Hot Water Honey Benefits, Limitations, Remedies

There are many Ayurvedic home remedies for weight loss. Hot water with honey is one of the most hailed weight loss drinks. Though it is quite simple to make, there are some reservations to consider.

Ayurvedic reference

praatarmadhuyutam vaari sevitam sthoulyanaashanam | Bhaishajya ratnavali 39/3

Meaning: Daily intake of honey along with water is a remedy for obesity.
Method:  Take half a spoon of honey.  Mix it with half a glass of water. Drink it.

Time and duration of intake

Time: Early morning on an empty stomach. Do not eat or drink for at least 15 minutes.
If you are planning to go to gym / Yoga, then better to take it after the workout. If you drink it before workout, it may cause stomach discomfort.
How long to take honey with water?
As long as you are not diabetic, this weight loss drink can be taken for 4 – 6 months.
How much time does it take to lose weight?
If all weight loss measures are followed diligently along with this remedy, then results can be expected in about 2 months time.
How many times in a day?
It can be consumed once or twice a day, preferably on empty stomach or before food.
Before brushing or after brushing?
After tooth brushing.
Can it be taken at night?
Water with honey is commonly taken in the morning. it provides good amount of energy to the body and clarity to mind. But it can also be taken in the evening or night. It is best to take it 30 minutes before dinner.

What is the weight loss estimation?
If someone follows
1. No sugar diet
2. Honey + lukewarm water on empty stomach in the morning
3. No non veg, oily foods
4. Exercise for half an hour a day,
You can lose around 2 – 3 kg per month, of all other factors are kept constant.

Does it increase hunger?
Initially, you may experience slight increase in hunger. This is commonly seen if you add ginger juice and lime juice to this mix. If you experience increased hunger, avoid ginger and lime. Take only cold water and honey mix. Also, consider taking it 30 minutes after food.

Diabetes, IBS, BP

Can diabetic people take this?
It is better not to follow this method if you are a diabetic.

Can this be followed by obese kids?
It can be followed by anyone who is obese and wants to decrease weight.

Is it suitable for IBS patients, high BP patients?
Cold water with honey is tolerable by IBS or ulcerative colitis patients.
This remedy can be taken by patients of hypertension.

Is it useful in thyroid problems?
Hypothyroid patients with lowered levels of T3 and T4 hormones often suffer with obesity, water retention, puffy face etc. So, honey with water can be very beneficial to lose weight and also to prevent lifestyle disorders such as diabetes and hypertension.

Honey With Hot Water For Hypertension

Apple cider vinegar:
Some people mix a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a teaspoon of honey and a cup of water and consume. It is fine to continue, if you like the taste of this combination.

Hot water with honey

Can hot water be used in place of plain water?
There are some advice of taking hot water with honey. But according to Ayurveda, hot water and honey are not compatible with each other. Heating of honey or using heated substances with honey is not recommended as per Ayurveda. With this reason only, in the making of herbal jams like Chyawanaprash, where honey is an ingredient, it is added at the end of the making of Chyawanprash, when the jam is left for cooling down.

Hence, at the best, the water can be lukewarm or boiled and cooled water with honey, rather than using hot water. 
Because, heat processing of honey or using it with too hot substances is contra-indicated as per Ayurveda. (Reference: Ashtanga Hridayam Sutrasthana 5/ 53 and Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana 26/84)

Click to read about honey qualities of honey, according to Ayurveda and why you should have honey at home.
Click to know how hot water can be the best of the remedies for many of the ailments – Is hot water good?
Click to know how cinnamon and honey combination is good for you – Cinnamon and honey benefits

Lemon juice with honey

A teaspoon of lemon mixed with a teaspoon of honey can be taken in the morning and evening, 30 minutes before food.

Q: Is it safe to drink warm water with lemon and honey in the morning for pregnant women?
Warm water, lemon juice extract and honey combination is used for cleansing, detoxing, weight reducing purposes, called as Langhana therapy or Shodhana in Ayurveda.

During pregnancy, the opposite of it – Brihmana – nourishing therapy is required. Hence, the above combination is not required during pregnancy.

Q: Is it a good idea to add lemon juice to honey + water?
Yes. honey and lemon juice go well with each other.  Lemon is also good for stomach and for weight loss.
So, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice + 1 teaspoon of honey in half a cup of water, in the morning, empty stomach is also fine to take for 5 – 6 months time.

