Apitherapy Products Popular in Russia

A Taste of Honey
By Phoebe Taplin, Moscow News, 9/28/2009

The 21st international honey festival is already in full swing at Tsaritsyno. This is the third time the market has been held here - it used to be at Kolomenskoye - and the venue is working out well. Just five minutes on foot from Tsaritsyno metro station, the festival grounds are right outside the main gate to the old imperial park which means visitors can also stroll past the musical fountains when they come to buy their honey.

…There is also royal jelly, and propolis, the resinous "bee glue" that bees use to fix honeycombs in place. You can of course also buy sections of the honey comb itself. Perga or bee-bread is another medicinal product popular among visitors to the fair. You can even buy crushed dead bees and venom for their supposed health benefits.

Magic properties

There is an almost mystical reverence afforded to honey and its by-products in Russia. Honey has a long history in this country.

It is said to be able to cure almost anything. It's just a matter of finding out which type of honey to use. Yevgeny Kovergin from the Tambov region says his buckwheat honey with propolis mixed into it acts as a "natural antibiotic" and "boosts the immune system".

Yekaterina Kuzmetsova from Kuban, one of the relatively few women apiarists, stands proudly behind a large tub of bee-bread. In her immaculate white overalls, she looks more like a doctor than a farmer; she is eager to explain how it can cure all kinds of illnesses: cardio-vascular, gastric or bronchial. According to her, it can raise your blood pressure (if taken after meals) or lower it (if taken before), while smearing it on the skin can heal wounds or cure eczema, herpes and psoriasis. Many sellers stress the vitamin content of their honey, the amino acids, beneficial minerals and natural anti-bacterial agents…

Bee Venom Therapy Helps Treat Mastitis in Dairy Cows

Somatic Cell Count in Milk of Bee Venom Treated Diary Cows with Mastitis
Journal of ApiProduct & ApiMedical Science, Vol. 1 (3) pp. 104 - 109

The objective of this study was to determine whether bee venom (BV) has therapeutic capacity against clinical and subclinical mastitis as assessed by mammary quarter somatic cell count (SCC) in dairy cows.

Mastitic cows from four farms, selected on the basis of SCC above 200,000 cells/mL of milk, were used in the current study. For bacteriological culture, individual quarter milk samples were aseptically collected into sterile culture tubes. Pathogens were identified on the basis of colony morphology, characteristic haemolytic patterns and Gram staining.

To observe BV dose effects, 15 lactating mastitic cows were injected subcutaneously with four different doses (3, 6, 12 and 24 mg per treatment) of BV. Another 6 lactating cows were used to compare two methods of BV administration (by subcutaneous injection or Bovivet Spenstift). An increasing concentration of BV exhibited a non-linear dose response in the reduction of mean SCC in milk samples.

A significant reduction was seen on days 3 and 6 (p < 0.05) compared to the control across all doses. With 12 mg dose, the reduction was 55% and 63% on day 3 and 6, respectively. By contrast, the higher dose (24 mg) did not appear to further affect the reduction, with 57% and 65% on day 3 and 6, respectively. When administration methods were compared, SCC reduction on day 3 was 55% and 63% with injection and Bovivet Spenstift, respectively. It was confirmed that the most effective BV therapy was by the Bovivet Spenstift at 12 mg. Then, a total of 53 quarters from 38 lactating cows were treated with BV once daily for 14 days. In the course of treatment period, the effect of BV was clearly shown to increase the number of clinically cured quarters with less than 0.2 million / mL SCC from 13 (24.5%) on day 3 to 32 (60.4%) on day 14. A significant reduction in the detection of Staphylococcus aureus and other Gram positive pathogens was found within 2 weeks of BV treatment with 75% clinical cure rate.

In conclusion, BV treatment of dairy cows with mastitis may have boosted mammary defence mechanisms. This method may be an efficacious option to avoid frequent administrations of antibiotics.

Propolis in Correlation to Cytokines - Part II

Apitherapy Review, Fall 2009

By Ahmed Hegazi
Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
National Research Center , Dokki, Giza , Egypt
Member of Apitherapy Commission, APIMONDIA
E-mail: ahmedgaffer@mailer.eun.eg and ahmedhegazi128@gmail.com

Propolis, the resinous product collected by honey bees from plants, is used as folk medicine since ancient time. During the last ten years, immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of propolis have been published.

