What is Mad Honey?

For thousands of years, humans have been slurping honey out of jars and chowing down on crisp, sweet honeycombs. Where would humanity be without the humble honeybee? Probably extinct. There’s a lot more to this sticky, sweet treat than meets the eye, especially when it comes to mad honey. But wait a second – what is mad honey? How does it affect the body, and is it safe to use? Below, we dive into the answers to these questions and more. 

What is Mad Honey?

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Mad honey isn’t like the honey you’ll find on grocery store shelves. It’s different from natural honey because it contains toxins, specifically grayanotoxins. These chemicals come from plants in the Rhododendron genus, which includes several flowering species like R. luteum, R. flavum, and R. simsii, among others.

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Remember that basic honey is a natural food that’s produced from plant nectar and honeydew by bees. Its composition varies depending on all kinds of factors, including honeybee species, region, climate, and more.

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There’s a good reason that honey is so popular: it’s loaded with unique properties, and its biological activities make it a powerful ally. Honey is known for anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and antioxidant properties that help it promote general health and wellness. 

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Now, back to so-called “mad honey,” which received its name due to its intoxicating effects. Rhododendron flowers produce a potent neurotoxin that can affect the heart, nerves, and respiratory system. When bees collect nectar or pollen that contains grayanotoxin, they spread it to their honey. The result is a strong, bitter red honey that’s famous for its sharp scent and ability to create trippy high. 

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While researchers are still learning about mad honey and all of its properties, we do know that its use is nothing new. Reports of mad honey poisoning date all the way back to Xenophon, an Athenian author and military commander who wrote of a “disease” afflicting his men as they retreated from the Persians on the coast of the Black Sea.

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He observed the effects of mad honey ingestion, noting that “... those who had eaten a little [honey] were like people exceedingly drunk,” while those who had eaten large amounts “seemed like crazy, or even in some cases, dying men….” But, as Xenophon continues, “... on the next day, however, no one had died, and at approximately the same hour as they had eaten the honey began to come to their senses…” 

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Mad honey has even been used as a weapon. In 67 BCE, King Mithridates IV relied on mad honey to target the troops of Pompey the Great. As Mithridates’ Greeks retreated from Pompey, they were ordered to lay pots of honey as they made a tactical withdrawal. Upon encountering the honey, the Roman soldiers engorged themselves until they were unable to move, making them easy targets for the enemy. 

Where is mad honey from?

What we know today as mad honey, or honey containing grayanotoxins, typically comes from Nepal, Turkey, or Korea. “Mad honey disease” and cases of it are mostly restricted to the Black Sea region, though modern transportation has spread reports of mad honey intoxication worldwide. 

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It’s safe to say, though, that when it comes to mad honey, Nepal is the place to be. Many people travel to Nepal specifically to source mad honey. 

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Much of the mad honey on the market comes from Nepal because rhododendron flowers naturally grow there in abundance. Plus, mad honey has been traditionally used by local Gurung and Kilung peoples for medical and therapeutic benefits.

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In Nepal, honey hunters face daunting mountain peaks and scale their ridges to collect nectar from Himalayan giant honeybee nests. These “mad honey bees” often forage on rhododendron plants, meaning their honey is a reliable source of grayanotoxins. 

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Throughout Nepal and parts of Turkey, mad honey is deliberately produced. A few spoonfuls of these products are enough to induce psychotropic sensations and alter your perception.

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Related Reading: Psychoactive vs. Psychotropic

How Does Mad Honey Work?

Mad honey affects the heart, nerves, and respiratory system due to the grayanotoxin inside. Grayanotoxin acts on sodium ion channels in cells throughout the body. These channels allow small amounts of sodium to enter cells, which generates an electrical charge that plays a key role in cell contraction and excitation.

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But when grayanotoxin enters the mix, it attaches to these channels and interferes with how they send signals. When grayanotoxin binds to channels in your muscles and nerves, it keeps them open, which disrupts their normal functioning. Put simply, grayanotoxin blocks sodium ion channels from working properly, affecting cell excitability and activity.

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The result is changes like a slowed heart rate, lowered blood pressure, and changes in breathing. The body metabolizes (breaks down) and excretes grayanotoxin within just 24 hours, which means symptoms of grayanotoxin intoxication last no more than a day. 

