Why is honey villainised for babies in the West, while countless cultures celebrate it as a gift of nature?
For millennia, honey has been revered across civilisations as a symbol of nourishment, healing, and vitality. Yet only recently in 1978, it became a “forbidden” food for infants under one year of age in Western medicine.
This shift was driven by concerns over infant botulism, a rare but serious condition caused by Clostridium botulinum spores. These spores can be found in soil, dust, and certain foods, including honey, and in very rare instances, they may colonise an infant’s immature digestive system. The spores can then produce a neurotoxin that disrupts nerve function.
However, the so-called “risk” associated with honey was based on limited evidence from a small number of cases in California. Poorly understood at the time, botulism spores were detected in various everyday environments, but the focus fell disproportionately on honey. This assumption, rather than robust science, was enough to prompt a blanket recommendation against honey for infants.
But is this fear truly justified? Has precaution overshadowed millennia of wisdom and cultural medical practices that honour honey’s place in infant care?
This article explores the roots of this myth, scrutinises the science behind the warnings, and revisits honey’s vital role in Ayurveda, particularly for the immune system of babies and children.
It’s time to uncover the truth and reintroduce honey as nature’s gift for infants—responsibly and with an informed perspective.
Other Irrational Concerns for Honey in Babies
Before delving into honey’s benefits, it’s important to address some common but misguided concerns:
1. Sugar Content:
Some conventional guidelines discourage honey due to its natural sugars, fearing that early exposure might create a preference for sweetness and poor dietary habits. However, wisdom traditions highlight that honey’s natural sweetness harmonizes with digestion and differs significantly from refined sugar. Moreover, the amount traditionally recommended for infants is minimal.
2. Choking Hazard:
Honey is sometimes wrongly classified alongside choking hazards. This concern is largely misplaced, as honey is a liquid and does not present such risks.
3. Allergic Reactions:
Allergies to honey are rare but can occur due to trace amounts of pollen or bee venom. This risk applies more broadly to individuals with severe pollen allergies and is uncommon in infants.
4. Botulism:
Infant botulism is rare, with fewer than 100 cases reported annually in the United States. While honey is associated with some cases, most arise from environmental spores in dust or soil, not honey itself. Studies analysing high-quality, raw honey show negligible levels of botulism spores, especially when responsibly sourced.
Studies analysing high-quality, raw honey show negligible levels of botulism spores, especially when responsibly sourced.
Global and Historical Use of Honey for Babies
Honey’s use in infant care spans continents and millennia:
Ancient Egypt:
In Ancient Egypt, honey was revered not only for its sweetness but also for its healing and nurturing properties, particularly for infants. Honey was believed to promote growth, vitality, and overall well-being, playing a crucial role in infant care. It was commonly used to soothe ailments like teething discomfort and support digestion. Honey’s natural antibacterial properties helped reduce inflammation and infections, offering relief from gum irritation during teething.
Myanmar and Africa:
In Myanmar and African cultures, honey has been a trusted remedy for infants, particularly for relieving teething pain and supporting weaning. During teething, honey was commonly applied to soothe gums, reducing discomfort and inflammation. It was also mixed with porridges or soft weaning foods to provide essential nutrients, boosting energy and aiding digestion for healthy growth and development.
Ayurveda, India and Honey:
Ayurveda extensively details the benefits of honey in texts such as the Kashyapa Samhita, dating back to 600 BCE. One notable practice, Swarna Prashana, involves administering honey infused with swarna bhasma (purified gold ash) and some herbs to infants. This preparation is said to enhance intellect (medha), digestion (agni), strength (bala), and lifespan (aayush), among other benefits.
