Apitherapy: Medicine Made by Bees

Did you know that bees, those quiet, buzzing, diligent workers that gather nectar and pollinate plants, help to provide us with about one third of our food supply by pollinating crops? And that’s not all they do. Bee products can be used as medicine.

Raw Honey
Raw honey is not only wonderfully tasty and loaded with B vitamins, it can also be used as a topical salve to treat burns and wounds, due to its antibacterial qualities.

Beeswax
Recent studies have shown that a beeswax and olive oil mixture can help ease dermatitis or psoriasis.

Bee Pollen
Ingesting bee pollen is thought to increase energy levels and stamina. It has been used to ease back pain as well as seasonal allergies.

Bee Venom
Since it is believed to have anti-inflammatory qualities, the venom from bee stings has been used to treat arthritis and other joint ailments. Bee venom therapy (sometimes called Apipuncture) has also been reported to successfully ease multiple sclerosis symptoms, such as fatigue, vision problems and numbness.

Royal Jelly
Royal jelly is produced in the salivary glands of bees. It is used to feed all bee larvae and, if a queen bee is needed, the queen hatchling will continue to receive royal jelly for the first four days of its growth. It’s a milky white substance, and medicinally has been used to treat chronic fatigue problems and to increase appetite. Studies have indicated that royal jelly can lower cholesterol. Some practitioners consider royal jelly to be effective in bolstering the immune system, increasing energy levels, easing menopausal related headaches and vaginal dryness, preventing osteoporosis and, even, improving skin tone.

Propolis
Bee propolis is a sort of bee glue that bees make from tree sap and beeswax. They use it to stick their hives together and repair hive walls. Propolis is considered an antioxidant and can be used to make lip balm. It’s also thought to be able to break down and soften scar tissue and help ease spasms in people with MS. If you have asthma, don’t use propolis because it can worsen your condition.

For some great ideas on how to add honey to your pampering routine, read Honey Do: Kitchen Cupboard Beauty Tips.

A word of caution
Bee products can, in some instances, cause severe allergic reactions, so be an informed consumer and consult with an experienced apitherapist or a doctor who uses apitherapy.

Read more: Health, Alternative Therapies, Natural Remedies

By Lynn Behrendt, contributing writer for Green Living at Care2.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jo A.

1:17AM PDT on Jul 22, 2011

thanks for the information.

send a green star

May H.

2:55PM PDT on Jun 23, 2011

KS G.

4:43AM PDT on Jun 6, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Neil A.

1:32AM PST on Mar 4, 2011

I like set honey but as it is more expensive than runny I buy this & put it with some of the set which then after a while sets; I do eat quite a bit & hope to get some bees some time I already have a hive ready but the only bees that came went into the chimney & I could not get them in the hive even with professional help. Luckily I seem to be healthy maybe it is the honey??

Laura M.

2:14PM PST on Mar 3, 2011

Great article, and thanks for sharing.

Ian D.

9:34AM PST on Mar 2, 2011

Great article. Fight to protect are beeautiful friends from Genetically Modified crops and the poison used there in. They are extremely vital to the survival of this planet. Take Action:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/119/617/908/

Past Member .

8:59PM PST on Nov 28, 2010

I am so thankful for bees and their wonderful golden honey. We need to do everything to protect these beautiful and helpful insects.

Sue R.

2:14AM PDT on Aug 24, 2010

a wonderful article both educational and inspirational Bees are amazing and we must protect them education is the key people need to BEE aware of the the vital part they play,how they help us and what would happen if the bee population continues to decline.x

Philippa P.

5:47PM PDT on Aug 14, 2010

Bees are such wonderful creatures. Every year I plant bee-friendly flowers for them.

Janine F.

3:48AM PDT on Jun 25, 2010

thanks