Cytokines (Greek cyto-, cell; and -kinos, movement) are a category of signaling molecules that are used extensively in cellular communication. They are proteins, peptides, or glycoproteins. The term cytokine encompasses a large and diverse family of polypeptide regulators that are produced widely throughout the body by cells of diverse embryological origin. (Gilman et al., 2001). Cytokines are small secreted proteins which mediate and regulate immunity, inflammation, and hematopoiesis.

Cytokine is a general name; other names include lymphokine (cytokines made by lymphocytes), monokine (cytokines made by monocytes), chemokine (cytokines with chemotactic activities), and interleukin (cytokines made by one leukocyte and acting on other leukocytes)…

The detailed mechanisms of actions of propolis and its components on immune cells, however, are still unknown. Inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress have a central role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. Propolis has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. Büyükberber et al., (2009) investigated the therapeutic role of ethanolic extract of propolis on a cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis model in rats. In the acute pancreatitis group, serum amylase and lipase levels were found to be elevated and the histopathological evaluation of the tissue revealed massive edema and inflammation with less fatty necrosis when compared to the sham and control groups. In the ethanolic extract of propolis group, in particular, tissue edema was improved markedly (p=0.001). Tissue inflammation and fatty necrosis were decreased with ethanolic extract of propolis treatment.

In most of the diseases which are considered to benefit from propolis, cellular immune reaction is activated, neopterin levels in body fluids are increased and enhanced tryptophan degradation is observed. Girgin et al., (2009) studied, the immunomodulatory effects of six Turkish propolis samples were evaluated by using the in vitro model of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Concentrations of neopterin, tryptophan, kynurenine and pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were determined. In PBMC treated with mitogen phytohaemagglutinin, neopterin production and tryptophan degradation by enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) as well as release of cytokines was significantly enhanced and upon treatment with propolis extracts all these effects were dose-dependently suppressed.

CAPE is a biologically active component of propolis, a resinous material obtained from bee hives. The effect of CAPE on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory reactions is not known. Song et al., (2008) evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of CAPE on cultured human middle ear epithelial cells (HMEECs). They suggested that the anti-inflammatory effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester ( CAPE ) is due to its inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha expression and interleukin (IL)-8 production. The anti-inflammatory effect of CAPE is possibly through the inhibition of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB via the suppression of inhibitor-kappaB-alpha (IkappaB-alpha) degradation…

The immune system has a variety of regulatory/suppressive processes, which are decisive for the development of a healthy or an allergic immune response to allergens. NK1 and NK2 subsets have been demonstrated to display counterregulatory and provocative roles in immune responses, similar to Th1 and Th2 cells. T regulatory cells suppressing both Th1 and Th2 responses have been the focus of intensive research during the last decade. Deniz et al., (2008) investigated the regulatory NK cells in humans, by characterization of NK cell subsets according to their IL-10 secretion property. Freshly purified IL-10-secreting NK cells expressed up to 40-fold increase in IL-10. The effect of IL-10+ NK cells on Ag-specific T cell proliferation has been examined in bee venom major allergen, phospholipase A2- and purified protein derivative of Mycobecterium bovis-induced T cell proliferation. IL-10+ NK cells significantly suppressed both allergen/Ag-induced T cell proliferation and secretion of IL-13 and IFN-gamma, particularly due to secreted IL-10 as demonstrated by blocking of the IL-10 receptor. These results demonstrate that a distinct small fraction of NK cells display regulatory functions in humans.

Propolis Has Favorable Impact on Fish

Effects of Various Propolis Concentrations on Biochemical and Hematological Parameters of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Volume 72, Issue 7, October 2009, Pages 1994-1998

Biochemical and hematological parameters in blood of rainbow trout treated to various concentrations of propolis for 96 h were determined.

