Mad Honey native to the mountainous region of Nepal and Black sea region of turkey has found its way to the global market with the advent of ecommerce. Locally pronounced as "Deli Bal" in Turkish, "Bhir Maha" in Nepali, Mad Honey and its origin from Nepal and Turkey is linked directly with the traditional use of different ethnic groups residing within.
Although mad honey has been used traditionally since ages as a folk medicine it has been recently used for recreational purposes, alternative medicine and even there is a hype with people for use of this honey as an aphrodisiac. Renowned for the Health Benefits of Mad Honey and unique hallucinatory effects the demand for this unique product is growing with time.
While the marketers and sellers are busy selling this honey with Medicinal and Holistic Wellness as an unique selling point, a high demand for this product has been created. But most of the buyers are not aware about a common risk linked with it, a side effect that appears on overdose of Mad Honey called Mad Honey Intoxication.
Is Mad Honey Dangerous?
No, mad honey is not dangerous if you have clear information about the How much Mad Honey should be taken?. But yes, it is dangerous if you don’t follow dosage and usage guidelines which leads to excessive consumption.
The product itself says Mad Honey, a teaspoon or three is for feeling good but don’t go up to four as it can show negative effects on the body.
What are the Side Effects of Mad Honey Overdose?
Side effects or Mad Honey Intoxication occurs mainly because of high accumulation of Grayanotoxin. Grayanotoxin is the natural neurotoxin found in some species of Rhododendron plant and some other plants of species Ericaceae which starts showing effects up once inside the body. During the nectar collection process by the wild bees, the Grayanotoxin comes along the nectar of Rhododendron flowers and remains within the Mad Honey.
The extent of side effects caused by Grayanotoxin primarily depends on the amount of mad honey consumed. There are other several factors like body weight, individual susceptibility based on gender, age, health conditions, mood and more. Signs and symptoms usually develop within a period of 30 minutes to 2 hours following ingestion. The experience can be minimal to severe based on those factors.
The negative side effects experienced by users who consume excessive amounts of mad honey are :
Neurological Effects
- Dizziness and Lightheadedness: This is the most common early effect of Mad Honey in brain in people who have crossed dosage guideline. An individual feels confused and may act and feel like he is going to fall or faint.
- Nausea and Vomiting: While it is actually a result of the irritation that takes place inside the gastrointestinal tract due to grayanotoxins, the action brought about by the Central Nervous System may contribute more to the development of symptoms involving nausea and vomiting.
- Confusion and Hallucinations: Larger doses of these grayanotoxins take action on the brain, hence leading to confusion, disturbed perception and hallucinations.
- Seizures: This may further result in severe cases when extreme intake of the mad honey has occurred and can produce seizures by disrupting normal neural activity of the brain.
Cardiovascular Effects
- Low Blood Pressure: The grayanotoxins have been known to dilate blood vessels and cause hypotension. These include symptoms such as dizziness, fainting and even shock.
- Bradycardia: One of the dangerous cardiovascular effects of mad honey poisoning is a very low heart rate. This can further deteriorate into cardiac arrhythmia or even cardiac arrest in extreme conditions.
- Chest Pain: Chest pain/discomfort might also be experienced by some individuals due to its effects on the heart and blood vessels.
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Difficulty Breathing: Some people may experience difficulty breathing as the panic attacks may cause the heart to beat faster than normal, making breathing difficult.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
- Abdominal Pain and Cramping: The irritation to the digestive system from grayanotoxins gives the majority symptoms of abdominal discomfort, pain and cramping.
- Diarrhea: Diarrhea is also one symptom of mad honey poisoning quite often accompanied by dehydration and loss of electrolytes.
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Excessive Salivation: It acts on the autonomic nervous system and thus very often causes excessive salivation or dribbling.
Respiratory Symptoms
- Labored Breathing: The victim will experience labored or shallow breathing in more serious cases of poisoning.
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Pulmonary Edema: Although this is rare in mad honey intoxication, it involves the accumulation of water in the lungs. Breathing will be very difficult for an individual and can further cause respiratory failure.
Other Symptoms
- Sweating and Flushed Skin: There is increased sweating, the skin can be red and flushed due to the body's attempts at cooling itself from the results of the toxin.
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Weakness and Fatigue: Symptoms include tiredness, weakness due to neurologic, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal effects. Sometimes it makes patients unable to stand or walk.
How long does the effects of Mad Honey last?
The side effects of Mad Honey can last about 3 hours to a day depending upon the dosage and individual tolerance. The effects can start showing up after about half an hour of consumption and can worsen over time. Thus, always consult healthcare providers and always buy mad honey from authentic sellers before consumption.
If the effects get even severe and the health condition of user seems worsening, seek medical help as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Mad honey is a very unique substance that has been in existence for centuries in different cultural groups. While it has some potential therapeutic effects and is used in some folk medicinal forms, its toxic potential cannot be belittled. Identification of symptoms from mad honey overdose and if necessary seeking medical attention is very important. Proper guidelines with responsible consumption could avoid adverse health outcomes and even worse effects.
FAQs
What are the long term side effects of Mad honey?
There are no recorded cases of Long Term effects of Mad Honey as the Gurung Tribesmen of Nepal have been using it as a traditional medicine.
Does mad honey affect cats and dogs?
Yes it is not advised to give mad honey to dogs and cats as they are allergic and can be fatal for their health.
