Himalayan "Mad Honey" Craze: Risky Rewards and Dangerous Side Effects

As of 2025-11-10T12:55:49+00:00, a unique and potentially dangerous variety of honey known as "mad honey" continues to be produced in the Himalayan regions of Nepal and Turkey. This golden liquid, created by giant honey bees using the nectar and pollen of Rhododendron flowers, contains grayanotoxins that make it moderately toxic with narcotic effects.

For centuries, the Gurung people, a Tibetan community in Nepal and northern India, have been scaling treacherous cliffs to collect this rare honey. They use rope ladders to reach the hives and set them ablaze from underneath, causing the bees to abandon their nests. However, this practice has led to a steep decline in the number of cliffs hosting bee hives, as overharvesting, road construction, and dam creation have taken a toll on the region.

Despite the risks, a 500 g jar of this honey can fetch up to NPR 4,500 (approximately Rs 2,818) in Nepal, making it a valuable commodity. Traditionally, mad honey has been used as an aphrodisiac, as well as a treatment for various ailments like gastrointestinal disorders, hypertension, and arthritis. However, medical experts caution that the dose must be carefully monitored, as consuming too much can lead to severe side effects, including heart attacks, low blood pressure, respiratory difficulties, dizziness, and even loss of consciousness.

In the past, mad honey has also been used as a biological weapon, with ancient Greek and Roman accounts describing its effects on soldiers. While the honey produced in Europe from a different species of Rhododendron is not toxic, the varieties from Nepal and Turkey require strict supervision and even a prescription before consumption.