Products of The Hive

Honey

Raw honey has been used for its medicinal value for thousands of years by many cultures. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, wrote of the medical uses of honey. All the major religious texts mention the health benefits of honey. Raw honey—honey which has not been filtered, heat-treated, or processed—is not just a healthy food. It is a powerful medicine when taken internally or used topically. The favorable effects of raw honey as a natural medicine for a wide variety of ailments are well known in folk medicine and are beginning to be documented in the modern scientific literature.

Its chemical composition makes it easier to digest than regular sugar, and its metabolism does not stimulate insulin secretion to the same degree as does sugar. Thus honey can be used in small amounts as a healthy substitute for regular sugar and artificial sweeteners. It also contains small amounts of protein, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

Common indications for oral ingestion of honey include: insomnia, anorexia, stomach and intestinal ulcers, constipation, osteoporosis, and laryngitis. A clinical trial in Saudi Arabia found honey to relieve dyspepsia (chronic indigestion). It was also found to help heal bleeding ulcers and GI inflammation. Manuka honey from New Zealand was found to inhibit the growth of H. pylori, the bacteria that is sometimes responsible for the development of ulcers. Research has confirmed honey’s ability to act as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, as well as its antifungal and antiviral properties.

Indications for the external application of honey include treatment of athlete’s foot, eczema, lip sores, and both sterile and infected wounds resulting from accidents, surgery, bed sores, or burns. In many countries, including France and Germany, physicians recommend using honey as a first line of defense against burns, superficial wounds, and in some cases, even deep lesions such as abscesses. Wounds treated with raw honey generally heal faster and with less scarring than with conventional treatments. Raw honey is a natural and painless antiseptic. It kills germs because it is hydrophilic, meaning it absorbs or attaches to water in its environment thus dehydrating any bacteria it comes in contact with. In addition, honey contains an enzyme called glucose oxidase. This enzyme is converted to hydrogen peroxide, which is another powerful anti-microbial agent. In a 1991 study, honey was compared with silver sulfadiazine, the standard treatment for burn patients, and the results were astounding. Only 8% of patients treated with honey developed infections, compared to 92% of those treated with the silver sulfadiazine.

In addition to the previously mentioned medicinal uses for honey, it has also been shown to reduce the average size of postoperative scars significantly, treat cataracts and conjunctivitis, normalize the digestive microflora, calm the nerves, and facilitate sleep. These are just a few of the many uses for honey.

(from material provided by Andrew Kochan, MD, 6-08)

Propolis

Propolis has been used for centuries by many cultures for its antiseptic, antimicrobial, and detoxifying properties. Propolis, also known as “Russian penicillin” or “bee glue”, is a sticky substance that bees make from tree and other plant resins. Bees keep their hive from being infected by coating the inside of the hive with it, thus preventing the spread of bacteria and fungi that would be detrimental to the well being of the colony. Propolis from different regions of the world exhibit slightly different properties depending on the types of tree and plant resins available in the area.

Propolis contains flavonoid compounds known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity as well as tissue strengthening and regenerative effects. A 1994 Polish study found that mice given propolis lived longer than the mice in the control group. Antioxidants are thought to have anti-aging properties in humans as well.

In many countries where antibiotics are not widely available, it is a common to use propolis to heal a wide variety of wounds. Used as an antiseptic wash or salve, propolis is able to prevent the growth of bacteria in cuts and burns and it can also promote the healing process in lesions of the skin that have not healed. Used as a mouthwash, propolis is able to prevent bad breath, gingivitis, tooth decay and gum disease and it is commonly taken as a remedy for sore throats. Propolis is capable of acting as an anti-inflammatory as well. It can help with symptoms of arthritis, boils, acne, asthma, dermatitis, ulcers, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Propolis has also been found to have antimutagenic effects, which may aid in the prevention of cancer. In conjunction with royal jelly it can ameliorate the side effects of chemo and radiation therapies.

