Hour 68 Ayurveda – Food Staples IV

Rock Sugar and Honey

Rock Candy (Mishri)

• Taste & Properties: Rock candy (Mishri) is sweet in taste. It is known for its ability to improve the taste and help cure anorexia.
• Effects on Doshas: It mitigates Vata and Pitta imbalances due to its sweet taste.
• Benefits:
  • Highly beneficial in bleeding disorders, such as nasal bleeding and heavy menstruation.
  • It has cooling properties, making it suitable for those with low digestive power or digestive weakness.

• How to Use Rock Candy:
  • For excess heat imbalance: Mix 10 grams of rock candy in one glass of cow’s milk to help mitigate heat, calm anxiety, and promote better sleep.
  • For heavy periods and burning sensations: This mixture is also effective for heavy menstruation and stomach burning.

Honey (Madhu)

• Taste & Properties: Honey has a sweet taste with an astringent aftertaste. It has dry, light, and hot qualities.
• Effects on Doshas: It helps balance all three doshas, especially Kapha. It is particularly effective in improving Agni (digestive fire) and has cooling and scraping properties.
• Benefits:
  • Improves skin complexion and detoxifies the body by clearing toxins from the body’s channels.
  • Promotes weight loss by aiding fat liquefaction.
  • Heals fractures, and cleanses and heals wounds.
  • Good for vision and effective for respiratory diseases such as cough and cold.
  • Aids in digestion, especially for constipation, by breaking down hard masses and improving digestion.
• Special Properties of Honey:
  • One-year-old honey is considered the best for treating obesity due to its excellent scraping effects, which help in removing excess fat and water retention.
  • New honey is nourishing and can increase blood sugar levels, but it is not suitable for individuals with obesity, PCOS, or hypothyroidism.
• Precautions for Honey Consumption:
  • Honey should not be consumed after heating or with hot foods, as this can lead to the accumulation of toxins.
  • Avoid honey consumption during hot weather or for individuals suffering from high Pitta conditions.
  • Honey and ghee when taken in equal amounts turn into a compound poison, so caution is advised.
• How to Use Honey:
  • For bowel evacuation and fat liquefaction: Mix one teaspoon of honey in lukewarm water (not hot) to aid proper bowel movement and fat reduction.
  • As a substitute for white sugar: Honey can be used as a healthier alternative in desserts.

Conclusion

• Both rock candy and honey are valuable substances in Ayurveda with a range of health benefits. They should be used wisely, taking individual doshic imbalances and conditions into consideration. While rock candy is cooling and beneficial for heat-related imbalances, honey offers a variety of benefits, especially for digestion and skin, but care must be taken in its consumption, especially for certain health conditions.