Total leukocyte count and granulocytes values increased in 0.02 and 0.03 g/L propolis groups. There was a decrease in agranulocytes erythrocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit values for fish exposed to 0.02 and 0.03 g/L propolis. MCV and MCH values were significantly increased; 0.02 and 0.03 g/L propolis caused an increase in the levels of glucose, blood urea nitrogen, triglyceride, total cholesterol, lactate dehydrogenase, amylase and gamma glutamyltransferase. There was a decrease in the levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase. Hematological and biochemical protective effects of 0.01 g/L propolis were investigated.

Dose-dependent effects of propolis on blood of fish can be favorable, opening new perspectives of investigation on their biological properties and utilization.

Once an Annoyance, Healing Honey Now Prized

Honey, It's a Winner
Elaine Reeves, The Mercury, 9/23/2009

Time was when beekeepers tried to avoid collecting honey from tea-trees.

It's hard to get a reliable flow from it, hard to extract and hard to pack," says Robbie Charles of Blue Hills Honey.

He has a picture of his father Rueben having uncapped the combs, stacking them in the river to wash out the dense jelly-like honey that otherwise had to be scraped away.

Because tea-trees are among the first to flower, it had some value for building up the bees to take advantage of the leatherwood flow that comes after Christmas.

One year Robbie and Nicola Charles had 14 tonnes of the stuff stacked up to be used for feed over the winter. That was all before the New Zealand name for tea-tree -- manuka -- was adopted by apiarists. They are both names for Leptospermum scoparium, but it makes sense to adopt the Maori name since that is the one recognised for the antifungal and antibacterial effects of "healing honey"…

Some manuka honey can have 1000 times the antibacterial power of other honeys, but all manuka honeys are not alike.

The way of measuring the potency until recently was to rate the "unique manuka factor" or UMF, by measuring the efficiency of the honey against a standard disinfectant. The honey was rated from 5 to 20 UMF.

About a year ago, Thomas Henle of the University of Dresden published findings that identified methylglyoxal as the compound in manuka honey that had the antibacterial effect.

The methylglyoxal level can be measured with a direct chemical analysis, and is a more reliable method than measuring the honey against a disinfectant -- plus the honey does not need to be sent to New Zealand for assessment.

The methylglyoxal is rated in milligrams per kilo. A measure of 30+ is equivalent to 5 UMF, and 400+ of methylglyoxal equals 20 UMF.

Only analysis will confirm the presence of methylglyoxal, but Robbie says he tends to know what areas produce the higher grades now.

"The poorer and the rougher the soil is, the better activity there is," he said. Quality can also depend on the variety of manuka -- some 83 different tea-trees grow in Tasmania - and where it grows…

He recently analysed Tasmanian honeys from 10 apiarists for their antioxidant content. Prickly box honey rated highest, and leatherwood from the North West, where Robbie and Nicola operate, was not far behind, but leatherwood from the South had less than half the levels of that from the North West. Manuka, tallow wood and Pedder wildflower honeys were also high in antioxidants.

Now there are moves afoot to obtain funding to test leatherwood honeys for their anti-inflammatory properties…

Study Shows Diabetics Can Use Honey in Moderation

Two Varieties of Honey that are Available in Malaysia Gave Intermediate Glycemic Index Values When Tested Among Healthy Individuals
Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub, 2009 Jun;153(2):145-7

AIM: To determine the glycemic index (GI) of Malaysian wild honey and Australian honey.

METHODS: Eight healthy volunteers (5 men and 3 women, aged 24-44 y, with normal BMI) were served 50 g carbohydrate portions of two varieties of honey or the reference food (glucose, tested 3 times), on separate occasions. Capillary blood glucose was measured fasting and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min after the start of the test meals. The GI was calculated by expressing each subject's incremental area under the blood glucose curve (AUC) after honey as a percentage of his or her mean AUC after glucose…

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that both Malaysian wild honey (GI=65+/-7) and Australian honey (GI=59+/-5) are intermediate GI foods.

… Thus, persons with diabetes mellitus can include moderate amounts of honey in a balanced diet. Hence, honey can be substituted for table sugar because of its additional health benefits. Further studies are needed to determine the composition of sugars present in the Malaysian honey varieties.

