Honey is to mead as malt is to beer and grapes are to wine.
If your country is not represented here, send me email with info on your local mead styles and I will do my best to include it here. In other words, it'll cure what ales you. Never mind what ales will do. I've also been told that the word metheglin is close to the Welsh form of the word medicine. Many commercially made meads are of the sweet style, the word cloyingly comes to mind.