Table of Contents
Honey Benefits in Unani Medicine:
Honey, called ‘Asal(عسل)’ in Arabic, ‘Madhu(مدہو)’ in Bengali, Madu (مدھ)in Gujrati, Makhi(ماکھی) in Sindhi, ‘Angbeen(انگبیں)’ in Persian, and ‘Shahed(شہد)’ in Urdu and Shahat(شہت) in Punjabi, has been revered since ancient times as a natural source of healing, strength, and sweetness. It is one of the few substances praised both in divine scripture and scientific laboratories.
In the Qur’an, Allah says:
“فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ لِلنَّاسِ”
“In it is healing for mankind.”
(Surah An-Nahl 16:69)
This short phrase alone establishes honey not just as a sweetener but as a sacred medicine, one that has a profound effect on the human body when used rightly.
How Honey Is Made: A Natural Chemical Miracle
Flowers of various plants produce a sweet, fragrant nectar. Honeybees gather this nectar, storing it in a special sac in their body. During flight and within the hive, this nectar undergoes biochemical transformation aided by enzymes inside the bee’s body. The bees then deposit this modified nectar into hexagonal honeycombs, where it continues to mature into the thick golden liquid we know as honey.
This is not just storage—it is alchemical processing in nature, done by the bee through divine programming. Honey is truly a gift of transformation: from flower to bee, from bee to hive, and from hive to health.
Composition and Nutrients in Honey
Modern research confirms that honey contains:
- Vitamins: A, B-complex, and C
- Minerals: Iron, Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium
- Natural sugars: Glucose, Fructose, and Sucrose
- Enzymes: Invertase, diastase, catalase
- Organic acids: Gluconic acid – aids digestion
- Antioxidants: Flavonoids and phenolic compounds
It is not just a sugar syrup—it’s a complete nutritional powerhouse that balances sweetness with therapeutic properties.
Colour, Texture, and Dosage
- Color: Varies from white, golden yellow, to reddish hues depending on floral origin
- Consistency: Thick, sticky, viscous
- Recommended dose: 1 to 3 teaspoons daily (approx. 10–30 grams)
Honey’s temperament: Hot? Or Moist?
In classical Unani medicine, honey is considered hot and dry in temperament. However, its effects don’t align entirely with this definition. Honey is used to treat conditions like:
- Jaundice (Yellow) (which is aggravated by heat) یرقان اصفر
- Patient with urine drops
- Patient of Dysentery
- Patient of Gonorrhea
- Istisqa Zaqi استتسقا زقی
These conditions are generally heat-exacerbated, yet honey improves them. Thus, many expert hakims and physicians consider honey to be more moist-warm(تر گرم مزاج) in action, not excessively hot-dry(گرم خشک) as originally labeled.
In fact, honey increases salih rutubat صالح رطوبات (pure body moisture), which benefits blood quality and tissue repair.
Effects on the Body – Healing From Within
Honey works on multiple systems:
- Nervous system: Acts as a stimulant for brain activity and nerves
- Digestive system: Improves metabolism and nutrient absorption
- Muscular system: Provides clean energy for physical strength
- Respiratory system: Useful in coughs, asthma, pneumonia
- Blood purification: Expels bile
- Anti-inflammatory: Reduces internal and external swelling
- Antiseptic: Heals wounds and prevents infection
- Body fat: Honey can help increase body fat and promote healthy weight gain when consumed regularly in moderation
It also promotes the generation of “rutubat e grazi”(رطوبات غریزی) — life-sustaining bodily fluids — without causing harmful moisture or toxic buildup.
Honey for Infants and Children
Honey is incredibly beneficial for children, especially those who are transitioning from milk to solid food. After mother’s milk, honey is often considered the most suitable and natural nourishment for infants:
- Helps with colic pain, constipation, and loose motions
- Treats cough, cold, and flu
- Boosts immune development and appetite
- Enhances growth and mental development
- Honey helps eliminate intestinal worms in children.
- It is beneficial for treating infantile convulsions (Dabba-e-Atfal).
