Himalayan 'mud honey,' which can be life-threatening if consumed in excess, is being sold online worldwide.
Honey is known not only for its sweetness and delicious taste but also for its health benefits, and many people consume it regularly. However, experts warn that some types of honey, even just a few tablespoons of which can cause a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure, and even be life-threatening, are being sold online worldwide.
Mad honey poisoning in Nepal: ecology, epidemiology, and clinical spectrum of grayanotoxin intoxication (2009–2026) - ScienceDirect
'Mad honey' that can stop your heart is now being sold online worldwide
https://theconversation.com/mad-honey-that-can-stop-your-heart-is-now-being-sold-online-worldwide-290090
One day, Prayan Pokharel, a chemical ecologist in Nepal, heard from a colleague that his father-in-law had been rushed to the emergency room after eating honey brought back from the mountains of Nepal, which caused a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. Upon hearing this, Pokharel immediately realized that the honey must have been collected by a Himalayan giant honeybee (Apis laboriosa) .
The Himalayan giant honeybee is the world's largest honeybee, reaching a length of approximately 3 cm, and inhabits only the high altitudes of the Himalayas, exceeding 4,000 meters. In spring, when azalea flowers bloom, Himalayan giant honeybees swarm the flowers to collect nectar, but azalea leaves and flowers contain a toxic substance called grayanotoxin .
Although the exact mechanism is unknown, Himalayan honeybees appear unaffected by grayanotoxin and continue to collect honey from azaleas without worrying about the toxin. This honey, in which the azalea toxin has been continuously concentrated, is called 'mud honey,' and in recent years it has become available for purchase online worldwide.
In fact, eating just a teaspoon of mud honey often only causes a pleasant warmth and slight dizziness. However, consuming several tablespoons can cause grayanotoxin to inhibit the electrical signals of the heart muscle, leading to a sharp drop in heart rate and blood pressure.
Most patients experience symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and weakness 30 to 60 minutes after eating, and Dr. Pokarel warns that it can be life-threatening if not treated immediately. The symptoms can be treated with atropine , a drug that restores a normal heart rate, or with intravenous infusions, and most patients recover within one to two days.
While consuming too much mud honey is generally harmless, the exact amount that can cause harm varies depending on the production batch, season, and region. Therefore, an amount that is harmless for one person may pose a risk of serious symptoms for another.
In recent years, individual doctors have reported health problems caused by mud honey, but the overall picture was not well understood. Therefore, Dr. Pokarel collaborated with other doctors to analyze cases of 68 patients reported since 2009.
The analysis revealed that approximately 72% of patients exhibiting symptoms from Mud Honey were middle-aged men who had taken Mud Honey for folk remedies, such as improving high blood pressure or sexual function. In fact,
Furthermore, it was found that cases of poisoning from mud honey are concentrated in the spring, when azaleas are in full bloom and honey harvesting begins in earnest. In fact, it has been reported that honey harvested in the spring has particularly high concentrations of grayanotoxin.
What exacerbates the problem with mud honey is that in recent years it has been sold online in various regions around the world. These mail-order products do not always list safe dosages, and even if there are warnings, consumers may not adhere to the recommended dosage.
In South Korea, numerous cases of poisoning from 'mud honey' were reported as of 2013, and cases have also occurred in France and Qatar . In these countries, doctors rarely encounter honey poisoning cases, and if patients do not mention that they have eaten honey, treatment may be delayed.
Pokkarel and his colleagues plan to investigate honey samples collected from various parts of Nepal to determine the amount of grayanotoxin they contain and which type of azalea is most prevalent. Pokkarel is also interested in what happens inside the bodies of Himalayan giant honeybees, which are unaffected by grayanotoxin.
Furthermore, the Himalayan giant honeybee population is declining due to overhunting, habitat destruction, and climate change, making this research crucial from the perspective of species conservation. Poccarel stated, 'The Himalayan giant honeybee is responsible for pollinating alpine plants in the Himalayas, especially azaleas whose nectar is poisonous. Before we even understand the value of this precious bee, we are in danger of losing it.'
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