tincture Archives - Words To Run By

This weekend, my husband and I visited the 2013 Lithopolis Honeyfest a small festival in an even smaller yet wonderfully charming town just southeast of Columbus. The mission of the Honeyfest is to educate visitors about the art and science of apiculture – beekeeping; and to raise awareness of the importance of the honey bee on the pollination of crops, to increase the consumption of honey, and to educate about the beekeeping industry. This event is viewed as a component in preserving apiculture, not just in Ohio, but nationwide and globally. In recent years, we have all heard that bees – and their survival – are paramount in the survival of the Earth’s ecosystem and we have undoubtedly heard about the various health benefits of honey. At first thought, you may think going to a festival solely about, bees, honey, bee keeping and their agriculture may be boring, but I soon found out otherwise and now I am going to tell you about Hive and Honey, what you don’t know and should.

I found about the Hive and Honey BEEpothecary at Honeyfest and I almost passed up their shop at first, but set out lip gloss, lip butter, chap stick or anything of the sort (and them combine “all-natural” with it) and I’m pretty much your customer for life.

The mission of Hive and Honey is to “share our amazement of God’s design and the honeybee” in short. They seek to educate others about the usefulness of resources made in the hive and create health and skin care products so others can benefit from the God-created natural riches. Formed just this year, founders Peter and Laurie Dotson and Steve and Jeannie Saum make and sell all of their products out of their homes. They pledge to conduct business in a morally sound manner and are working to produce a supplemental income for later years while giving back 10% of their profits to international Christian missionaries.

You get it, right? They make honey and it’s good for you and they have a good company so you should try it.

Wrong. While the above statements may be true, Hive and Honey BEEpothecary, uses the hive to make much more than honey and I had no idea how interesting, healthful – and not to mention helpful – bees were until I stopped to chat with the shop owners.

In short, they make balms, soaps, salves and drops to help with skin care, ailments, infections, wounds, blemishes sunburns, cuts, burns, sore throats, ear infections, allergies, colds, hot spots (pets), rashes, irritations and a whole host of other common ailments. All of their products are made with raw, natural ingredients and they are not creams or lotions. The owner explained as soon as you add water to a product to make it a cream or lotion, you are inviting the possibility for bacteria to grow so these products have none. The tinctures are made from an alcohol base and the oils are made with an olive oil base.

But, it’s more than honey – their products are also made from propolis and pollen. Here’s the scoop from Hive and Honey on each.

Honey

Made by the honeybee from flower nectar
Collected locally from two Apiaries
Flavor depends on the seasons, blossoms and bees themselves
Rich in phytochemicals to provide anitoxidant protection, healing properties and nutritional benefits
Is metabolized differently than sugar in the body because it is processed more like a fruit
Did you know? Honey helps to stabilize blood sugar and triggers a much lower insulin release than other sugars
Did you know? Honey is stored in the liver as glycogen and provides brain fuel
Did you know? When honey is consumed before bedtime it promotes restorative sleep by reducing the release of adrenalin and cortisol (stress!)
Did you know? Honey is a broad spectrum antibiotic and antifungal used to treat wounds and infections in homes and hospitals.

Pollen

Honeybee Pollen (raw) is a complete food and is richer in proteins than any animal source, making it a superfood
Like honey, pollen is rich in phytochemicals to provide anitoxidant protection, healing properties and nutritional benefits
It has the richest source of vitamins (including riboflavin B2, nicitinic acid B3 and pantothenic B5) found in nature, in a single food
Did you know? Pollen has been shown to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood when taking regularly
Did you know? One teaspoon of bee pollen is equivalent to a hearty serving of vegetables

Propolis

Did you know about propolis?

Propolis is a thick, sticky substance made by honeybees from tree resin
Contains 16 amino acids, essential oils, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals
Used for centuries all over the world for medicinal and health benefits
It is a natural antibiotic and does not kill intestinal flora
The National Institute of Health states it has antibiotic, antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant and noninflammatory properties
Used orally to treat colds, viruses, bronchitis, pneumonia, IBS, sore throats
Used mixed with saline as nose or ear drops to aid in sinus congestion or pain
Used as a mouth rinse for canker and mouth sores, gum irritations/infections and for toothaches
Used externally as is or mixed with lotions for cuts, burns, bites, rashes, skin infections, pain and inflammation, sore muscles, nail fungus, yeast infections, athletes foot , sunburn and other irritations.
Research is being done on propolis treatments for cancer, treatment of tuberculosis, burn treatment, GI issues, herpes, wound treatment, boosting the immune system and many other diseases.

Wow. I didn’t know about propolis, but I can’t wait to try it and find out for myself.

Hive and Honey prices are very reasonable and far less than what you would pay in a pharmacy or grocery store for the same types of products. For just about $30, my husband and I purchased the Propolis Tincture, Honey and Herb Skin Balm, Minty Lemon Grass Lip Balm, Honey Lip Balm and a Honey Perfume Locket. No chemicals, no additives, no preservatives. Not a one. NONE.