Lavender honey - useful properties and contraindications

Spring is a period of awakening of nature, when flowering meadows are full of herbs. Fragrant and healthy lavender has long attracted bees, resulting in healing honey.

This product is valued in countries around the world, namely in England, India, America, France, China, Australia and the CIS. It is used in pharmaceuticals, official and traditional medicine, and cooking. However, lavender honey contains a lot of concentrated components that can harm a certain group of people. It is important to know how to choose and apply this drug for treatment.

Characteristics of Lavender Honey

The product is produced by 3 common varieties of lavender: true narrow-leaved, broadleaf, and also lavender (a hybrid of these 2 varieties).

You also need to understand that honey from a plant is obtained in 2 ways. The first way is to collect directly from honey bees. The second way is to heat any honey with lavender flowers to add flavor. Of course, such a product is less useful and costs much less. Unfortunately, it is often sold in local markets under the guise of "lavender honey."

How to distinguish a natural product from a processed one:

• from lavender honey comes a very delicate, but characteristic aroma of this plant;
• the color is dark golden (after crystallization it becomes cloudy and whitens);
• moderate sweetness of the product; sourness is present;
• dark honey may have a salty taste;
• crystallization is moderate and fine;
• the pollen content in the pure product is up to 20%.

And remember that in our region, lavender apiaries are mainly located in the Caucasus and Crimea, so there is a lower probability of falsification.

Chemical composition

A natural product contains about two hundred active beneficial components. Lavender honey is valuable due to the following components:

• vitamins (especially group B);
• enzymes (glucose oxidase);
• organic acids;
• polysaccharides (fructose, glucose, etc.);
• the remains of bee glue, wax, bee bread;
• plant hormones;
• essential oils;
• camphor;
• flavonoids;
• amino acids (e.g. tyrosine);
• polyphenolic acids (luteolin, naringenin, coffee and gallic);
• Proteins
• resins;
• volatile compounds;
• macro- and microelements.

Beneficial features

The rich composition gives lavender honey a number of healing qualities.

1. It treats skin diseases. Phenolic acids contribute to the healing and regeneration of the dermis with mechanical damage, thermal burns, injuries. Glucose oxidase reacts with the sucrose, due to which hydrogen peroxide, a natural antiseptic, is released on the surface of the wound.
2. Reduces the frequency and strength of seizures. For these purposes, honey from Spanish lavender is used - a wonderful tool to reduce muscle cramps. It can also be used for uterine hypertonicity, menstrual cramps, intestinal colic, headaches and migraines.
3. Prevents oxidation and aging of cells. Polyphenols are antioxidants that extend the life of tissues and internal organs, reduce their wear. They also produce prophylaxis of benign and malignant processes.
4. Kills pathogenic microflora. Raw honey exhibits an antiviral and antifungal effect. It is useful for infectious and colds, hepatitis, candidiasis, tuberculosis and other diseases.
5. Effectively replaces sugar. Lavender honey is introduced into the diet of diabetics, which helps to improve health and satisfy the need for sweets without changing glucose levels.Interestingly, a spoonful of product, eaten on an empty stomach in the morning, reduces the risk of fluctuations in glucose levels throughout the day.
6. Reduces cholesterol. It prevents the formation of cholesterol and atherosclerotic plaques on the vascular walls.
7. Stops the inflammatory process. Vitamins and minerals contribute to the strengthening of immunity, as well as the synthesis of leukocytes, which effectively destroy pathogens.
8. Improves blood circulation. Lavender honey has a positive effect on the structure and quality of blood, stimulates the production of red blood cells and platelets. It also regulates plasma viscosity, which is important for blood coagulation disorders (thrombophlebitis, thrombosis, embolism, varicose veins, heart attack, stroke, etc.).
9. It has a positive effect on the hormonal system. Lavender honey stabilizes the production of thyroid and sex hormones, thereby improving overall well-being, stabilizing the menstrual cycle.

We should also mention the amino acid tyrosine - the main component of lavender honey. This valuable element is indispensable for the work of the brain, contributes to the improvement of memory and concentration, increase productivity.

Tyrosine also has other beneficial properties:

1. With the participation of vitamins and copper, it is split into melanin and estrogen.
2. It stabilizes the psycho-emotional state in depression, panic attacks, irritability, nervousness, hyperactivity.
3. It calms the nervous system, which allows you to achieve the best results in the treatment of insomnia and chronic fatigue.
4. Relieves symptoms in diseases of the nervous system (Alzheimer, Parkinson).

What is dangerous lavender honey

It is known that any honey product is the strongest food and respiratory allergen. If you have a history of allergies to honey, pollen, propolis, bee bread or a medicinal plant, then consult an allergist before using lavender honey. If there is no allergy, then it can occur for the first time if the product is abused. Doctors determined that it is not advisable to consume more than 3 tablespoons of pure lavender honey per day.

Many doctors do not recommend using the product in the first trimester of pregnancy, as well as with its complications, the presence of abortions, miscarriages, and preterm birth. It is believed that some components provoke uterine contractions and can cause bleeding.

Overuse of lavender honey can have side effects:

• dermatitis and skin rashes;
• indigestion, diarrhea;
• drowsiness, lethargy and fatigue;
• exacerbation of diseases of the upper respiratory tract (including asthma, bronchitis, rhinitis, sinusitis).

It is strictly forbidden to use any honey product in case of:

• insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1);
• age up to 3 years;
• individual intolerance;
• diet after surgery and serious illness.

Lavender honey is a fragrant masterpiece of nature, which contributes to the overall rejuvenation of the body, relaxation of the nervous system and strengthening immunity. Of course, the use of the product must be strictly controlled to reduce the likelihood of an allergic or other adverse reaction.

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