an antioxidant. To experienced doctors, she is known to be the most popular among all available and effective stimulants of the immune system. Ascorbic acid helps speed up the process of destroying microorganisms and removing their toxins in natural ways.
• Vitamins of group B, including B6 and B12. Mostly they contribute to the normalization of the nervous system, but also actively used as a "building material" in the active regeneration or restoration of the body.
• Organic acids and various enzymes that are indispensable. They are rarely found in everyday foods, and honey has a rather large concentration of these substances. They stimulate the production of interferons, thereby improving the immune response, as well as normalize the metabolic processes and the functioning of the glandular organs, so that toxins are released much faster.
• Fructose, glucose and sucrose, which for the human body are pure energy in the form of carbohydrates, necessary for all biochemical processes.
• Folic acid. Very often prescribed by doctors in cases when it comes to recovery after a long illness, blood loss, surgery. Folic acid not only enhances the absorption of iron, but is also necessary for the processes of recovery and regeneration. Its regular use allows to get rid of microorganisms and the consequences of their vital activity much faster and more efficiently.
• Additional components, the exact combination and ratio of which are directly dependent on the grade and quality of honey. These can be phytohormones, flavonoids, minerals, trace elements like magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, iron, selenium.

Honey does not have a purely antipyretic effect.

Due to this, natural honey is the most effective means to combat infectious diseases in the first days of their manifestation.

Natural flower honey, of course, has a unique composition. Most biochemical substances in it are irreplaceable. The main feature of this “sweet medicine” is that it has a very extensive complex effect on the human body.

To date, we know a huge number of useful qualities of natural honey for our health, we list the most important of them.

• Antiseptic effect. It can manifest itself both locally and in general on the human body. Honey, indeed, helps to eliminate most of the toxins produced as a result of the vital activity of pathogenic bacteria, thereby preventing acute inflammatory and purulent processes.
• Antibacterial effect. Honey contains a rather high concentration of organic acids, which lowers the activity of pathogenic microorganisms, inhibits the processes of their reproduction and the production of toxins.
• Anti-inflammatory effect. Natural honey quickly reduces the temperature in both internal and external use. In addition, it affects other factors of inflammatory processes: eliminates swelling, pain, redness.
• Restorative remedy. One of the most valuable qualities of floral honey is its ability to quickly “nourish” a weakened body with all the necessary minerals, trace elements, vitamins and other bioactive components. Due to this, it can be used both as a medicine and for the prevention of diseases, for example, in the winter season.
• Antipyretic effect. The complex properties of honey make it an effective medicine if the temperature reaches 38 or 39 degrees. It quickly activates the work of the glandular organs, contributes to the neutralization and elimination of toxins, normalizes metabolic and regenerative processes, so that the body in the shortest possible time comes to a normal state.
• Improve digestion. In most cases, infectious processes also affect the gastrointestinal tract, which manifests itself in the form of dyspepsia, disorders and pain syndrome. Honey gently restores normal motility of the stomach and intestines, envelops the mucous membrane and eliminates signs of inflammation, has an antiseptic and sedative effect. It also restores normal metabolism.
• Strengthening immunity. We must not forget also that this natural remedy contributes to the normal production of immune cells and increases their activity, due to which the natural protection of the organism improves many times, and diseases pass faster and easier.

Of course, as with any other drug, honey has its own contraindications.

There is an opinion that natural honey does not reduce the temperature, but, on the contrary, raises it. This is a very common misconception, which is due to the fact that many people use such a simple remedy incorrectly, because of which it loses almost all of its healing properties.

If you use honey as a medicine, it is best to apply it inside, although some methods of using honey externally or as a basis for inhalation are also known. It is believed that an adult is 50-150 grams of honey with acute illness of bronchitis, acute respiratory viral infections, laryngitis, tracheitis or other uncomplicated diseases. The daily dosage for children is approximately 50-70 grams. It should be divided reception at least 3-4 times a day.

However, in some cases it is possible to prepare a medicine, for example, from green tea or milk with honey. For this, the third part of the daily requirement must be added to the glass of the drink. However, it is important that the temperature of the liquid does not exceed 60 degrees, and it is better that it be even lower. The fact is that when excessively heated honey loses almost all useful properties.

There are quite a few different recipes using honey. Among them there are also antipyretic drugs that allow you to quickly and effectively bring down the heat in any infectious disease. It is very important to follow all the recommendations for their preparation, because otherwise honey can lose its unique qualities.

One of the most popular recipes is honey with radish. To prepare you need one large black radish and a few teaspoons of honey, which did not have time to crystallize.

• Radish needs to be washed. Do not completely clean, just cut off the top and cut a recess inside.
• In the formed "funnel" pour honey and leave for some time.
• Once the juice begins to appear on the surface, it should be used as a remedy.

There is a slightly different version of this recipe, which allows you to prepare the medicine a little faster. To do this, the radish should be cleaned, cut into very thin slices, strips, or chopped in a blender, and then also wait for the juice to appear.

You can make a very simple, tasty and healthy honey milk. To do this, it is enough to dilute one tablespoon of fresh honey in a glass of warm milk. It is very important that the milk be just warm, not hot, otherwise the medicine will be completely useless.

As well as children and adults can drink a tea drink with the addition of honey:

• Take a tablespoon of dried linden flowers and pour about 200 ml of boiling water;
• wrap a container with linden in a towel and hold it for about 35-40 minutes;
• then you need to strain and cool the drink a little;
• You can add a teaspoon of honey to the finished tea, but it is strongly recommended to use it separately - this way the treatment will be much more effective.
• drink this medicine should be at least three times a day.

Herbal or flower tea in itself is very useful, especially in combination with honey. But you can also add lemon, chopped ginger root, mint, raspberry leaves to tea.

For more information on the treatment of cold and flu with honey, see the following video.