Phacelia is a fairly common cultivated plant that is found both in the wild and in the garden. The plant is widely used for decorative purposes, as well as an economic crop. However, not many even experienced plant growers know that the plant is an excellent honey plant. The article will examine in detail all the properties of honey from phacelia, and also describe how it can be useful for the body.

Did you know? The rarest in the world is considered the so-called "stone honey", it is produced by only a few varieties of wild bees in the highlands. It is a highly sugared product extracted from rock crevices.

How to get Phacelium honey

Despite the fact that phacelia is not widely known among the population, its planting is always accompanied by a huge number of bees. Due to its high productivity, the plant is able to produce a lot of nectar for the production of high-quality honey. In culture, it is actively used as a feed and siderate species, therefore it is actively grown from early spring to late autumn. During this time, phacelia actively blooms and produces nectar, so a valuable bee product can be obtained throughout the summer, as well as the first half of autumn.Today, about 190 different types of flower are known in nature, most of which can become a good honey plant. However, twisted, tansy, and bell-shaped phacelia is considered to be the most popular among beekeepers; they most actively attract bees and give especially saturated and aromatic nectar. As you know, flowering is a fleeting process, so manufacturers often go for a trick to get a fragrant bee product.

Important! To improve the healing properties of honey, it is recommended to use it in a heated form, thus, it is possible to significantly increase the digestibility of its components.

The plant is sown in several stages, the faded areas are mowed, and then sown again. In total, this makes it possible to obtain up to 4 generations of high-quality and aromatic honey. Most often, such honey can be found in mountainous areas. In Russia, honey phacelia is widely cultivated in Siberia and the Caucasus, on the territory of Ukraine and Europe, the Carpathian highlands and surrounding regions are considered to be traditional product extraction regions.

Product Feature and Description

Honey from the flowers of phacelia is distinguished by a rich light yellow color, but sometimes the hue can change to slightly pale tones. As crystallization occurs, color and liquid consistency change dramatically. The product becomes quite thick, its viscosity is close to the test, and the shade changes to all kinds of cream tones, which are sometimes complemented by a greenish tint. Thus, the product often resembles linden or acacia honey, but has its own distinctive qualities.First of all, it is taste and unique aroma. The flower saturates nectar with valuable essential oils and phytoncides, which gives the bee product a special pleasant astringency and spice. Bitterness and sourness are not peculiar to honey; instead, you can notice a rather high percentage of sugars and a special sweetness. The aroma in this case often remains soft and pleasant, with a floral tint.

One of the main features of phacelia honey can be called an increased content of fructose. This substance directly affects the crystallization activity. Due to this, the product collected at the beginning of the season can successfully remain liquid throughout the summer and autumn, up to winter frosts. The composition of this honey is rich in a huge number of various healthy substances.

Did you know? For the first time, Cleopatra used honey for cosmetic purposes. The ancient Egyptian queen noticed that applying the product to the skin improves the condition of the skin, and also gives them freshness and elasticity, so she used it daily to maintain beauty.

The largest number of them is occupied by trace elements, among which are found in an accessible form:

• manganese;
• chromium;
• zinc;
• potassium;
• cobalt;
• calcium;
• nickel;
• selenium;
• aluminum;
• sodium;
• argentum.

In addition, the product contains:

• vitamins E, K, PP, group B, folic and ascorbic acid;
• sugar (fructose, glucose, maltose, sucrose, melicytosis);
• proteins;
• enzymes;
• dextrins;
• amino acids;
• anticoagulants;
• antioxidants.

Percentage of main components in Phacelium honey:

Honey properties

Like any other bee product, this honey belongs to the group of polysaturated compounds, so it is able to actively influence the state of the body and the course of its main processes. This feature must be taken into account when it is included in the diet, since with uncontrolled use, honey can bring both good and irreparable harm to health.

Important! When choosing a product, you should also pay attention to the date of manufacture. High-quality honey is produced during the period of active vegetation of vegetation, later dates can talk about fake.

Useful and healing properties

When using the product, it should be remembered that it is a fairly dietary food that can replace any high-calorie dessert.

• However, most often it is used as a universal remedy that can improve the condition of the body:
• with prolonged physical exertion;
• in the recovery period (after complex diseases);
• with excessive mental and emotional stress;
• during the rehabilitation period after surgical interventions;
• in the treatment of tuberculosis as an immunomodulating agent;
• with gastritis;
• with bacterial infections, including ARVI;
• with problems with intestinal microflora.

In combination with herbal teas and essential medicines, the product can eliminate the manifestations of:

sore throats;

laryngitis;

pneumonia;

bronchitis;

pharyngitis.

As a sedative and restorative, phacelium honey can improve the state of the nervous system, as well as overcome:

insomnia

Depression

stressful conditions;

neurosis.

