'Mad honey' that can stop your heart is now being sold online worldwide

A friend related a frightening experience of his father-in-law being rushed to the hospital after consuming wild honey from Nepal's Himalayan cliffs. The honey, known locally as "bhir mauri ko maha," contains a toxin called grayanotoxin that can dangerously lower heart rate and blood pressure. This "mad honey" is now sold worldwide online.

The toxin, concentrated in the honey when bees collect nectar from rhododendron flowers, can cause heart rate to drop to life-threatening levels if more than a few tablespoons are consumed. The Nepalese Gurung people have traditionally used the honey safely for centuries, but modern commercial sales on international platforms have created a public health concern.

Doctors have documented 68 cases of poisoning from 2009 to the present. Most patients are middle-aged men who consume the honey deliberately for health reasons, despite its toxicity. Poisonings tend to occur in spring, when rhododendron flowers are blooming and the honey harvest is at its peak. Treatment involves intravenous fluids and atropine to restore normal heart rhythm, with most patients recovering within a day or two.

However, the lack of awareness about safe consumption amounts and the absence of warnings on online listings pose risks to consumers worldwide.