{Sidebars for Honey, Bees, and Us.}
Honey and Health
Honey has been used as a natural remedy for over 5,000 years, serving as everything from an antibacterial antiseptic to an aid for digestion.
It is believed to provide antioxidants, boost energy, calm allergies, and offer a host of natural beauty benefits, too.
As a humectant, honey attracts and retains moisture in creams, facial cleansers, shampoos, and conditioners. It is also gentle enough for sensitive skin and baby products.
Historically speaking, Cleopatra is said to have bathed in milk and honey to maintain her youthful appearance, while Queen Anne of England is believed to have used honey to maintain her beautiful hair. Honey continues to be used both internally and externally, while scientists explore additional benefits.
A recent study by a Pennsylvania State College of Medicine research team suggests that “a small dose of buckwheat honey given before bedtime provided better relief of nighttime cough and sleep difficulty in children [over 12 months old] than no treatment or dextromethorphan (DM), a cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cold medications.”
In another study conducted by University of Memphis’s Dr. Richard Kreider, data suggests that honey functions well in all of the aspects associated with post-workout recuperation and energy repletion. In addition to promoting muscle recuperation and glycogen (carbohydrates stored in muscle) restoration, honey-protein combinations also seem well suited to sustain favorable blood sugar concentrations after training.
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Homemade Honey Lemonade
(Yummy in the Summer!)
- 2 cups of water (room temperature)
- 1/2 lemon, squeezed
- 2 tablespoons of clover honey
Mix all and enjoy!
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Bee Lines
Bees have also inspired our language. How many buzzwords have you used lately? Here, a list of some of our favorites with their origins, dating back to the 14th century.
1386: BUSY AS A BEE = VERY BUSY
In Canterbury Tales, (the Squire’s Tale) Chaucer compares the industrious qualities of women to those of bees: “Now such a wyf I pray God keep me fro. Lo, suche sleightes and subtilitees In wommen be; for ay as busy as bees Be thay us seely men for to desceyve, And from a soth ever a lie thay weyve.” (sic)
1648: A BEE IN YOUR BONNET = SOMEONE OBSESSED WITH AN IDEA
Robert Herrick writes in “Mad Maid’s Song:”: “For pity, sir, find out that bee Which bore my love away. I’ll seek him in your bonnet brave.” Certainly, if you’ve ever had a bee atop your head, you can understand the distraction.
1769: SPELLING BEES, QUILTING BEES, HUSKING BEES = SOCIAL GATHERINGS FOR WORK, RECREATION, OR COMPETITION
From the Boston Gazette, we read, “Last Thursday about twenty young Ladies met at the house of Mr. L. on purpose for a Spinning Match (or what is called in the Country a Bee).” Communal activities, akin to those of bees, helped early settlers survive the rigors of frontier life.
1808: MAKE A BEELINE = GO DIRECTLY TO A LOCATION
The Davenport Daily Leader likened the expedient return of a horse to that of a bee. “Gustav Stengel Sr., of Rock Island, was thrown from his sleigh on Third avenue in that city yesterday afternoon, the horse becoming frightened and turning abruptly, ripping the cutter. The horse made a bee line [sic] for home.”
1920S: THE BEE’S KNEES = HIGH QUALITY
In keeping with the fashion of that time, “the bee’s knees” was used as a nonsense phrase to denote excellence. Are bees’ knees high quality? Well, they do carry pollen in leg pouches, but not on their knees.
1950S AND 1960S: BEEHIVE HAIRSTYLE = TEASED MASS
As the feminist movement was gaining momentum, so were women’s hairstyles. Designed to resemble a beehive, this large, teased mass of hair aimed to make women’s hair, rather than hats, its own attraction.
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Try Your Hand at a Hive
Tips to help you get started
1. Read "The First Lessons in Beekeeping" by Dadent Company.
2. Be “bee” safe – borrow or purchase the protective gear you need before handling bees.
3. Buy two packages of bees from a reputable source. Caron Wenzel raises Russian bees because they are more resistant to mites and tolerant of cold weather, while Linda Samorez elects to keep mild-mannered Italian bees. “You want to start with two colonies – two separate hives – so you can judge them,” says Samorez, indicating the importance of comparing hives for productivity.
4. Get a good smoker. “The smoker is the most valuable tool a beekeeper owns,” says Harry Patterson. And for good reason: The smoker helps calm bees while you’re working on a hive.
5. Face your hives toward the south, because the sun will warm the hives earlier and bees will be able to work longer.
6. Listen: Bees can sense fear and actually change the sound and pitch of their humming when they’re upset. Don’t mess with bees when it’s rainy, dark, or overcast, as they are all in the hive and tend to get irritated when disturbed.
7. If bees start chasing you, run in a zig-zag or curve pattern away from the hive into the woods. Bees fly in fairly straight lines and can’t see very well in shady areas.
8. If you get stung, brush off the stinger instead of pulling it out, to avoid injecting more poison. If you’ve never been stung before, remain calm but be alert to allergic reactions. If you suspect a reaction, seek medical attention immediately.
9. Avoid using pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides whenever possible, whether you’re keeping bees or not.
10. Avoid using scented soaps, sprays, or shampoos when working with bees, as they will attract bees.