History of Honey

Honey seeker depicted on 8000 year old cave painting. At Araña Caves in Spain.

Humans have collected honey for consumption is suspected already started since 8,000 years ago. It is based on the finding of a cave paintings found in Valencia, Spain. The cave paintings depict human activity was gathering wild honey and the honeycomb. While the historical record shows that humans have written about honey since 5,500 years BC.

Bee itself  were making honey perhaps 40 million years before Homo Sapien exist in the earth. 

Meanwhile, archaeologists discovered the remains of the oldest honey aged between 4700-5500 years at Georgia in a tomb. In Georgia in the past,  honey was packed for people's journeys into the afterlife. In ancient Egypt used honey as a sweetener in the process of making cakes and biscuits. The Egyptians also used honey for embalming process. Meanwhile honey to the Romans is the main sugar substitutes. The Romans also used it to heal the wounds of soldiers and energy drinks to help soldiers accomplish their tasks. Meanwhile in China, beekeeping has been started for a long time, since the Spring and Autumn period.

Some cultures believed honey had many practical health uses. It was used as an ointment for rashes and burns, and to help soothe sore throats when no other practices were available.

Honey for Sport and Health

Ancient Greek athletes consumed honey to boost their energy and performance levels during Olympics events as it contains glucose and fructose, known to produce tremendous reserves of glycogen in the liver. (Source) 

More than 2000 years ago, honey has already used by human to increase the state of their body and health. The Olympic Games began over 2,700 years ago in Olympia, in southwest Greece. The Games were part of a religious festival. The Greek Olympics, thought to have begun in 776 BC. So, the history of honey at least started more than 2000 years ago.

Honey is a great natural source of carbohydrates which provide strength and energy to our bodies, honey is known for its effectiveness in instantly boosting the performance, endurance and reduce muscle fatigue. The glucose in honey is absorbed by the body immediately more quick than any other glucose and it gives an immediate energy boost, while the fructose is absorbed more slowly providing sustained energy.

Honey can be a powerful immune system booster too. It's antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties can help improve digestive system and help you stay healthy and fight disease. Honey contains natural antioxidant properties that can destroy biologically destructive chemical agents which have been linked to many diseases such as cancer. It contains an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide which is believed to be the main reason for the antimicrobial activity

One of the better known health benefits of honey is that it is able to help treat sore throats. Professional singers usually use honey to soothe their throats before getting on stage. The Chinese believe sore throat can be cured by taking honey drink. Thanks to its antimicrobial properties, honey not only soothes throats but can also kill certain bacteria that causes the infection.

Honey for a Sore Throat and Cough

"A 2007 study by a Penn State College of Medicine research team found that honey may offer parents an effective and safe alternative to over-the-counter cough medicine. The study found that a small dose of buckwheat honey given before bedtime provided better relief of nighttime cough and sleep difficulty in children than no treatment or dextromethorphan (DM), a cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cold medications." (US National Honey Board).

Honey has been used for centuries in some cultures around the world to treat upper respiratory infection symptoms like cough or sore throat. In Indonesia, honey with lime are used to calming the sore throat.  Honey reputation as a remedy around the world is no doubt.

Honey has well-established antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, which could explain its contributions to wound healing. Honey also soothes on contact, which may help explain its effect on cough as suggested by the World Health Organization. (Penn State College of Medicine research team)

In addition to relieve cough and make sleep more calmly, here are some wonderful benefits of honey.

1. antibiotics
Research shows some skin diseases, such as burns, scratches, surgery's wound, response to the "honey therapy" which applied on the wound. Natural ingredient of honey in the form of hydrogen peroxide produced from the bee enzyme is suspected to work as a natural antibiotic that has the power to heal.

2. reduce itching
The anti-inflammatory in the honey shown to help reduce the itching and irritation from mosquito bites.
 
3. Boost immunity
Honey is rich in polyphenols, an antioxidant that helps protect cells from free radical damage, which can lead to cancer and heart disease.

4. Relieve digestive disorders
In a 2006 study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the researchers concluded that replacing sugar with honey in processed foods will increase in the intestinal microflora.

5. treating acne
According to preliminary studies, Manuka and Kanuka honey types effectively treat acne vulgaris, the skin disorder caused by inflammation and infection of the pilosebaceous follicles on the face, back, or chest.

There is many more about honey, I'll write it in the next post.