Beauty And The Bees

Honey, honey. Not just an ingredient in desserts, this gift from nature offers a plethora of health benefi ts for your bodys largest organ your skin.

- Carrol Baker

Honey is a gift from nature; a symbol of the sweet symbiotic connection between bees and flowering plants. Mankind has extolled the virtues of honey for more than 5000 years. In ancient Spain cave paintings were found of people gathering honey, while in ancient China it was a medicinal remedy for many ailments.

It tastes great drizzled over desserts, soothes sore throats and sweetens tea. Honey has been used for centuries as a food and medicinal source, aiding in everything from hiccups to hepatitis. The humble honey bee has inspired poets, while tales of honey bees have woven their way into children’s books and the heart of folklore. It is said in ancient Egypt that when the sun god Ra cried, his tears turned into honey bees.

Honey is also a natural beauty product. Queen of the Nile Cleopatra is said to have bathed in milk and honey. Madame du Barry, a mistress of King Louis XV of France in the 1700s, used honey as a face mask to beautify her skin. In the Ming Dynasty it was said women combined honey with ground citrus seeds to keep their skin fresh and youthful.

Honey is a versatile, affordable organic product that has a diverse array of natural applications. As a beauty product in the 21st century, honey is found in moisturisers, soaps, lip balms, scrubs, masks, body lotions and more.

Most of the honey we enjoy is produced, of course, by the humble honey bee. It’s no wonder the honey bee has inspired the phrase “busy little bee” — these tiny insects are organised, meticulous and tireless. Worker honey bees carry almost their body weight in nectar, which is passed mouth to mouth from bee to bee, until its moisture content is reduced, which changes it to honey.