What is the timing I want to drink lemon honey in the morning and also amla juice?
Both lemon honey and the amla juice can be taken together, in the morning, on empty stomach. This combination is ideal to
reduce weight, cholesterol
to detoxify digestive system,
and to improve clarity of thinking process.
If you have bought market available amla juice, take as tablespoon of it, mix it with two tablespoon of water and consume.

During pregnancy, lactation

Water with honey is cleansing and detoxifying in nature. It is meant to reduce weight. But during pregnancy, the woman is expected to gain weight. Hence, this remedy is not recommended during pregnancy.
But cold water / lukewarm water can be taken when the couple are planning for pregnancy.
This remedy is especially useful in female infertility patients with PCOS and obesity. This remedy can help reduce body weight.
This remedy can be taken during lactation period.
If you are planning for pregnancy, you can take it till the pregnancy is confirmed. Stop it after that. This remedy does not affect the chances of pregnancy. In fact, it is useful in women with infertility, associated with hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, PCOS and obesity.

Children

It can be a simple remedy for children who are obese and are advised to lose weight. It is best to use it, under medical supervision, in children above 7 years of age.
For them, a mild dose of half a teaspoon of honey with half a cup of boiled and cooled water is advisable.

Home remedies

A cup of lukewarm water can be taken along with a teaspoon of honey and half a teaspoon of amla, early in the morning, on empty stomach. This gives the anti oxidant boost to your body. This is safe to continue for a period of a few months time.

Lemon with honey is good to lose weight and to decrease bad cholesterol. This can be taken even during menstruation if periods are not very high. If there is heavy periods, then better to avoid this during menstruation.

It is better to avoid ginger, lemon juice, honey and water combination during periods. Just honey and water is fine to continue.

Green tea with honey in the morning is fine to take, as long as green tea is not very hot.

Ginger tea with honey is fine to take, if the ginger tea is not very hot. Prepare the ginger tea first, allow it to cool down to just above room temperature, add honey and drink.

Does it cause body heat?

Honey is neither too hot nor cold. If it is used along with lukewarm water, it can increase body heat to a small extent. But if it is used along with cold water, it does not cause any such issue.
This remedy does not cause any stomach upset.

Ahead of Yogasana

Water with honey is a traditional remedy, mentioned by Master Charaka, called Madhudaka.
Madhu means honey. Udaka means water.

कार्श्यार्थं स्थूलदेहानामनु शस्तं मधूदकम्||३२३||
kārśyārthaṃ sthūladehānāmanu śastaṃ madhūdakam||323||
Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana 27^/323

Master Charaka says, for the obese people to lose weight, honey water is beneficial.
Master Charaka has explained this in the chapter of food and drinks, in the context of Anupana – commonly used drinks along with meals. Read this beautiful chapter here
This indicates that obese people can use honey water on a daily basis, in a larger quantity.

But we should be careful not to overdose with honey.
Hence, 2 cups of water, mixed with 1 – 2 teaspoons for honey, can be the maximum dose of this remedy, per day. Even a higher dose is possible, if your Ayurveda practitioner recommends.
Read more about honey water remedy

 Honey, though sweet balances down Kapha Dosha due to its scraping and astringent properties. Hence, used as a remedy along with many anti Kapha medicines such as Talisadi Churna, Sitopaladi Churna etc., that are commonly used for the treatment of cold, cough and asthma.
Obesity has also Kapha Dosha dominance. Hence, honey is effective in treating obesity as well.
The question is, can it be had before Yogasana? 

If you have the habit of having a few sips of water, ahead of your Yoga schedule, then definitely you can have a few sips of honey water.

But care should be taken not to take it excessively, as a high quantity of liquids in the stomach is not ideal while doing Yogasana or Surya Namaskara.
Better to maintain a minimum time gap of 10-15 minutes between honey water and Yoga. 

For lean persons
It is not very useful. However, a person with healthy body weight can take it for a 1- 2 months in a year, just to enjoy its detoxifying benefits.

Honey water with Triphala

Can I take honey water and Triphala together in the morning? 
Dr JV Hebbar
You can take honey water in the morning. Honey + cold water is explained as Madhudaka (Madhu + Udaka). It is a weight loss remedy, explained in the text Bhaishajya Ratnavali. 
praatarmadhuyutam vaari sevitam sthoulyanaashanam | Bhaishajya ratnavali 39/3 

Triphala is also a good weight loss medicine. If you do not have a sensitive stomach, then it can be taken along with honey water in the morning, on an empty stomach.
Triphala, if used for treating an eye disorder, then it is best advised at night, with honey and ghee. This remedy is explained in one of the ancient most Ayurveda texts – Charaka Samhita
Read: Triphala Home Remedy For Eye Care