The Rhododendron honey is best known by many as Himalayan honey or “mad honey”. As the name suggests, it is made from the nectar of a Rhododendron flower, an evergreen plant mostly found in temperate climates with plenty of mountains. What makes this honey unique is that it possesses hallucinogenic properties, much like those of a strong alcoholic drink; perhaps even more. The reason for this is that the Rododendron blossoms contain chemicals known as grayanotoxins which affects the central nervous system and causes a temporary high along a string of symptoms. It is mainly harvested in the Nepal Mountains in Turkey and a few other spots around the globe.
Along with its psychoactive effects, Rhododendron honey is sought after for its medicinal benefits. Devotees don’t mind splashing up to $166 per pound of it claiming that it is a super medicine that helps the body in a number of ways. Although research is yet to strongly back up these claims, the truth is that people use mad honey as a curative, preventative, and healing solution for various diseases and conditions. These include the following:
1. Digestion
You probably know of the benefits of non-toxic honey to the gut and the body in general. In case you don’t, it enhances a robust immune function and improves digestion. Just because the Himalayan honey contains toxins doesn’t mean it is less of a medicine. It is still equally good for the gut and immune boosting.
2. Hypertension
If you have hypertension, you can treat it using Rhododendron honey; that is if you can stand the taste and the side effects thereof. A study was done on a group of villagers where this honey was used to treat these conditions. The results revealed that eating large doses of the mad honey can result in low blood pressure (hypotension). Therefore, ingesting small amounts of it can significantly bring down the symptoms of blood pressure.
3. Sexual performance
Besides getting high easily, people seek after Himalayan honey because it improves sexual performance. Research is yet to come out clean about this but some people claim that a few doses can enhance the experience-provided the side effects don’t interfere with the business.
It is evident that mad honey could promote both physical and mental wellness and health. Is it worth going this route? Our advice: tread carefully. You can buy Rhododendron honey physically from the Nepal Mountains villagers or source it online. Verifying the quality of the honey when you opt for the latter option can be daunting. So, always do due diligence on the supplier or retailer before making a purchase.