- Useful in managing pneumonia symptoms in kids.
- Relieves abdominal pain and digestive discomfort
Regular intake in very small quantities—e.g., half a teaspoon morning and evening—is sufficient for children under supervision. Natural Preservative: Honey’s Anti-Rot Power
7+ proven health benefits of desi ghee
Extraordinary properties of honey:
One of the most extraordinary properties of honey is its natural preservation power. Honey doesn’t rot — and it doesn’t let things rot. Unlike other foods, which decay quickly, honey remains intact and uncontaminated for years. In fact:
- If a dead body is immersed in pure honey, it resists decomposition.
- Historical records mention how ancient civilizations used honey to preserve meat and fruits.
- Many herbal preparations (like murabbas and ma‘junat) made with honey don’t spoil for months.
Even flesh can remain unspoiled for three months if immersed in honey — a testament to its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-putrefaction properties.
Wound Healing & External Application
From minor cuts to serious ulcers, honey has been used externally for centuries:
- Prevents infection
- Promotes tissue regeneration
- Acts as a natural antiseptic
- Used in eye disorders, skin burns, and wounds
Modern hospitals and wound clinics in many parts of the world now use medical-grade honey dressings to accelerate healing — especially in diabetic wounds and chronic skin ulcers.
Honey in Alchemy and Traditional Chemistry
Classical chemists and alchemists also held honey in high regard. They observed honey’s transformational nature in material sciences as well:
“If a metallic ash (kushta کشتہ) like that of silver, iron, or gold is mixed with Sahaga, Desi Ghee and honey, it regains its original metallic state.”
Use of Honey in Specific Conditions
Paralysis (Especially Right-Sided)
For patients suffering from right-sided paralysis, honey has been compared to water from the fountain of life (āb-e-ḥayāt). Its restorative power is deeply respected in Unani and traditional systems.
Vomiting (Istiqā)
Giving 1 tola (approx. 12g) of honey in the morning and evening for one month has been recorded to reduce persistent vomiting.
Stomach Health
- Reduces inflammation in the stomach lining
- Improves digestion and balances acids
- Effective for ulcers, gastritis, and abdominal pain
Honey for health: nature’s most powerful medicine backed by science
Herbal Medicines Made with Honey
Some of the finest Unani and herbal products use honey as a base, including:
- Majoon Arad Khurma
- Murabba Harar
- Habbe Jadwar
- Asl-us-Soos (Licorice in Honey)
Why is honey preferred?
Because it not only enhances the effectiveness of herbs but also acts as a natural stabilizer and sweetener. It carries the medicinal properties deep into tissues and preserves them for a longer shelf life.
Beekeeping: From Sunnah to Science
With the growing awareness of honey’s benefits, beekeeping (ʿasal sāzi) has become a valuable industry and even a Sunnah-based livelihood.
In rural areas, particularly in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, training people in modern beekeeping can:
- Promote natural health products
- Generate income and self-sufficiency
- Encourage organic agriculture and biodiversity
Final Thoughts: Honey — A Complete Healing System
Honey is not just a food or medicine — it’s a system of healing. From prophetic medicine to cutting-edge labs, honey has stood the test of time across cultures and disciplines.
It is:
- Nutritious
- Energizing
- Antibacterial
- Anti-inflammatory
- Tissue regenerative
- Immune-boosting
Whether used internally for strengthening the organs or externally for healing wounds, honey is truly Shifā-un-linnās — a divine cure for mankind.
NOTE:
This content is inspired by the classical Unani medical text “Khawas-ul-Mufradat Vol. 3” authored by Hakim Muhammad Yasin (Dunya Pur), focusing on the medicinal and natural benefits of honey according to the principles of Qanoon-e-Mufrad Aza
Keywords :
Honey Benefits in Unani Medicine, Natural healing, Unani medicine, Bee products, Organic honey, Herbal remedies, Benefits of raw honey, Natural immune booster, Children and honey, Honey for digestion, Honey wound healing, Traditional uses of honey.