Propolis Component Helps Prevent Tissue Damage

Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester is a Potent Inhibitor of HIF Prolyl Hydroxylase: Structural Analysis and Pharmacological Implication
J Nutr Biochem, 2009 Sep 7

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is an active component of propolis from honeybee. We investigated a potential molecular mechanism underlying a CAPE-mediated protective effect against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and analyzed the structure contributing to the CAPE effect.

CAPE induced hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) alpha protein, concomitantly transactivating the HIF-1 target genes vascular endothelial growth factor and heme oxygenase-1, which play a protective role in I/R injury. CAPE delayed the degradation of HIF-1alpha protein in cells, which occurred by inhibition of HIF prolyl hydroxylase (HPH), the key enzyme for von Hippel-Lindau-dependent HIF-1alpha degradation. CAPE inhibition of HPH and induction of HIF-1alpha protein were neutralized by an elevated dose of iron. The catechol moiety, a chelating group, is essential for HPH inhibition, while hydrogenation of the double bond (-CC-) in the Michael reaction acceptor markedly reduced potency. Removal of the phenethyl moiety of CAPE (substitution with the methyl moiety) severely deteriorated its inhibitory activity for HPH.

Our data suggest that a beneficial effect of CAPE on I/R injury may be ascribed to the activation of HIF-1 pathway via inhibition of HPH and reveal that the chelating moiety of CAPE acted as a pharmacophore while the double bond and phenethyl moiety assisted in inhibiting HPH.

The Components of Apitherapy

Apitherapy: A Science in Its Own Right
By Prof. Roch Domerego, Apitherapy Review, Fall 2009
President of the European Company of Apitherapy, Apimondia
Vice President of Apitherapy Commission of Apimondia

Any product that is created by the bees can become a remedy of great therapeutic interest. Thus honey, propolis, royal jelly, beeswax and even venom are the bases of the api-pharmacopeia, which leads to the realization that the hive has been a complete pharmaceutical laboratory since the beginnings of time. With this laboratory man has been able to overcome most of the pathologies, thereby insuring his survival, fragile as it has been.

The products of the hive have then become a salvation and green medicine a real health solution, indispensable at this time when chemical medicine has reached certain limits.

Each component of the hive posesses its specific therapeutic properties.

Honey

Its properties, known since the begining ot time, are many, and are often a function of the plants foraged and, sometimes of the race of the bee.

Its nutritional, energetic, anti-anemic and dynamizing roles are well known, as is its ability to absorb other substances. In addition it also has a strong capacity as a laxative and as a liver protector.

Honey also has antiseptic and antibacterial action. In vitro studies of different kinds of bacteria have demonstrated that this action is very dependent on the type of flower foraged (in particular mountain honey, Thyme, Lavender,…). It is a also dependent of the care shown by the beekeeper in respecting hygiene standards, of the quality in the handling of the hives and in the production of the honey.

Honey's strong wound healing capacity have been demonstrated and in many hospitals it is used to heal wounds, clean or infected.

The combination of honey with essential oils as aro-honeys results in a synergy that effectively addresses severe pathologies…

Aro-honeys

Aro-honeys are aromatic mixtures providing the possibility of synergies between honey and aromatic essences. These synergies increase the therapeutic activity of their constituents relative to what the activity would be if they were administered separately. Also, they decrease unwanted side effects…

Pollen

All the main religious or secular traditions have extolled the therapeutic virtues of pollen: toning, stimulating and metabolic.

Pollen is a good regulator of liver and intestinal functions, together with an anti-inflammatory action, particularly on the gut level.

Pollen has detoxifying and anti-oxidant properties. Pollen, as well as the Brazilian nut has the highest selenium content of food products…

Greek Shop Offers Apitherapy Products

Centuries of Nectar in the Heart of Mykonos
By Necee Regis, The Boston Globe, 9/23/2009

…Nektar and Ambrosia is a 200-year-old family-run business that uses nectar from hives on the island and in Nafplion, a town in the Peloponnese. Eighty acres on Mykonos alone are covered with over 1,000 varieties of wildflowers…

He believes that stings are good for arthritis, and other illnesses “because the bees eat pollen that goes into the sting.’’ Quoting statistics from studies in Italy, Reppas adds, “The sting goes into the whole system like a human growth hormone.’’