(taken from material provided by Andrew Kochan, MD, 6-08)

Bee Pollen

Pollen, the male seed of a plant, is the primary source of dietary protein for bees. Bees collect pollen to make Beebread by mixing it with honey or with nectar and adding enzymes that prevent the Pollen from germinating. Further, they also consume it, which allows them to secrete Royal Jelly and Wax. It has become a popular energy-enhancing nutritional supplement because it is about 25% protein and contains all the essential amino acids and vitamins and minerals needed by humans, except Vitamin B12. However, it does not contain the correct proportion of nutrients needed to sustain humans for an extended period of time; so it is the “perfect food” for bees, not for humans. Pollen is a good source of enzymes and also has the highest anti-oxidant activity, as measured by the ORAC index, of any fruit or vegetable. Because of its nutrient density, one to two teaspoons of pollen is equivalent to a serving of vegetables. Therefore, supplementing your diet with bee pollen is a great way to significantly improve your nutrient intake.

There is a rapidly increasing body of scientific evidence which shows that pollen has a variety of anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-arthritic properties. Its anti-inflammatory and antiallergic properties, as well as its immune system normalizing phytochemicals, allows bee pollen to be used therapeutically to decrease symptoms in people who have hay fever and pollen sensitivities. This is done through oral administration and is analogous to the way allergists treat people with desensitization injections. The therapy consists of giving a patient tiny amounts of a substance that a person is allergic to, and slowly increasing the amount over time.

Pollen has been reported to be useful in many other medical conditions including: varicose veins, high cholesterol and triglycerides, fatigue, infertility, impotence, anorexia, obesity, constipation, diarrhea, hypertension, prostatitis, depression, scar formation, and recovery from illness and surgery. Pollen is compatible with other therapies, it can be used long term, has no toxicity even at high doses for those who are not sensitive or allergic, and is safe to take as a supplement during pregnancy.

(from material provided by Andrew Kochan, MD, 6-08)

Bee Venom

Honeybee venom is produced by two glands associated with the sting apparatus of worker bees. Its production increases during the first two weeks of the adult worker’s life and reaches a maximum when the worker bee becomes involved in hive defense and foraging. It diminishes as the bee gets older. The queen bee’s production of venom is highest on emergence, which allows her to be prepared for immediate battles with other queens.

When a bee stings, it does not normally inject all of the 0.15 to 0.3 mg of venom held in a full venom sac (Schumacher et al., 1989 and Crane 1990, respectively). Only when it stings an animal with skin as tough as ours will it lose its sting – and with it the whole sting apparatus, including the venom sac, muscles and the nerve center. These nerves and muscles however keep injecting venom for a while, or until the venom sac is empty. The loss of such a considerable portion of its body is almost always fatal to the bee.
Used in small doses however, bee venom can be of benefit in treating a large number of ailments. This therapeutic value was already known to many ancient civilizations.

Honeybee venom is a clear, odorless, watery liquid. When coming into contact with mucous membranes or eyes, it causes considerable burning and irritation. Dried venom takes on a light yellow color and some commercial preparations are brown, thought to be due to oxidation of some of the venom proteins. Venom contains a number of very volatile compounds which are easily lost during collection.

88% of venom is water. The glucose, fructose and phospholipid contents of venom are similar to those in bee’s blood (Crane, 1990). At least 18 pharmacologically active components have been described, including various enzymes, peptides and amines. Detailed information on the components is available in the Krell document noted below.

(taken from Krell, R.,“Value-Added Products from Bee-Keeping,”
FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin #124, 1996)

Royal Jelly

Royal jelly is a milky substance produced by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of nurse bees between their 5th and 15th days of age. All bee larvae are fed royal jelly for the first three days after being laid. After that only the larvae designated to be the queen are fed royal jelly. The components of royal jelly help the queen mature into a large, fertile and longer-living bee. Worker bees live from 4-6 weeks, whereas the queen lives up to 6 years and lays 2.5 times her weight in eggs a day. This is due to royal jelly’s powerful effects on the bee’s endocrine, hormonal, and metabolic systems.

The Chinese are the world’s largest producers and consumers of royal jelly. Royal jelly has played a key role in traditional Chinese medicine, and is still used today to prevent and ameliorate a wide variety of medical conditions. These include, but are not limited to: anxiety, arteriosclerosis, arthritis, bone fractures, asthma, depression, fatigue, lack of sexual desire, hair loss, impotence, insomnia, liver and kidney disease, stomach ulcers, menopausal symptoms, varicose veins, a weak immune system, high and low blood pressure, and a variety of skin conditions. Royal jelly, which is high in B vitamins, has a metabolic stimulating action, which aids in the processing of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. It also increases oxygen consumption, improving endurance and decreasing fatigue. As a powerful antioxidant, royal jelly decreases levels of free radicals which are thought to cause aging. Royal jelly has a direct effect on the adrenal glands leading to an increased secretion of adrenaline which can be cardioprotective. With its protective effects on the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and immune systems, it is no wonder royal jelly is a prized commodity in many cultures.

