Health scare as ‘mad honey’ overdose lands man in ICU

Patna: What began as a travel souvenir from the Himalayas turned life-threatening for a young man from Patna, who landed in the ICU after allegedly consuming an excessive quantity of “mad honey” — a rare, dark, reddish variety of honey known for its intoxicating and psychoactive properties.

Mad honey is produced by bees that collect nectar from certain rhododendron species found in Himalayan regions. Unlike regular honey, it contains grayanotoxins — naturally occurring neurotoxins that can affect the nervous system and heart. Often sold in parts of Nepal as an exotic product, it is informally marketed for its intoxicating effects, including hallucinations and claimed sexual health benefits.

According to hospital sources, the man, in his mid-20s, had travelled to Nepal earlier this year with his wife. The couple, described as travel enthusiasts, returned with several souvenirs, including mad honey, after a local guide reportedly told them about its effects, such as sexual health benefits, intoxicating properties including hallucination and medical benefit.

Doctors said the man was brought to the private hospital unconscious and in critical condition.

Medical director of the hospital, Dr Ravi Shankar, said the patient arrived with an extremely low pulse and heart rate. “He had suffered cardiac arrest. CPR was given and he was immediately rushed to the ICU, where he was kept on ventilator support,” he said.

Dr Shankar said the patient had no prior medical history, prompting doctors to investigate possible toxic exposure. “Since he had returned from Nepal, we suspected he may have consumed some intoxicant, but initially there was no clear history,” he said.

The hospital also shared details with the poison cell at AIIMS-Delhi, but no immediate conclusion could be reached.

Doctors said the breakthrough came only after the patient’s wife disclosed he had been consuming mad honey regularly. He used to take a spoon daily, but one day he consumed it in excess and lost consciousness.

Critical care unit director Dr Kishore Jhunjhunwala, who treated the patient, said the man was brought in a life-threatening condition. “We had to give CPR for 45 minutes and then place him on ventilator support. He had no comorbidity, no medical history. He was young and physically fit,” he said.

He cautioned against the assumption that natural products are always safe. “People consume natural products thinking they have no side effects, but they do not understand dosage. For one person, one teaspoon may be fine. For another, it may be harmful,” he said.

Medical experts warned excessive consumption of mad honey can lead to serious complications, including low blood pressure, slowed heart rate, unconsciousness and, in severe cases, cardiac arrest.Get real-time updates and result insights on the CBSE 12 Result 2026.