The store also sells royal jelly, a substance secreted from the salivary glands of worker bees as food for the larvae. Reppas, who occasionally trades this product for fresh seafood with the aforementioned fisherman, recommends it to boost energy levels. “Royal jelly has vitamins and amino acids,’’ he says. “It’s a natural steroid.’’ He suggests putting a little jelly on the end of a toothpick and placing it under the tongue, followed by a spoon of honey and pollen…

Connaissez-vous la propolis en ce temps de grippe A!

Care Vox, 9/22/2009

La propolis est une substance sécrétée par les abeilles à partir de certaines plantes comme les résineux ou les bourgeons de certains arbres.

Alors sur la grippe on entend de tout, et ça vire vraiment à l’obsession comique. Cette grippe, bien moins virulente qu’une grippe "normale" fait la Une des journaux alors qu’elle ne le devrait pas. Avec des vaccins établis sur un coin de table et des médicaments inefficaces, c’est vraiment nous rouler dans la farine! Voici donc un petit un petit coup de pouce immunitaire: la propolis!...

Apitherapy: The Role of Honey in the Chronic Wound Healing Process

Epidemiol Mikrobiol Imunol, 2009 Aug; 58(3):137-40

With increasing frequency, modern medicine directs attention to natural products and biological therapy methods and their use in clinical practice. Bee honey as well as other bee products (propolis, royal jelly and venom) have already found use in medicine not only as immune system stimulants but also as chronic wound healing promoters.

The major arguments for implementing apitherapy are the low cost in comparison with conventional therapies and the fact that honey has proved effective against resistant hospital pathogens. Besides antimicrobial characteristics associated with no antimicrobial resistance risk, honey has anti-inflammatory effects.

Controlled clinical trials have shown honey to be effective in chronic wound healing and gave rise to medihoney. Nevertheless, further study is needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of honey in clinical practice.

Video: Urban Beekeepers Hope to Halt British Decline

AFP, Sep 19

Malaysian Stingless Bee Used to Produce Propolis

Propolis Bee Farm - A New Tourist Attraction in Penang

PENANG, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- A propolis bee farm at the Penang Botanical Garden here not only produce quality honey for medicinal purpose but also drawing attention as a new tourism product, offering insight into bee breeding among visitors.

Established two months ago, the Propolis Bee Farm was set-up not only for commercial purpose but also aimed at boosting the state tourism industry.

Its Business Development Manager Michael Fong said the 8,000 square feet farm is expected to extract approximately 500kg of raw honey monthly.

Speaking to Bernama, he said the bee farm and gallery is open from 9am to 7pm daily and entrance is free.

"While touring our farm, visitors will get an opportunity to know the difference between natural and synthesized honey, the various types of bees and the kind of propolis and honey produced," he said.

Michael said the Botanical Garden is the most suitable location for the farm as there are a lot of native stingless bees there which are needed to collect propolis from the natural botanical plants.

"The beautiful natural scenery and nice weather here provide a good environment for bee breeding dan promote propolis production.

"If you come to Botanical Garden, not only that you can enjoy Malaysia's oldest botanical garden, but you will also be charmed by the propolis bee," he said.

Propolis, which is a resinous mixture collected by honey bees from other botanical sources, has been recognised as recipes for natural beauty and natural antibiotical medicine.

Trigona, a tiny stingless bee which is also a native bee in Penang and found nowhere else around the world, plays important role in producing the propolis honey.

Apiculture specialist, Ong Kang Peng said unlike other types of honey, propolis production requires the Trigona bees to extract nectar from other botanical sources such as trees, flowers and other plants…

Glycemic, Insulinemic Index of Honey Related to Fructose Content

Glycaemic and Insulinaemic Properties of Some German Honey Varieties

Eur J Clin Nutr, 2009 Sep 16

The glycaemic and insulinaemic response to different German honey varieties have not been studied so far. Eight German honey grades differing in their floral source and carbohydrate composition were tested…

Five of the eight tested honey varieties show a low glycaemic index below 55; for six of the eight tested varieties, the glycaemic load was lower than 10 (portion size of 20 g honey).

