BE
HEALTHY WITH BEE PRODUCTS
(Article by David Hawkins, MH, CNC)
Due to the upcoming
Honey Festival, I thought it would be appropriate to write about the benefits
of bee products. Most of us think only of honey when it comes to bees, but this
article will also discuss other different bee products like bee pollen, propolis and royal jelly. Bee products have been used since
ancient times for medicinal purposes, and that knowledge has provided research
into the value of these substances
Let’s begin with Honey. It is a natural
sugar source that many of you put into teas, on toast, or include in recipes.
It is considered the nectar of the Gods, and it consists mainly of glucose and
fructose. It contains Vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, E, K, and Beta Carotene as well
as minerals and enzymes. The medicinal properties of honey include the ability
to heal wounds; fight inflections; suppress dry cough; and treat ulcers, canker
sores, high blood pressure, and constipation; and it has antibiotic and
antiviral properties. It also helps to break up excessive mucus. According to
C. Leigh Broadhurst, Ph.D. there are four mechanisms
proposed for honey’s healing properties:
·
Honey’s
sugars are strongly attracted to water, forming a type of syrup. When spread
onto a burn or wound, honey absorbs water and bodily fluids, thus inhibiting
bacterial and fungal growth.
·
Raw
honey contains an enzyme “glucose oxidase”; and when
in the presence of water, it produces hydrogen peroxide (a mild antiseptic).
This enzyme is heat and light sensitive; thus, cooked honey does not work in
this application.
·
Raw
honey contains bee pollen and propolis that stimulate
tissue growth.
·
Additional
constituents like essential oils, flavanoids, and polyphenols
give honey some of its healing properties.
The only cautions with the use of honey involve
infants and diabetics. Otherwise, it is very agreeable for most people. We
prefer to use uncooked local honey for best results. Remember to cherish this
nectar as it takes the lifework of 12 bees to make one teaspoon of honey!
The next bee product is Bee Pollen.
Pollen is the primary food of bees and is rich in nutrients. It is considered a
complete protein, contains numerous vitamins including B vitamins, minerals and
numerous phytochemicals. Of course, the make-up of
pollen is dependent on the plant life in the vicinity of the hives. Bee pollen
is considered an energy and nutritive tonic and is used for longevity,
endurance, recovery from illness, aiding in addictions, reducing the craving
for sugars, building blood, alleviating hay fever and allergies, and
stimulating immunity. The optimal dose of pollen is based on individual need.
It is recommended for airborne allergies if it is local pollen, but one caution
is to try very small amounts at first to see how one will react. Higher amounts
are needed once you know that it can be consumed.
Anywhere from 6-15 grams can be consumed at a
time. When eating bee pollen, consider that it takes one bee working eight
hours a day for one month to gather a 6-gram dose. Each bee pollen pellet
contains over 2 million flower pollen grains. I use pollen from an organic
source and love to put it into an energy shake once a day.
Bee Propolis is mainly made up of
tree resins that the bees use like putty to seal cracks and openings in the
hive, strengthen the comb, and seal brood cells. Propolis
also sterilizes the hive and helps protect the bees from infections. More than
180 compounds have been identified and many are considered biologically active.
Propolis has exhibited anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, anti-allergenic, and antimutagenic
properties. Propolis contains organic acids that give
it antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral properties as well. In cultures it has inhibited the growth of
viruses and fungi including herpes, influenza, candida
and aspergillus, bacteria including E coli, staph and strep. It is also known to enhance the
effectiveness of certain antibiotics, and it can be taken in conjunction with
other prescribed medications. Propolis has been used
in the following conditions: Wounds, ulcers, upper respiratory inflections, and
for tissue growth.
The final bee product we will discuss is Royal
Jelly. Royal jelly is a thick creamy fluid made by nurse bees’ bodies
during the digestion of bee pollen and secreted by glands located in their
heads. Royal jelly is the exclusive food for the queen bee, and it is fed to
new bee larvae for just three days. Royal jelly contains a substance called
HDA, a hydroxyl fatty acid, collagen, lecithin, Vitamins A, C, D, E, pantothenic acid, acetylcholine, estradiol,
testosterone and live enzymes. Royal jelly has been shown to strengthen the bodies glandular system. It has been used effectively to
treat malnutrition in children, arthritis, leukemia, skin disorders, high
cholesterol and obesity.
As you can see, bee products have many benefits
for us. You can consider bee products as
valuable sources of nutrients for many preventive purposes as well when we have
certain conditions. These substances
come in many shapes and sizes from powders, liquids, and capsules. Remember the bee when using these substances
and be mindful of the work involved. As
with any substance, it is advisable to consult with your health care
practitioner when considering them for therapeutic benefits.
David Hawkins
is owner of Mother Earth Foods and has been a practicing herbalist for over 30
years. He is the past president of the
West Virginia Herb Association and is available as a lecturer and for private
consultations at the clinic of Integrative Holistic Health Services. Comments
and questions may be sent to David Hawkins,
