Day: May 18, 2016

Is it possible that eating wild honey created from the pollen of certain types of flowers can make a person feel a bit “under the influence”?

rhododendron honey deli bal

In this article, we look into the effects of rhododendron pollen in the medicinal honey called “deli bal” frequently found in regions of the Black Sea.

Watch as a group quest to “hunt” mad honey with members of a tribe in Nepal to find out!

Hallucinogenic Honey
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Learn more about hallucinogenic or “mad” honey by reading up on Rhododendron’s and their honey contributing properties.

Interested in trying rhododendron honey?  Although different than those produced in Turkey and Nepal, Fabrizio’s family in Italy collects honey from rhododendron flowers for those interested in a try!

Learn more about Hallucinogenic Honey

The story of “hallucinogenic honey” starts in Turkey. It is a dark, reddish honey, known as deli bal in Turkey.  It contains an ingredient from rhododendron nectar called grayanotoxin, which is a natural neurotoxin. In small quantities, it brings on light-headedness and sometimes, hallucinations.

In the 1700s, the Black Sea region traded this potent produce with Europe, where the honey was infused with drinks to give boozers a greater high than alcohol could deliver. Wow!

Remember Absinthe and its famous wormwood infused properties…

warning for mad honeyWhen over-imbibed, however, the honey can cause low blood pressure and irregularities in the heartbeat that bring on nausea, numbness, blurred vision, fainting, potent hallucinations, seizures, and even death, in rare cases.

Nowadays, cases of mad honey poisoning crop up every few years—oftentimes in travelers who have visited Turkey.

Check out this song inspired by “mad honey”

If there are rhododendrons everywhere, why is mad honey found only in Turkey?

Mad honey is most common in the region fringing the Black Sea — the biggest honey-producing region in Turkey. Yet, it is produced from rhododendrons, and these plants grow in vast areas, all over the world!

Because:
Though, there are more than 700 different species of rhododendron in the world, only two or three include grayanotoxin in their nectars. (says Dr. Süleyman Turedi, who studies deli bal’s effects, doctor at the Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine in Trabzon, Turkey.): Rhododendron ponticum and Rhododendron luteum.

The mountains around the Black Sea provide the perfect habitat for these flowers to grow in monocrop-like swaths. Bees arrive in these fields, where there are no other flowers, so no other nectar gets mixed in. It results a pure, potent honey.

Why are the Turks producing it?

Because they are using it as medicine. 🙂
Hallucinogenic or “mad” honey is used in the indigenous Black Sea area to treat hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and some different stomach diseases. And, some people use deli bal to improve their sexual performance.”

The honey is taken in small amounts, sometimes boiled in milk, and consumed just before breakfast. This means it is considered medicine and taken likewise, not on toast or with tea.

Is it legal?

It is legal in Turkey. And we can also find it over the internet. Hallucinogenic honey is expensive and hard to be sure it’s the real thing. The beekeepers who produce it typically only sell it in a closed circle.

After how much mad honey are we poisoned?

If anybody eats more than 1 spoonful of hallucinogenic honey including grayanotoxin, is at risk of mad honey poisoning! And if we refer to fresh honey, than we should eat even less than 1 teaspoon.

Science facts:

“Many plants of the Ericaceae family, Rhododendron, Pieris, Agarista and Kalmia, contain diterpene grayanotoxins. Consuming the honey made from these plats may result in intoxication specifically characterized by dizziness, hypotension and atrial-ventricular block.
Symptoms are caused by an inability to inactivate neural sodium ion channels resulting in continuous increased vagal tone.

