Therapeutic Uses of Honey in Ayurveda
Ayurveda promotes the consumption of natural substances or herbs that are believed to contain therapeutic and beneficial properties ideal for maintaining holistic health. One such food substance is honey. And while the benefits of honey is already quite widely known, probably not too many people are aware at the extent of those therapeutic benefits.
Contents of Honey
Honey is characterized by its sweetness of taste with a slight characteristic of the astringent taste in Ayurveda. It is considered as one of the most useful types of food in Ayurvedic diet due to its ability to affect your doshas in numerous ways. It can aggravate your Vata, scrape your Kapha, and regulate your Pitta and Rakta doshas. But what exactly is found in honey that makes it so beneficial?
The most apparent content of honey is that of sugar substances including glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose, sucrose, trissacharides, and other disaccharides. On the other hand, honey is also rich in essential nutrients needed by the body such as protein, vitamins, minerals, fats, natural enzymes, volatilate aromatic properties, and amino acids. It also got some water content to it, which helps in bringing that somewhat liquid form. The presence of these various ingredients is responsible for high medicinal and nutrition value.
Different Types of Honey
Ayurveda describes 8 different types of honeys there are, which are all identified based on the type of bee that collects the honey. Each type are discussed in brief below:
- Pouttika: This is collected by very large bees and are commonly gathered from the nectar of poisonous flowers. While this type of honey is known for its sedative properties and ability to reduce fat, you must be warned that it can increase your vata and include burning sensation on your chest as side effect.
- Bhramara: Like pouttika, this one is also collected by large bees and can be very sticky.
- Kshoudra: This type of honey is naturally light and cold, which helps to dissolve your Kapha. It is collected from medium-sized bees.
- Makshika: For individuals suffering from Vata-Kapha diseases, this type of honey is ideal for you to use. It is a dry and very light kind of honey produced by small honey bees.
- Chatra: This honey is characterized by cold yet heavy nature that is recommended for individuals dealing with gout problems.
- Arghya: This type of honey might benefit your eyes but could put you at risk of developing arthritis.
- Oudalaka: This is a highly recommended type of honey when treating various skin conditions.
- Dala: You can use this to stop dry vomiting.
Therapeutic Applications in Ayurveda
Of all the above types of honey, Makshika is recognized to have the most number of applications in Ayurveda for its various therapeutic and medicinal benefits. Below are some of the therapeutic benefits of honey:
- The sugar content of honey is easily absorbed into your digestive system and turned into energy for your body to use.
- It promotes healing of your tissues.
- It is considered as a natural sedative to address bed wetting disorders.
- It is rich in antioxidants that help to slow down your aging process to maintain a youthful look, while also eliminating harmful toxins off your body.
- Its antibacterial properties to fight the common causes of illnesses and build up your immunity. Furthermore, regular use of honey is also scientifically proven to boost your white blood corpuscles ability to fight disease-causing bacteria.
- Honey is ideal for reversing the effects of poison.
- Honey is beneficial in maintaining good eyesight.
Knowing the wonderful properties of honey, you must incorporate it into your regular Ayurveda diet routine and daily regimen to ensure that you can enjoy its therapeutic benefits.

