| Beekeeping is an ancient activity. There is | | | | eye diseases, athlete's foot and fungal diseases, |
| evidence from rock paintings that suggests | | | | upset stomachs, constipation and diarrhea, |
| beekeeping was happening as early as 13.000 BC. | | | | cardiovascular disease and cancer. It is also |
| The ancient Egyptians were excellent beekeepers, | | | | effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such |
| as were the Greeks. | | | | as salmonella, and H. pylori, which cause stomach |
| Honey is produced as food by the honeybees to | | | | ulcers. |
| sustain them during the winter months. The bees | | | | Honey is used extensively in the cosmetics |
| take nectar from flowers, take it to the hive, | | | | industry in moisturizers, lotions, facial creams and |
| and, by concentrating it, make honey. It is stored | | | | bath and shower products. It is an anti-irritant, |
| within the hive on structures called combs. | | | | making it suitable for sensitive-skin and baby |
| The flavour, aroma and colour of honey differ | | | | products. Honey is a natural humectant, which |
| depending on the flowers from which the bee | | | | means it both attracts and retains moisture. Many |
| removed the nectar. Climate, humidity and altitude | | | | hair care products include honey in their basic |
| also have an affect on the characteristics of | | | | ingredients. |
| honey. Clear honey has a weak flavour and | | | | There are some downsides to honey. |
| aroma. Dark honey is rich in proteins and minerals. | | | | Commercially processed honey is filtered and |
| Common flavours of honey include orange | | | | contains few allergens. Raw honey, on the other |
| blossom, tupelo, buckwheat, clover, blackberry, | | | | hand, retains a greater amount of pollens and |
| and blueberry. In Australia, the most common | | | | may cause a reaction in people who are allergic to |
| honey comes from eucalyptus trees, such as red | | | | pollen. The reactions are usually small, but severe |
| gum, yellow gum and stringybark. Other countries | | | | reactions, although rare, have occurred. |
| are also noted for their honey, including | | | | There are also several types of honey which are |
| Tasmanian leatherwood honey, Greek wild thyme | | | | toxic to humans. Bees can produce "Mad Honey" |
| honey, and French lavender and acacia honey. | | | | from rhododendrons, mountain laurels and azalea |
| There are three forms of honey, liquid, partially | | | | flowers. The nectar of these plants sometimes |
| crystallized and granulated. Honey can be used as | | | | contains grayanotoxin, which is poisonous to |
| a food, preservative, or medicine. As a food, | | | | humans but harmless to bees. Toxic honey also |
| honey is rich in fructose, sucrose and glucose, | | | | results when bees gather honeydew produced by |
| making it a natural source of energy. Its | | | | vine hopper insects feeding on the tutu plant in |
| antioxidant properties make it ideal as a | | | | New Zealand. This introduces poisonous tutin into |
| preservative in foods, including meat, poultry and | | | | the honey and as little as one teaspoon of this |
| pastry. For about 4,000 years, honey has been | | | | can produce severe effects or death in humans. |
| used as a medicine. The ancient Egyptians used it | | | | To reduce the risk of tutin poisoning, New Zealand |
| for the treatment of wounds. Today it is also | | | | beekeepers are required to closely monitor tutu, |
| used to treat burns and skin ulcers. As a dressing | | | | vine hopper, and foraging conditions within three |
| on wounds, it provides a moist healing | | | | kilometers of their bee hives. |
| environment. Honey rapidly clears infection and | | | | In addition, honey isn't for everybody. It contains |
| reduces inflammation. Honey kills bacteria and | | | | Clostridium botulinum spores which cause botulism. |
| prevents yeast infections because neither can | | | | While adults and children can safely digest the |
| survive in its low moisture content. Thus wounds | | | | spores without harm, babies under one year of |
| are protected from infections and they heal | | | | age cannot. They are susceptible to infant |
| quicker, making skin grafting unnecessary. | | | | botulism, because their gastrointestinal tracts are |
| Honey diluted with water has been used to treat | | | | not fully working. |
| sore throats and coughs, inflammations, some | | | | |