Glycaemic index and insulinaemic index correlated significantly with the fructose content of honey varieties. The results show that glycaemic index and insulinaemic response depend on the fructose content of honey. Therefore, specific honey varieties may be recommended for subjects with impaired glucose tolerance instead of saccharose in food preparations.

Propolis Key Component in Anti-Viral Capsules

Reinforce Your Defences to Fight Viruses
Press Release, 9/16/2009

Kilvir® capsules: a natural solution to ward off viral infections

The arrival of autumn and winter viruses is a certainty. And, with predicted high levels of swine flu expected, it makes absolute sense to boost your immune system, ready to fight. While the most vulnerable people can expect a vaccine or antiviral treatment, it will not be recommended or suitable for everyone (A).

The best course of action is to reinforce your natural defences in a natural way. Kilvir® capsules are a potent synergistic combination of extract of Red Propolis and Eucalyptus, Melaleuca and Basilic immune-boosting essential oils.

Their combined actions are believed to bring two distinct benefits:

• First, Kilvir® could reinforce and strengthen the immune system to lessen the chance of viruses taking hold in the first place.
• Second, the capsules’ antiviral properties could lessen the impact and development of viruses should they be contracted.

Active Ingredients

Kilvir® capsules are a food supplement formulated to prevent viral infections. The active ingredients bring their own unique health benefits: but the secret is believed to lie in the synergistic behaviour of these combined active ingredients to stimulate and support the immune system.

Red Propolis is the main active ingredient and plays an essential role. This resinous substance produced by bees, has been recognised for decades for its powerful antiviral and immuno-stimulating properties. The concentrated extract of Propolis used in Kilvir® Capsules is believed to not only strengthen the immune system generally, but also to decrease the body’s sensitivity to viral infections. Numerous rigorous scientific studies have demonstrated its remarkable therapeutic properties…

Royal Jelly Production Recommended to Reduce Poverty

Reducing Poverty Through Beekeeping
By Emmanuel Nyatsikor

Ho, Sept. 15, GNA - Researchers say the Government's efforts at reducing poverty in the country especially in the rural areas could be given a boost if apiculture or beekeeping were taken as a serious venture.

Not many people know that honey, which is the main product of beekeeping, has other by-products some of which are vital inputs in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Besides those, beeswax, a major by-product of honey making is also used by textile industries as a major raw material, and for candles and polishes too.

Royal jelly or "bee milk", a highly nutritious mixture produced by bees is used in making jelly chocolate candy and wine, lotions and tonics for therapeutic use…

Royal Jelly Recommended for Defense Against Flu

Natural Health from A to Z
By Margaret Durst, Mason County News, 9/16/2009

Flu – we all want to avoid it. Here are some natural options that will help build your immunity so you do not get it.

Olive leaf enhances immune function and fights all types ofa infections, including the flu virus. I see many people who tell me that they have not been sick since they began taking olive leaf daily. With olive leaf, quality is very important. The active component, oleuropein, should be 18% at a minimum. The best brands contain over 20% oleuropein.

Elderberry is another good preventive herb. It is known for keeping viruses from replicating. Elderberry is a mild herb that can be taken daily, and has some positive side effects – its antioxidant properties help reduce LDL cholesterol and it is good for vision. I recommend a blend of elderberry, echinacea, olive and royal jelly called Elderberry Defense for prevention...

L'apithérapie, une médecine verte à la conquête de ses lettres de noblesse

AFP, 9/17/2009

MONTPELLIER - Utilisée de manière empirique depuis des millénaires, l'apithérapie, cette médecine alternative basée sur l'utilisation des produits de la ruche, s'offre aujourd'hui le luxe d'études scientifiques et cherche à se faire une véritable place dans le monde médical.

Dans la ruche tout est bon pour la santé: le miel, le pollen, la gelée royale, la cire, la propolis, une substance résineuse butinée par les abeilles dans les bourgeons de certains arbres, et même le venin, assurent les adeptes de l'apithérapie présents à un congrès mondial sur les abeilles à Montpellier (sud de la France).

