Mad Honey Experiences with Joe Rogan and Matthew Mcconaughey
- Honey Connect
- Oct 15
- 2 min read
Mad honey, sometimes called “deli bal” in Turkey, is a special kind of honey harvested from nectar of certain Rhododendron species. Because of compounds called grayanotoxins, it can have mild neuroactive effects.
While mad honey is more famous for its risks, it also holds a place in traditional medicine and is being studied for some intriguing potential benefits.
Traditional Uses & Reported Benefits
Over centuries, in places like Turkey and Nepal, mad honey has been used (in very small doses) to support:
Digestive health — folk healers sometimes use it for gastritis, ulcers, or indigestion
Blood pressure support — in traditional texts it’s been used in hypertension, though its effects are complex
Sexual vitality — some men have used mad honey as an aphrodisiac or performance enhancer
Pain relief — experimental animal studies show that grayanotoxin (from mad honey) may exhibit analgesic (pain-reducing) effects, especially in models of neuropathy
Wound and bone healing support — one study in rats found that mad honey may help accelerate fracture healing, possibly via anti-oxidative and vascular effects
Antioxidant & antimicrobial activity — analyses of mad honey and its pollen show it has compounds that scavenge free radicals and act against bacteria
These benefits reflect how mad honey is more than just a curiosity—it lies at the intersection of tradition and ongoing research.
In Summary
Mad honey is a fascinating natural substance with a long cultural history. Its grayanotoxin content gives it both risk and potential advantage. While traditional medicine attributes to it benefits for digestion, vitality, pain, and healing, modern science is exploring these benefits. The promising signals—especially in pain relief, antioxidant capacity, and bone repair—encourage further research.
If you ever consider trying it, treat it like a potent herb: small doses, caution, and good sourcing.
