What is Mad Honey Used For?

Does it seem like some “new” therapeutic, natural substance gets “discovered” in America, only for everyone to discover that folks in other countries have been using them for thousands of years? Well, better late than never. 

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The substance of our focus in this article is called mad honey, a sweet treat that does a little bit more than flavor up your oatmeal or soothe a sore throat on a balmy winter’s day. So, what is mad honey used for, where does mad honey come from, and why is it becoming so popular in the U.S.? Let’s find out!

First Things First: What is Mad Honey?

Mad honey is a special type of honey—you know, the sweet, viscous liquid with a darkish-yellow tint—that only comes from the nectar of certain flowers. Some types of rhododendrons and other flowers belonging to the Ericaceae family have the special compounds needed to create mad honey.

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Here’s how it works: honey bees fly around and extract nectar from pretty-smelling flowers so they have the energy to continue living (bless ‘em). Plenty of honey bees in Nepal, Turkey, and other areas around the Caucasus Mountains have a habit of targeting flowers that contain grayanotoxins, neurotoxins that produce physiological responses in humans.

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After extracting nectar containing grayanotoxins, these honey bees aren’t just regular honey bees anymore—they’re mad honey bees. They continue on with their regular business by depositing the mad nectar into the mad honeycombs and flapping their wings to remove excess moisture. Once that moisture’s gone, skilled and daring mad honey hunters climb high above the forest floors to scoop up those honeycombs.

Does Mad Honey Make You High?

Yes, consuming mad honey can give you a sensation that feels like you are high. 

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The grayanotoxins in mad honey affect naturally occurring sodium ion channels in your body that help regulate a number of physiological processes through electrical shocks. It’s thought that grayanotoxins cause these sodium ion channels to stay open longer than they normally would, which can excessively stimulate the vagus nerve and the parasympathetic nervous system.  

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Some of the psychological effects of mad honey include:

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• Decreased stress
• Increased sociability
• Giddiness
• Relaxation
• Delirium
• Hallucinations
• Increased sexual performance

Does Mad Honey Have Any Medicinal Properties?

Yes, local populations have used mad honey as medicine for thousands of years. The medicinal properties of mad honey stem from the same physiological effects of the substance. Accordingly, mad honey has been ingested to help people manage symptoms of diabetes, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, and even the common cold.

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Even regular honey you can buy at the grocery stores has a few medicinal properties. Many consumers use honey to help get a good night’s sleep and turbocharge their immune systems. 

Will mad honey show up on a drug test?

Mad honey generally will not show up on any drug tests in employment applications. Even the Department of Defense’s strict 26-panel drug test for active and prospective military personnel does not test for mad honey or grayanotoxins. Because mad honey is legal at the federal level (and in all 50 states), there isn’t much of a reason to test for it in most employment fields.

“Wait a minute,” you might say. “Is mad honey a drug at all?”

Well, yes, mad honey is a drug in the same way that coffee is a drug because it produces physiological effects on humans. That classification places mad honey in the same ballpark as so many other substances—legal, illegal, and legal with a prescription.

Is Mad Honey Dangerous?

Mad honey does present certain health risks, especially when you consume it in large quantities. 

Common physical side effects of mad honey include:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Stomach cramps
• Dangerously low blood pressure
• Low or irregular heart rate
• Blurred or double vision
• Slowed breathing
• Temporary paralysis
• Stupor
• Loss of coordination
• Fainting
• Seizures

In the vast, vast majority of cases of mad honey overconsumption (often called mad honey poisoning or mad honey disease), users do not need medical intervention. Atropine, adrenaline, and intravenous saline infusions are the most commonly used treatments for severe cases of mad honey poisoning. Death due to mad honey consumption has been almost unheard of since the 1800s.

The Honey that Stopped an Army

Time for a little detour into ancient history. 

The year was 67 B.C.E. The Roman Empire, under General Pompey’s command, was trying to expand its territory into Pontus, or modern-day Turkey. Although the Romans had been making steady gains, the Pontic general, Mithridates, had a little trick up his sleeve. Can you guess what the trick was?

That’s right—Mithridates ordered his army to gather up all the mad honey they could find and place them in pots across the area the Romans had been advancing into. The Romans probably should have thought twice about eating the pots of honey their enemy had so enticingly placed, but let’s just say they didn’t live that much longer to regret their actions. 

Mad Honey Interactions with Other Substances

The scientific literature on the pharmacological interactions with mad honey is sparse, but it’s clear that you should not combine it with alcohol. Some side effects, like cognitive impairment and low blood pressure, can be made even worse when these two substances unite. An elderly male even developed nasal bleeding and a pneumonia-like condition after drinking alcohol while on mad honey—two side effects not commonly associated with either substance.

What’s the Best Way to Consume Mad Honey?

The best way to start consuming mad honey is slowly and cautiously. Your tolerance for grayanotoxins might be wildly different from other people’s, so we recommend starting with half a teaspoon, or 2.85 grams. Some users regard one teaspoon as the standard dosage, but everyone is different. Asking your doctor before starting a new drug or substance is the safest practice.

Get Premium, Delicious Mad Honey Products with The Green Dragon

One tricky aspect of buying mad honey is the fact some retailers are not transparent about the amount of grayanotoxins in their products. If you purchase a mad honey product from a disreputable seller, you’re taking a real gamble.

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The Green Dragon CBD has been around for a long time, and we’ve built our reputation on honesty and transparency. Each product contains precise dosing information so you never have to play the guessing game. Take a look at our current mad honey products and see if anything strikes your fancy!

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Our staff is always available to answer any questions you have about our products. Feel free to call us at (636) 220-6960 or send us a message through our website.