Apitherapy is the medicinal use of bee hive products for holistic healing. Honey, propolis, pollen and royal jelly have been known to prevent and cure diseases and other minor illnesses for centuries. According to the American Apitherapy Society, there are more than five hundred medical conditions that can be prevented or treated through the use of apitherapy, such as allergies, skin conditions, arthritis and cardiovascular diseases.
A vast amount of scientific information and studies is available on bee products and their healing properties.
The Health Benefits of Honey
Bees make honey from nectar they collect from flowers. Honey is made up of natural sugars, water, trace enzymes, minerals, vitamins and amino acids. There are also more than thirty trace elements like potassium and phosphorous found in honey.
Honey is high in energy and helps fight against physical and mental fatigue; it also has healing and soothing properties and can be used on cuts and burns. There is a large choice of different honeys which can be used for varying conditions such as thyme honey, which can be used as an antiseptic for skin conditions.
Honey can be eaten from a spoon, used as a natural sweetener in drinks and plain yoghurts or spread on bread.
The Health Benefits of Propolis
Bees gather propolis from flower buds and tree barks, add salivary secretions and wax flakes and spread the finished product on the beehive walls. There are over five hundred components in propolis. Amongst these components, there are flavonoids, phenols, B vitamins, essential oils and amino acids.
Propolis has healing and antimicrobial effects and is used to treat dental conditions like mouth ulcers, digestive conditions like peptic ulcers, herpes lesions and infections.
Pure propolis can be chewed like chewing gum for twenty minutes and then swallowed. There are also propolis sprays and syrups for sore throats as well as alcohol solutions and oils for skin use. Treatment should last three weeks and be taken two to three times a day.
The Health Benefits of Bee Pollen
Bee pollen is a mixture of honey and pollen and is the main source of food for honey bees and their larvae. Bee pollen is made up of trace amounts of B, C, D, and E vitamins, minerals, sugar and is high in carbohydrates and protein.
Bee pollen is used as an immune-system booster and to enhance memory and energy. It is often used during periods of stress or during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Bee pollen is an appetite stimulant and can also be used for children who are underweight. However, bee pollen should be avoided by those suffering from pollen allergies as it has been known to cause violent allergic reactions.
It is better to take fresh bee pollen as it loses most of its medicinal virtues during the drying process. At the beginning, to avoid stomach cramps, treatment consists of mixing a teaspoon of bee pollen into yoghurt or liquids. A teaspoon can gradually become two to three soup spoons per day over two to six weeks during spring and autumn.
The Health Benefits of Royal Jelly
Royal jelly is a young honeybee secretion used to feed larvae and the queen bee. It is thick and creamy white or pale yellow. Royal jelly is made up of 70% of water, amino acids and B vitamins. It is also high in carbohydrates, minerals and has antibiotic properties.
Royal jelly helps digestion, stress, physical and mental fatigue and boosts the immune system. It is also used to increase energy and stamina. Royal jelly is thought to improve high cholesterol levels, arthritis, high blood pressure and allergies.
It can be taken for three weeks, twice a year. One spoon of royal jelly melted under the tongue, every morning, should do the trick. Royal jelly is bitter and can be mixed with a bit of honey to sweeten it.
Bee hive products and apitherapy have been used through the years and can be found in health food stores in many countries. There is no scientific evidence that these products work but they are very popular worldwide and are considered to be miracles of nature by many.
References:
1. Stengler, Mark, N.D., The Natural Physician's Healing Therapies, Bottom Line Books, 2004.
2. The American Apitherapy Society website
Louanne Piccolo - Louanne Piccolo has been writing professionally for 13 years, focusing on family, health, teaching, education, translation and travel. ...