The effects of royal jelly on specific conditions may be amplified when taken in combination with other bee products. One recently discovered property of royal jelly is its ability to provide protection against the negative side effects of chemo and radiation therapies, especially when given with propolis. This combination can also be used with positive effects for viral infections including shingles and hepatitis.

While there is still much to be learned about royal jelly, there are many recent studies from Europe and Asia which show how useful it can be. A Japanese study found that royal jelly has an anti-fatigue effect in exercising mice. In China and Russia, royal jelly was effective in treating chronic viral and bacterial infections, anorexia, varicose veins, and stomach ulcers. During a flu epidemic in Yugoslavia, it was noted that those who consumed royal jelly daily were less likely to get the flu. A study done in Egypt in 1995 revealed that royal jelly was capable of killing several kinds of bacteria, including E. coli. In another study it was found that people taking 50-100 milligrams of royal jelly per day decreased total serum cholesterol by 14% and lipids by 10%.

Royal jelly helps promote collagen synthesis and is beginning to be found in many topical dermatologic products. Royal jelly is also used in healing from prolotherapy treatments and other injuries.

(from material provided by Andrew Kochan, MD, 6-08)

An interesting article about Freezing Royal Jelly: http://apitherapy.blogspot.com/2009/02/royal-jelly-should-be-frozen.html

Beeswax

Many bee species produce wax, but only the wax of the honeybee species Apis mellifera will be referred to here. Of all the primary bee products wax has been, and remains, the most versatile and most widely used material.

Young bees in the hive, after feeding the young brood with royal jelly, in their third week of life, take part in the construction of the hive. Engorged with honey and resting suspended for 24 hours together with many other bees in the same position, 8 wax glands on the underside of the abdomens of the young bees secret small wax platelets. These are scraped off by the bee, chewed and masticated into pliable pieces with the addition of saliva and a variety of enzymes. Once chewed, attached to the comb and re-chewed several times, they finally form part of this architectural masterpiece, a comb of hexagonal cells, a 20 g structure which can support 1000 g of honey. Wax is used to cap the ripened honey and when mixed with some propolis, also protects the brood from infections and desiccation. Together with propolis, wax is also employed for sealing cracks and covering foreign objects in the hive. The wax collected by the beekeeper is that which is used in comb construction. Frame hive beekeeping produces wax almost exclusively from the cap and top part of the honey cells.

Pure beeswax from Apis mellifera consists of at least 284 different compounds. Not all have been completely identified but over 111 are volatile (Tulloch, 1980). At least 48 compounds were found to contribute to the aroma of beeswax (Ferber and Nursten, 1977). Quantitatively, the major compounds are saturated and unsaturated monoesters, diesters, saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, free acids and hydroxy polyesters. Table 4.1 lists the proportion of compounds as presented by Tulloch (1980).

There are 21 major compounds, each making up more than 1 % of the pure unfractionated wax. Together they account for 56% of the wax. The other 44% of diverse minor compounds probably account for beeswax’s characteristic plasticity and low melting point (Tulloch, 1980).

(taken from Krell, R.,“Value-Added Products from Bee-Keeping,” FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin #124, 1996)

Bee Bread

Normally, the term beebread refers to the pollen stored by the bees in their combs. The beebread has already been processed by the bees for storage with the addition of various enzymes and honey, which subsequently ferments. This type of lactic acid fermentation is similar to that in yoghurts (and other fermented milk products) and renders the end product more digestible and enriched with new nutrients. One advantage is almost unlimited storability of beebread in comparison with dried or frozen pollen in which nutritional values are rapidly lost. The natural process carried out by the bees can more or less be repeated artificially with dry or fresh bee-collected pollen. It is important however, to provide the correct conditions during the fermentation process.

“Of note: While allergy to Bee Pollen is frequently encountered, allergy to Beebread is very
rare.”

(taken from Krell, R.,“Value-Added Products from Bee-Keeping,”
FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin #124, 1996)

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