Do not forget that the product has been actively used to eliminate all kinds of cosmetic problems. A variety of masks and creams based on it are able to nourish and tone the skin, as well as protect the outer integument from premature aging. When applied topically, such drugs can also improve the blood flow of the upper integument, which in the case of cellulite makes it possible to almost completely restore the dermis.

Contraindications

It has this product and a number of contraindications, which must be taken into account before abruptly introducing it into the daily diet.

• First of all, you should not use it:
• with individual intolerance to the individual components of the substance, this includes both an allergy to beekeeping derivatives and sharp reactions of the body to pollen and flower nectar;
• in diabetes, since the bulk of honey is carbohydrates, its use can provoke activation of the disease or deterioration of the body;
• with obesity, despite its diet, the product is a fairly high-calorie substance;
• during pregnancy and lactation, a complex of aromatic and other substances can get from the mother’s body to the baby, this often causes an unprepared child’s body to have a sharp allergic reaction, up to severe intoxications.

Use in traditional medicine

Due to its richness and rich composition, honey has long been used by mankind as a universal medicine. Despite the advent of the era of complex and highly effective medications, its popularity is not declining. Since only natural products are able to exert a gentle effect on the body, with a minimal risk of any side effects.

With dysbiosis

During dysbiosis, there is a sharp decrease in the beneficial microflora of the digestive tract. This pathology is caused by a number of reasons, the main of which is malnutrition and an unbalanced diet. During this, the natural processes of food processing are often disrupted, as well as a variety of infectious lesions of the intestine.

Using honey can completely solve this problem. The product is able to improve the body's immunity, which will launch the natural mechanisms of struggle with pathogenic microflora. In addition, having natural bactericidal properties, it is able to inhibit the development of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and fungi that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract.

With diseases of the stomach

Diseases of the stomach are a group of one of the most common pathologies that accompany modern humanity. In this case, honey often becomes the main panacea for organ damage. Thanks to bactericidal and regenerative properties, it helps to restore the gastric mucosa, and also inhibits tissue damage by pathogenic microorganisms.With periodic use, it also restores the natural balance of digestive enzymes, reduces inflammation and stomach cramps. In addition, phacelium honey cleanses the surface of the stomach from pathogenic bacteria, this not only improves the balance of beneficial microorganisms, but also helps to cope with erosive damage to the organ.

With chronic gastritis

An irreplaceable product is also in the treatment of gastritis of various etiologies. That is why it is actively used to eliminate the effects of gastritis with both low and high acidity. The use of warm honey water helps to adjust the acid balance to a natural norm, which improves the active stomach as a whole.

In addition, phacelium honey is able to dilute the mucus accumulated in the stomach, which reduces the irritating effect on the organ. With periodic use, this improves not only digestion, but also helps to restore tissue damaged by pathology.

How to choose quality honey

To choose high-quality honey, you should definitely look at the following features:

• viscosity - in liquid form, the product should have a uniform structure, sugar grains are allowed in candied form. In this case, there should be no dissemination of water or other liquids;
• the scent - Phacelia honey has a bright and distinct floral aroma, without any impurities, including chemical odors;
• Colour - it should be uniform, light yellow, sometimes pale. When candied, the color changes to all kinds of shades of cream tones, with a slight green glow;
• crystallization activity - a high-quality bee product is sugar only in the winter, otherwise a substitute or honey of another brand may be sold;
• weight - 0.5 l of product should not weigh less than 0.8 kg.

In addition to external signs, it is also necessary to look at the chemical activity of a substance. When a homogeneous mixture of water and honey (1: 1) interacts with an alcoholic solution of iodine, no chemical reaction should be observed, otherwise falsification takes place. Real honey should dissolve evenly in warm water, without any precipitation. After heating high-quality honey, its aroma should intensify, while foreign odors are unacceptable, which always indicates a fake.

Rules and features of storage

Often, with the storage of honey, most do not have any special difficulties. However, in order to maintain its useful properties for a long time, it is necessary to take care of the appropriate conditions.

Best stored product in:

• dry place;
• low humidity conditions (up to 60%);
• cold, at a temperature of 0 ... + 5 ° C;
• protected from direct exposure to oxygen tanks, under a strong and sealed lid.

Special attention should be paid to containers. For storage today, containers of various materials of both artificial and natural origin are used. Most often, bee products are stored in plastic containers, however, they negatively affect the product. It is best to choose dishes made of wood or glass, it is not only more inert to the components of honey, but also allows you to maximize its shelf life.Under appropriate conditions, the product can be perfectly stored for several years after pumping. At the same time, it is recommended to use it before the next season. After 6 months of storage, natural processes of destruction of vitamins and other substances are launched, and after 10-12 months, their concentration decreases by 10-20%.

Phacelium honey is a real gift of nature, due to the unpretentiousness and cold tolerance of the flower stalk, it can be obtained throughout the entire warm season of the year. In addition to excellent taste, he is able to please a whole set of healthy substances. Thanks to them, it is possible to successfully improve immunity, as well as support the body with many complex ailments.