For thousands of years honey has been used as food, medicine and a vehicle to deliver herbs. Based on an ancient cave painting discovered in Spain, honey harvesting goes back as far as 8,000 B.C. The cave art shows a person trying to get honey and the comb from a wild bee nest.
In ancient Egypt honey was highly regarded and used in foods by royalty. It’s believed to be one of nature’s finest gifts in Ayurvedic medicine (an ancient practice native to present day India), in which honey is often used therapeutically. Not only is honey sweet and nutritious, it’s also helpful for the skin . You can use honey in lotions, soaps or even as a face mask!
In western herbalism honey is commonly used as a delivery method for herbs. You can create adaptogenic zoom balls, honey pills or an infused honey to make your herbal medicine a little tastier. It’s no surprise that adding some sweetness to an herbal protocol helps people stick with it.
We’ve created this herbal honey using organic herbs we use in our teas, chamomile and lavender. You can do this easily by getting herbs from your local herb shop, online at Mountain Rose Herbs or by growing your own and drying them. We do not recommend honey for small children under 1 year old, as there are some known safety concerns.
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Chamomile + Lavender Infused Honey
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You can use this flower filled treat in teas, baked goods, yogurt, salad dressing or wherever you dream up! We would suggest using this herbal honey within a year, so it retains its potency, though honey itself is said to have an “eternal shelf life.” Every time you use this sweet and aromatic herbal medicine, be sure to give thanks to the bees who worked hard to create it.
“The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others.” Saint John Chrysostom
For more herbal projects, check out the At Home Section of Plant Power Journal.