“स्वर्णप्राशनं ह्येतन् मेधाग्नि बलवर्धनम्।
आयुष्यं मङ्गलं पुण्यं वृष्यं वर्ण्यं ग्रहापहम्॥
svarṇapraśanam hyetan medhāgni balavardhanam
āyuṣyaṃ maṅgalam puṇyam vṛṣyaṃ varṇyaṃ grahāpaham
This ancient verse shares about the benefits of swarna prashana:
svarṇa: “gold”
praśanam: “consumption”
hyetan: “indeed this”
medhāgni: “intellect and digestive fire”
balavardhanam: “strength-enhancing”
āyuṣyaṃ: “life-giving”
maṅgalam: “auspicious”
puṇyam: “virtuous”
vṛṣyaṃ: “aphrodisiac”
varṇyaṃ: “complexion-enhancing”
grahāpaham: “remover of planetary afflictions”
In ancient Ayurveda text Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya of Vāgbhaṭa, 7th chapter, Sūtrasthāna, it is stated:
“na sajjate hemapaṅke padmapatre ‘mbuvat viṣam |
āyuṣyaṃ caiva tat pānaṃ rasāyanam athāpi ca ||”
Translation:
“In one who consumes gold, poison does not adhere, just as water does not cling to a lotus leaf. Such consumption bestows longevity and acts as a rejuvenative.”
Key Aspects of Swarna Prashana (Ayurveda Baby Immunisation)
Age: From birth until 10/16 years.
Timing: Administered on an empty stomach, preferably early morning.
Frequency: Daily or for 3-7 days each month, beginning on Pushya Nakshatra days (a certain constellation).
Ideally give daily from day 1 of birth for 30 or 40 consecutive days.
According to the great sages (acaryas), gold should be fed to the infant after their birth, even before the breast milk secretion happens.
Procedure: Parents should dip their clean finger from their right hand in a small amount of swarna prasdana and put on their baby’s lips (infancy) or in the child’s mouth (later)
Gold bhasma, included in Swarna Prashana, is celebrated for its antioxidant properties. It’s particularly beneficial for mitigating oxidative stress in newborns, especially those delivered under challenging circumstances. This practice is part of the essential sixteen samskaras (rites of passage) for paediatric care in ancient Ayurvedic texts.
CAUTION:
The use of metals in medicine requires careful purification, preparation and dosage. Always consult with a quality Ayurvedic professional before considering such treatments.
Also note that brands selling svarna prashana formulas are using heated honey in their formula, which is poisonous.
A Case for Honey in Infant Care
Decades after the honey ban, research has shown that the initial fears were greatly overstated. Infant botulism remains exceptionally rare, and the overwhelming majority of cases occur without any connection to honey. Instead, environmental spores in soil and dust are often the culprits.
High-quality, responsibly sourced honey poses minimal risk, as modern studies confirm. Cultures that have long embraced honey in infant care report no significant health concerns, underscoring its safety when used appropriately.
The continued stigma around honey appears to stem more from precautionary inertia than current scientific evidence. By revisiting honey’s cultural, medicinal, and nutritional value through an informed lens, we can reintroduce it as a powerful tool in infant care, honouring its legacy as nature’s golden gift.
Resources
- Honey and Infant Botulism
- Food Safety News
- Kashyapa Samhita
- Eber’s Papyrus – Mentioned honey as a remedy for infants’ health, especially related to wound healing and soothing irritations.
- The Book of Honey: The History of a Sweet Liquid Gold by H. A. DeSausmarez – Discusses the role of honey in Egyptian baby care practices.
- The Secrets of Ancient Egypt by Barry Kemp – Explores honey’s significance in rituals and healing for infants.
- The Honey Hunter: The Life and Loss of Beekeepers in Myanmar – Provides detailed insights into the traditional use of honey for soothing teething discomfort in infants.
- The Art of Beekeeping in Africa by S.A. Neumann – Discusses honey’s role in infant health, particularly for promoting growth and easing teething symptoms in young children.
- Health and Healing in Traditional Societies by Shirley Firth – Focuses on honey’s use as a weaning food and natural remedy for infants in both Myanmar and Africa.
- Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya of Vāgbhaṭa, 7th chapter, Sūtrasthāna
