HONEY

Honey and bees have extraordinary privileges that are listed in a separate surah in the Qur'an. Study scientifically the efficacy of honey has also been investigated by the leading Muslim scientists in the golden era of Islam, namely Ibnu Sinna (890-1037 AD). The father of medical world and the great Muslim thinkers in the 10^th century AD was registered as a doctor to review the efficacy of honey in terms of health and medicine.

During this time, people are more familiar honey bee products are most popular and efficacious in overcoming various ailments. However, if we take the wisdom of Surah an-Nahl verse 69, we will know bee products that can be used as medicine is not limited to the honey. Bee products other than honey may be in the form of royal jelly, pollen (bee pollen) and bee propolis. As the word of Allah in the Qur'an Surah An-Nahl verse 69:

"Then eat from every (kind of) fruit and travel the paths of your Lord, which have been made easy (for you). From the belly of bees came out drink variety of colors, in which there is a cure for human medicine. Verily in this is truly there are signs of the greatness of God for those who reflect. "[QS. An-Nahl: 69]

Citing a letter An-Nahl verse 69 above, it is explained that the material can be used as a cure for humans is the material out of the belly of bees with a variety of colors. In that paragraph also does not state specific drugs to specific disease and facts on the ground prove that various diseases can be cured through bee products, especially propolis bees.

In the Qur'an clearly explained how bees commanded by God to make a nest by taking food (sap) from various types of plants to be used as honey and other bee products, including propolis as a cure for various diseases. Bees are indeed privileged creature, he is a creature of Allah the benefit and enjoyment for mankind.

Honey is a viscous fluid produced by bees or other insects from the nectar of flowers, resembling syrup but the resulting flavor is sweeter honey. The sweet taste is present because there is substance mono saccharides, glucose and fructose which they also equally provide sweetness in sugar.

Most of the content of honey is sugar and the amount of vitamin or mineral little more. There are also several other compounds that are considered as an antioxidant such as chrysin, pinobanksin, catalase and vitamin C. Because few water activities make the microorganisms can not be grown in the liquid honey.

Color and type of honey produced by bees depends on the source of nectar. Therefore, in every honey is no difference in taste, aroma, and efficacy. It also depends on the components contained in the plant which is the source of nectar.

Estimating Quality Of Honey

High-quality honey usually has a very high viscosity. Thus, you are advised to buy honey that is not watered. Additionally, you can not choose the honey is bubbly. Froth that of the honey show that the honey has undergone fermentation. So the quality is very low.

The assumption in society that honey is filled in bottles and burst when it is closed is a wrong assumption. Honey that has erupted that has undergone fermentation, because it contains a lot of carbon dioxide (CO₂).

There is also a belief in society that measures high-quality honey by means of using lighters. It could be a match dipped in honey can quickly burn because honey has been contained alcohol. Measuring honey ants could not be guaranteed. Honey that tastes already sour, will not be visited by ants.

In addition, to obtain high-quality honey, you have to taste it. When the already sour taste of honey, then the quality is very low. Besides has undergone fermentation, the honey has also become vinegar.

The quality of honey is determined moisture content, sugar, and hidroksimetilfulfurat (HMF). Based on the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) Honey No. 012 545 In 1994, the water content of the honey contained a maximum of 22 percent weight per weight. Even then still fairly high, because the standard FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the world) the default is 20 percent.

Honey contains high moisture content will be quickly degraded quality because it is very easy to ferment. Honey is an ingredient that is hidroskopik. Ie, materials that strongly absorb water. If the honey is left open, then the honey will draw water from the air.

High-quality honey should also contain sucrose sugar that is not too high. Sucrose concentration in honey is based on ISO standards, should not be more than 10 percent.

Sucrose concentration on results from honey that harvested young or cooked so harvested. It resulted in the invertase enzyme that of the honey off. In fact, this invertase enzyme whose function is to convert sugar into mono saccharide long chain.

Benefits of Honey

Honey is a healing gift of God to mankind. Modern science has proved that honey has a value or benefit of exceptional treatment. Honey can eliminate harmful substances that may have been deposited in the blood vessels and intestines. Honey is very useful when used as an ointment. Honey also has a wide variety of benefits when consumed and mixed with a drink. Honey has been proven to be very useful for parents in maintaining stamina. Honey can boost the immune system and is able to fight the disease, the honey helps to remove phlegm from coughing when your body is suffering from a cold. Honey is very nutritious and soften the bowel when taken regularly.

Honey helps cleanse the liver and aids in the production of urine. Honey mixed with warm water half an hour before bed will help you to sleep more comfortably.

Give 1 drop of honey in each eye in the morning and before bedtime, will lubricate your eyes, preventing eye infections, improving eyesight and, insya Allah, to protect your eyes from vision loss.

Honey, when mixed with a little oil habbatussaudda and dropped into the eye, can cure patients with cataract thus 70%. One drop in each eye before going to bed is enough. In Indonesia, this information is known by many scholars. If the shed three drops of this mixture on the chicken livestock drinking water for you, then you will find chickens be healthier than other normal chicken, less fat, more savory taste and in many cases, the chickens more quickly recover from influenza. Subhanallah

Honey is an excellent preservative. Fruit and even meat that has been dipped in honey will stay fresh for a few months at a time. Even the bodies were smeared with honey can be stored longer. Honey is several thousand years old were found in Egyptian tombs looks and even feels fresh. Honey has anti-decay properties of exceptional. Honey will kill the lice in the hair and even lice eggs, but on the other hand, can make hair more beautiful and softer as well as helping to grow faster.