Le miel "fait de belles cicatrisations", le pollen est "tonifiant", la propolis a des propriétés anti-infectieuses, la gelée royale "stimule le cerveau", la cire est utilisée pour des cosmétiques, résume Patrice Percie du Sert, président de l'Association francophone d'apithérapie qui regroupe des médecins, des chercheurs et des industriels.

Mais l'apithérapie "n'est pas vraiment reconnue dans le monde médical", regrette Ghislaine Pautard, assistante du professeur Bernard Descottes, du CHU de Limoges, pionnier de la recherche sur la cicatrisation par le miel…

Honey Bees Selected by ARS Toss Out Varroa Mites

American Agriculturist, 9/17/2009

Honey bees are now fighting back aggressively against Varroa mites, thanks to Agricultural Research Service efforts to develop bees with a genetic trait that allows them to more easily find the mites and toss them out of the broodnest.

The parasitic Varroa mite attacks the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., by feeding on its hemolymph, which is the combination of blood and fluid inside a bee. Colonies can be weakened or killed, depending on the severity of the infestation. Most colonies eventually die from varroa infestation if left untreated.

Varroa-sensitive hygiene (VSH) is a genetic trait of the honey bee that allows it to remove mite-infested pupae from the capped brood-developing bees that are sealed inside cells of the comb with a protective layer of wax. The mites are sometimes difficult for the bees to locate, since they attack the bee brood while these developing bees are inside the capped cells...

Video: Burnt Dog is Treated with Honey

BBC, 9/16/2009

...As part of her treatment, which has been ongoing for several months, her bandages which contain honey-coated dressings, are replaced several times a week. Vet Amanda Manley, who works at the Cornwall Animal Hospital, said she believed the honey had greatly improved Lady's condition…

Antibacterial Activity of Malaysian Tualang Honey Comparable to Manuka

The Antibacterial Properties of Malaysian Tualang Honey Against Wound and Enteric Microorganisms in Comparison to Manuka Honey
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2009, 15 September 2009

Background: Antibiotic resistance of bacteria is on the rise, thus the discovery of alternative therapeutic agents is urgently needed. Honey possesses therapeutic potential, including wound healing properties and antimicrobial activity. Although the antimicrobial activity of honey has been effectively established against an extensive spectrum of microorganisms, it differs depending on the type of honey. To date, no extensive studies of the antibacterial properties of tualang (Koompassia excelsa) honey on wound and enteric microorganisms have been conducted. The objectives of this study were to conduct such studies and to compare the antibacterial activity of tualang honey with that of manuka honey.

Methods: Using a broth dilution method, the antibacterial activity of tualang honey against 13 wound and enteric microorganisms was determined; manuka honey was used as the control. Different concentrations of honey [6.25-25% (w/v)] were tested against each type of microorganism. Briefly, two-fold dilutions of honey solutions were tested to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against each type of microorganism, followed by more assays within a narrower dilution range to obtain more precise MIC values. MICs were determined by both visual inspection and spectrophotometric assay at 620 nm. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) also was determined by culturing on blood agar plates.

Results: By visual inspection, the MICs of tualang honey ranged from 8.75% to 25% compared to manuka honey (8.75-20%). Spectrophotometric readings of at least 95% inhibition yielded MIC values ranging between 10% and 25% for both types of honey. The lowest MBC for tualang honey was 20%, whereas that for manuka honey was 11.25% for the microorganisms tested. The lowest MIC value (8.75%) for both types of honey was against Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Tualang honey had a lower MIC (11.25%) against Acinetobacter baumannii compared to manuka honey (12.5%).

Conclusions: Tualang honey exhibited variable activities against different microorganisms, but they were within the same range as those for manuka honey. This result suggests that tualang honey could potentially be used as an alternative therapeutic agent against certain microorganisms, particularly A. baumannii and S. maltophilia.

Charles Mraz Apitherapy Course & Conference Dec. 4-6 in NY

This is a special event for the American Apitherapy Society – not only are we holding our 14th CMACC, but we are also celebrating our 20th Anniversary.

CMACC will feature AAS’s world class apitherapy core Course, followed by the Conference with advanced topics and practical hands-on workshops, all given by our expert and experienced faculty and guest speakers. In the past, most people attend the course, conference, and the dinner. And many people attend CMACC several times, to benefit from new information and to network.

