This is the hallucinogenic honey of Himalayan bees
This food is part of the millenary remedies of certain ethnic groups in Nepal.
As much as drugs are currently associated with all kinds of synthetic substances created in laboratories, in reality they have existed for millennia, and some of them do not even have to go through "cooking" to have potent effects on the human mind.
The hallucinogenic honey extracted from certain Himalayan honeycombs is a clear example of this. is a clear example of this. In the following lines we will see how this psychoactive substance is and what effects it produces after its consumption.
What is hallucinogenic honey?
The hallucinogenic honey is a type of honey elaborated by the giant bees of the Himalayas when they feed on the flowers of a species of rhododendron, common in the area. common in the area. These flowers contain a type of toxic called grayatoxin whose effects on the activity of the human nervous system are significant if consumed in the right way.
This substance is of a more reddish color than is usual in the honey that is commercialized in any supermarket, and its flavor is different.
The psychoactive effects that it produces, in addition, make that every year some people venture in search of it, risking their lives. some people who risk their lives to reach these hives, located on top of largelocated on top of large stone walls in mountainous areas of Nepal. Normally, to reach them, ladders of several tens of meters, made of bamboo, are used.
The people of the Kirat Kulung ethnic group are usually the ones who go in search of this substance on a regular basis, as it is part of the remedies they have used for centuries to try to combat certain diseases.
Because of the difficulties in obtaining it and the high risk associated with reaching the beehives, hallucinogenic honey is sold on the black market at a high price of over 100 euros per kilo.100 euros per kilo. In addition, the person who ventures to risk his life to expose himself to the danger of these precipices is assisted by many helpers, who form teams of up to ten individuals.
However, several beekeepers around the world, especially in Turkey and the United States of America, also elaborate a similar product taking advantage of contexts in which when the rhododendrons bloom the bees have little more food available, so that the amount of grayatoxins that pass into the final product is high.
The effects of this substance
Grayatoxins, presented in high Blood concentrations, increase the amount of acetylcholine available in the human brain.
Acetylcholine, in turn, is an element used by the neurons of the nervous system to communicate with each other, so it is fully involved in physiological and psychological processes.
When an excess of acetylcholine floods the brain, a phenomenon known as cholinergic syndrome appears.. The effects of intoxication by hallucinogenic honey are, in short, those resulting from the union of hallucinations and the symptoms of this syndrome, which produces gastrointestinal problems, vomiting, lacrimation and urinary incontinence.
Normally, the effects of hallucinogenic honey appear between a quarter of an hour and an hour after having been ingested, but both the intensity of the effects and their duration are very difficult to know in advance, since one of the particularities of this product is that it is sold without knowing exactly the concentration of grayatoxins it contains.
However, since the effects are not immediate, but take several minutes between ingestion and appearanceThere is a danger of binge eating, not being aware that all the toxins ingested will have a very negative effect on health.
Its traditional use
As in many other cultures, Nepalese villages commonly use home remedies whose efficacy has not been scientifically proven in clinical studies. In particular, they usually eat this food after purging, to combat coughs and other symptoms of relatively common illnesses..
Thus, the psychotropic effects of this honey are not the main reason why it is consumed in those villages where its use is traditional, although, possibly, they have contributed to give it an image of food with unique qualities and significantly different from those of normal honey.
Lack of controls and lack of knowledge can cause this substance to endanger the lives of This substance may endanger the lives of patients, as it significantly altersThe lack of controls and lack of knowledge can cause this substance to endanger the lives of patients, as it significantly alters the heart rate, causing it to drop significantly. If we add to this the fact that it is used in people whose health condition is not good, the risk increases even more.
(Updated at Apr 13 / 2024)