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So, does mad honey make you high? Is mad honey a drug? Yes, mad honey can indeed cause a psychotropic “high” that affects how you think and feel. You can also consider mad honey a “drug” since it has an active component that alters bodily functions. 

What is mad honey used for?

Throughout its role in human history, mad honey has been used as an aphrodisiac (sexual stimulant) and alternative therapy for a range of conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, pain, and even the common cold.

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Historically, middle-aged men have been the biggest users of mad honey. Most reports of mad honey intoxication refer to males aged 40-60 who were seeking mad honey to use as a sexual stimulant. However, in recent years, mad honey has hit more store shelves than ever, expanding its base of fans to people from all walks of life (and making other use cases more popular). 

Mad Honey Effects, Benefits & Risks

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Clearly, mad honey has its place in human culture and history. But just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s necessarily “safe” or without risk. The effects of mad honey aren’t always easy to predict; the toxins inside aren’t spread homogeneously through honey. That means that no two doses of pure mad honey are guaranteed to have the same amount of toxin.

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Likewise, the level of intoxication a person experiences depends not only on the amount of mad honey they ingest but also on the grayanotoxin concentration in that particular batch of honey. The season in which the honey was produced can also make a difference.

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All of this is to say that it’s important to understand both the effects and risks of mad honey consumption so that you can make informed decisions about your own use. 

Mad Honey Effects & Potential Benefits

The jury is still out on how, exactly, mad honey makes people feel. Many users report a slow, dreamlike high that feels like a head or body buzz not too dissimilar from what you’d experience with cannabis. A sense of euphoria and relaxation is also common, and some people report minor visual hallucinations or distortions. 

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While more research into the benefits of mad honey is definitely needed, anecdotal evidence suggests that mad honey can help users by:

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• Promoting relaxation and freeing you from daily stressors
• Creating a feeling of euphoria that boosts moods and wards off bad vibes
• Supporting restful sleep and good sleep quality, which may in turn boost energy levels and overall wellness
• Bringing on a spike in creativity and a pleasant, dreamlike high that’s great for getting artistic

Mad Honey Side Effects

Mad honey is poisonous, plain and simple. But poisonous doesn’t always mean inherently harmful or lethal. We humans consume many other poisonous substances – like Amanita muscaria – and psychoactive compounds – like THC – that are actually designed to protect plants. 

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So, as is true for any other poisonous or toxic substance, mad honey comes with side effects and potential health risks that you should not ignore. Some of the most common side effects of mad honey include:

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• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Lightheadedness or feeling faint
• General weakness or inability to stand
• Vertigo
• Headache
• Sweating or excessive perspiration
• Hypersalivation
• Blurred vision
• In severe cases, hallucinations, coma, or life-threatening symptoms like bradycardia (extremely low pulse) may occur

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Fortunately, the prognosis for even the most severe cases of intoxication is very good; mad honey is not associated with any fatalities in modern medical literature. Fatalities may be very rare, but excessive mad honey ingestion can still cause damage to your heart and respiratory system or nerves. 

Is Mad Honey Legal?

As of 2024, no state in the US has language prohibiting the sale or use of mad honey in its legislation. However, this could potentially change over time as mad honey becomes more popular. It’s always best to double-check with your state’s laws before you purchase something like mad honey so you understand any limitations that might apply. 

Tips for Using Mad Honey Safely

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Ready to give mad honey a try? Keep these essential tips in mind to keep yourself safe and happy.

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• Start small. Begin with the lowest possible dose, then work your way up as needed to reach an ideal level for your body. This will help you avoid overdoing it and causing unwanted side effects.

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• Don’t trip alone. Let someone know that you plan to embark on a trip before you get started. This can give you peace of mind during the experience, as you’ll know that you have someone to turn to if you need some help or begin to experience a bad trip. It also ensures that someone can step in if you do experience side effects.

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• Talk to your doctor. It’s always a good idea to check in with your doctor before you start using any supplement or new substance, including mad honey, to assess your individual risks. 

Try Mad Honey & Other Intriguing Finds at Green Dragon 

When it’s time to buy mad honey products, look no further than The Green Dragon CBD. We’re your go-to source for natural wellness products that you can count on. We partner with reliable, established brands so you can get great deals on the items you want most. 

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Shop our mad honey products to get started, or reach out to our team for a free consultation. We’re here to help you find the right goodies for your lifestyle, whether they’re trippy, therapeutic, or both!