If lick of honey on an empty stomach it will help rid the body of mucus and phlegm. Honey will eliminate harmful substances and mixtures of the stomach. It also has a similar effect on the kidneys and liver. In addition to the drug content and nutrient present in honey, there are additional benefits that God has given to us is a substance of food to taste very delicious, refreshing drinks, and sweeteners are very good for consumption together tea instead of sugar who have gone through the processes that harm. The ancient people rely on their honey as the primary sweetener. Sugar found in modern times along with a variety of negative health problems associated with eating too much refined white sugar.

Benefits of honey very much at all, other than to the health of honey is also beneficial for a variety of diseases and other complaints related to the human body. Here are the benefits of honey for human health.

1.   Reduce the Symptoms of Allergies and Asthma. Honey is an anti-inflammatory agent which is a natural remedy to reduce symptoms of allergies and asthma. Honey in the body very effectively handle sneezing caused by allergies to an object.

2.  Prevent Bacteria. Honey is also an anti-bacterial agent that protects the body from bacterial infections that cause disease, when used to treat burns can naturally protect against bacteria. In addition, it also handles the scars from insect bites, such as bees.

3.   Lose Weight. In honey there are three compounds that are needed by the body, namely vitamins, minerals and amino acids. These three natural ingredients served as a controller of weight (if a high-derived and vice versa) so as to make you free from obesity.

4.   Cough and Sore Throat. To cure unremitting cough accompanied by intense itching in the throat you can make tea with honey mixed with lemon and warm water. After tea do not forget to drink water in order to compound the creator of sweetness in the honey and lemon are not left behind in the throat.

5.  Maintain Digestive Function. Regularly drink one glass of milk with the addition of two tablespoons of forest honey is very good for maintaining gastrointestinal function, especially if you drink before bedtime.

6.   Providing Energy Supplement. If the body feels tired because the work is quite strenuous, at intermission honey drink a cup of tea without sugar. Honey is an additional energy supply because in it there are quite a lot of carbohydrate content. If you are an athlete, would often move and often experience fatigue. Natural glucose in honey is also providing instant energy boost that increases the body's performance rapidly.

7.  Improve Immune System. The body will be more resistant to bacterial infections that cause disease if every day you provide enough nutrients. To supplement the nutrients are lacking, you can consumption of honey as an ingredient every day required intake your body.

8.   Overcoming Insomnia. Based on a study mixture of cinnamon, ginger and honey are used as herbal tea can soothe the body when the night beset insomnia or sleeplessness.

9.   Maintain Hair Condition. Honey is famous for its health giving properties of hair. You can take care of hair growth, prevent hair loss and other hair problems in the away simply by the consumption of honey every day.

While the following are benefits of honey for beauty:

1.   Lifting Dirt: Make a mask of honey, then leave for 30 minutes to dry, the last rinse your face with warm water using a clean cloth. This treatment can you do after work, in order to remove dirt or dust particles that stick in the face area.

2.   Skin Lightening: Honey mixed with tomatoes can be used as a scrub to whiten skin of the hands and feet. First you create a first honey with tomatoes that have been finely ground, forming a thick paste. Apply on the skin throughout the body (except the face) and rest for 15 minutes so that the content of the two materials work to tighten the skin, then wash and feel the freshness generated.

3.  Eliminate Acne Scars: Honey helps the formation of collagen needed skin to look younger, besides collagen also can eliminate acne scars. You can apply the usual honey to the skin regularly.

4.   Natural Hair Conditioner: Use a mixture of honey and olive oil to rub the hair after shampooing. Leave for an hour stuck to the scalp and hair, then wash with cold water. You will feel the hair shiny and soft in an instant.

5.   Slowing Aging: One tablespoon of honey has been able to delay the degenerative process of your skin. If a dose is added you will help prevent aging by maintaining firmness and skin elasticity.

6.   Create a rubbery skin: If you want to have a smooth and supple skin, try mixing 3 tablespoons of rosewater with 1/4 cup honey. Then apply on the skin for 15 minutes. If you already wipe with clear water.

7.   Moisturize Skin: Honey can reduce the negative impact of skin burned by the sun. If you are a woman who is often assigned to work in the outdoors, it is important to treat the skin with honey after work in order to maintain skin health.

8.   Wash Hair: you can mix your regular shampoo with honey to taste to wash your hair, it's just that you have to let the two materials are attached to the hair for 2 hours so that its contents can treat damaged hair.

9.   Treat Scars On Face: Combine the almond oil, milk powder, lime juice together to make a face mask that can treat scars. Before use, mix the three ingredients you keep in the refrigerator for one week.

10. Overcoming Lips Dry and Cracking: Honey is far better as lip balm for its prowess in moisturizing the lips dry and cracked.

11. Maintaining Skin Softness: Make a scrub of ground peanuts, honey and lemon juice. Rub the skin of the hands and feet for 5 minutes and then wash. Peanuts will be in charge of peeling skin, lemon juice helps to remove dirt and honey will nourish the skin soft.

12. Overcoming Premature Skin Wrinkles: A mixture of onion juice mixed with honey is very powerful to overcome skin wrinkles at a young age.

Caution

-    Better not be given to infants, spores of Clostridium botulinum have been found even in a small percentage of honey in North America. It is not dangerous to adults and children, but the baby could have a serious reaction, especially of less than 1 year. Do not add honey to baby food or used as a sedative to calm a fussy baby.

-    Honey also contains sugar, so do not consume excessive for example, in one bottle. It has a high calorific value and will lead to high sugar levels.

-    Health benefits of honey for a very large, but certainly should be used wisely and do not consume excessive.