Grayanotoxin containing products are currently sold online, which may pose an increasing risk. In humans, intoxication is rarely lethal, in contrast to cattle and pet poisoning cases.
Scientific evidence for the medicinal properties of grayanotoxin containing preparations, such as honey or herbal preparation in use in folk medicine, is scarce, and such use may even be harmful.” (according to www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

~~~

Want to learn more about honey’s medicinal uses, check out Honey in Ayurveda.

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Earth Sky News for May 18th: Bright moon still close to Spica May 18

Bright moon still close to Spica May 18

Tonight – May 18, 2016 – the bright waxing gibbous moon again shines close to the star Spica. This star is the brightest one in the large, dim constellation Virgo, and also a key star of the Zodiac, the narrow band of stars in front of which the sun, moon and planets forever travel.

Because Spica is within the Zodiac – and because the moon travels on the Zodiac – you’ll see the moon pair up with Spica once (or sometimes twice) a month. If you watch, you can see that happen in the months ahead.

This year, in 2016, the sun will pass in front of the constellation Virgo from September 16 to October 30, and have its yearly conjunction with the star Spica around mid-October. At that juncture, Spica will transition out of the evening sky and into the morning sky. But Spica probably won’t be far enough from the glare of sunrise to become visible in the morning sky until early November 2016.

Dates of sun’s entry into each constellation of the Zodiac

By mid-November 2016, it’ll be easy to see the star Spica in the predawn sky. Jupiter, which is now an evening planet, will transition over to the morning sky in late September 2016, or roughly one-half month before Spica shifts over into the morning sky in mid-October. At present, Jupiter shines in front of the constellation Leo, moderately close to Regulus, Leo’s brightest star. But by the time that Jupiter and Spica become visible in the morning sky in the November of 2016, Jupiter will have moved significantly eastward in front of the constellations of the Zodiac. In other words, when the king planet Jupiter becomes a morning “star,” starting in November of 2016, look for Jupiter in front of the constellation Virgo (instead of the constellation Leo) and in the vicinity of Spica, Virgo’s brightest star.

Bottom line: Let the bright waxing gibbous moon show you the star Spica – brightest light in the constellation Virgo – on the evening of May 18, 2016.

 

Author

Bruce McClure

Bruce McClure

Bruce McClure is the chief writer for the popular EarthSky Tonight pages. Since joining EarthSky in 2004, he has written thousands of astronomy articles, enjoyed here by millions. He also writes, gives planetarium shows and hosts a wide assortment of public astronomy programs in and around his home in upstate New York. If you ask an astronomy question on our site, it’s likely to be Bruce that answers it. His love for the heavens has taken him to Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, and he has sailed the North Atlantic, earning his celestial navigation certificate through the School of Ocean Sailing and Navigation. Bruce is also a sundial aficionado. He says his number one passion – besides his wife Alice – is stargazing.

Article published on EarthSky

Your Daily Influences for May 18, 2016

Your Daily Influences
May 18, 2016

 

 

The Wheel of Fortune
This card signifies success and a change of fortune for the better. Chance is on your side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenaz
Kenaz foretells the coming of clarity and knowledge. It is time for you to grow by exchanging knowledge with others. Opportunities are upon you.

 

 

 

 

The Ankh
You may need help from a higher law to balance this aspect. This law could be a supervisor, a mediator or even a judgment through a legal venue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Daily Influences represent events and challenges the current day will present for you. They may represent opportunities you should be ready to seize. Or they may forewarn you of problems you may be able to avoid or lessen. Generally it is best to use them as tips to help you manage your day and nothing more.

Your Daily Charm for May 18th is The Frog

Your Daily Charm for Today

Today’s Meaning:
The frog represents good health, physically and emotionally. This aspect shall remain in a good light as long as you maintain good health.

General Description:
This is an old Roman Amulet but the charm dates from prehistoric times. The Frog was the emblem of He-gt, the Egyptian goddess of abundance fruitfulness, fertility and plenty. From Egypt these myths spread and similar goddesses were worshiped under different names — Ishtar in Assyria, Belit in Babylonia, Al-ilat in Arabia, Aphrodite in Greece, Venus in Rome. The Frog, cut in amber, is a popular talisman. In Italy Greece and Turkey, it is still worn to bring good health, prosperity, and abundance of all the good things of this earth.

Your Ancient Symbol Card for May 18th is The Tree

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Tree



The Tree symbolizes spiritual health and growth. The healthy tree is rooted in a rich, nurturing medium, has a strong trunk from which leaf laden branches fan out to capture the sun’s energy. The Tree represents a healthy spirit entrenched in experience and strengthened by wisdom. It is a spirit that is happy with itself, but continues reaching to become even wiser, more complete, happier, stronger. While The Tree represents a strong and independent spirit, it is also a life-force that owes much of its strength and growth to being surrounded by other healthy spirits.

As a daily card, The Tree denotes a time when your spiritual self is especially powerful and open for further growth. Now is a time for you to seek out streams of wisdom and knowledge that you can not only draw from but contribute to as well. Don’t disregard sources that seem improbable, as they often produce the most profound revelations and spiritual expansion.

Your Daily Witches Rune for May 18th is The Birds

Daily Witches Rune

The Birds

Keywords: Unexpected news, change.

Meanings: The Birds Rune means some unexpected news that may alter your life completely, especially if this is the leading rune. Generally, the news will lead to a positive change but pay close attention to the nearest runes to determine its nature. It can also mean news of friends or family that you haven’t had contact with in quite a while. Letters and documents should be watched for as they may well bring happiness.

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for May 18th is Fortune

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for Today

Fortune



Fortune represents that aspect of life that is directed by forces and events we may not understand or even be aware of. In short, Fortune deals with chance—those occurrences that manage to alter even the most structured of lives, usurp man’s “best laid plans.” While the effects of Fortune are unpredictable, the outcome is always change; sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Our path through life is never a ride down a perfectly straight highway. Sometimes we may even experience hairpin turns or complete reversals of direction. Fortune is strong reminder that despite our plans, the Universe has its own agenda from which we cannot escape participation.

Casting the Stones, Your Past, Present & Future Reading for May 18th

Your Past, Present & Future Reading for Today

 

 

bw-geboThe Past
Gebo

Gebo represents the coming of gifts and favors. While each are usually positive events, they often carry obligations with them. Gebo often represents strong bonds such as deep friendships and marriage.

 

 

bw-ingwazThe Present
Ingwaz

Ingwaz signifies completion, success and fertility. Your present ambitions are about to be met. You are fecund in both mind and body.

 

 

bw-kenazThe Future
Kenaz

Kenaz reversed represents a lack of needed knowledge and possible isolation. Information you may need is being withheld from you, or you may not be open to receiving it. Although others may seem distant, if you seek their friendship you may be pleasantly surprised.