Plan to attend the “Bee Ball Banquet” where we shall honor individuals who have worked with AAS and have helped put Apitherapy “on the map” in the United States.

The Adria Hotel & Conference Center is located in a quiet neighborhood in Bayside, Queens, away from the bustle of NYC, yet accessible in 20 minutes by bus or train to NYC. In addition, the hotel is 15 minutes from LaGuardia, 20 minutes from JFK, and easily reached by many adjacent highways…

For more information, including costs, the registration form, information about hotel rooms, and for the CMACC Program, check the AAS website, at http://www.apitherapy.org/ or call the AAS office at (631) 470-9446, or the AAS Treasurer at (207) 865-9016.

Beeswax, Propolis, Bee Venom, and Royal Jelly Offer Health Benefits

More than Honey from the Hive
By Joseph Ajal, Daily Monitor (Uganda), 9/16/2009

Ask anyone you know, including children what the products of a bee hive are and almost immediately, you will get an answer that it is honey. However, there are many other amazing products from the hive which have some great properties and uses.

Take beeswax or propolis, bee venom or royal jelly, the most nutritious known food product. Royal jelly is a highly sought after product and is known to feature strongly in nutritional products sold by health companies like Swiss Guard, GNLD and Tianshi. It is the reason an ordinary worker cell will grow bigger than all workers in the comb cells and become a queen bee with a reproductive capacity of 1,500 to 2,000 eggs daily.

Yet the workers that would not have fed on as much royal jelly will not become anything else but workers. They also don’t have reproductive abilities. Therefore among food grades, nutritionists rate royal jelly high up there. As for propolis, its name comes from a Greek word, Polis, meaning protect. True to its name, propolis protects and defends one’s health by boosting immunity and fighting dangerous microbes.

Propolis is made by bees collecting sap from the buds of plants or the bucks of trees and mixing it with a secretion from the pharangyl glands in their heads to form bee glue, a dark resinous substance also known as propolis. It can be chewed in its raw form the mildly bitter taste notwithstanding, or dissolved in a food grade solvent to form a tincture and dropped in tea, fruit juice or water. It helps in cleansing the body of free radicals and microbes that are potentially dangerous. It can also be processed into an ointment or cream and applied to the skin.

Because of its antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, people who use it eventually develop a much better immunity and resistance to sickness. For cuts and sores, propolis can be applied directly onto the cut and because of its antiseptic properties, the cut will dry much quicker…

As for beeswax, it is derived from the honey comb after all the honey has been extracted. It is thanks to beeswax that the art with batiks industry is thriving. Many products like candles, cosmetics, shoe polish, floor polish, car wax and pharmaceutical capsules are also made from beeswax. Then there is the little known but very useful bee venom. In large quantities, it can be deadly.

It can lead to breathlessness and allergic reactions for those who are allergic to bee stings. However if harnessed and used in sparing quantities, it can be very useful in treating some conditions like rheumatism and arthritis…

Study Shows Honey Wound Dressings Stimulate Cell Growth

Triticum Press Release, September 10, 2009

We are proud to announce today’s publication by prof. Donald Du Toit and Ben Page on the cell toxicity of honey and silver dressings in the influential Journal of Woundcare. Their thorough in vitro research at the Stellenbosch University was to determine whether L-Mesitran Hydro and silver products either stimulate cell growth or kill growth (cytoxicity).

They conclude that:

L-Mesitran

- Significantly stimulates the growth of new cells (keratinocytes and fibroblasts);
- Results in a good new cell structure without abundant scar formation
- Is not cytotoxic;
- Has great advantages over silver products, especially when wound healing is the objective.

Silver

- Has a high kill rate of cells and is cytotoxic;
- The remaining cells are generally non vital;
- Silver has a negative effect on the migration and the shape of cells;
- After three weeks all keratinocytes and fibroblasts were eliminated!

The researchers emphasize that on the basis of these robust scientific results, they support the continued use of honey-impregnated dressings by wound care practitioners. They do not recommend the use of silver dressings for wound healing.

The article will be available from the website of the Journal of Wound Care or alternatively you will be able to find an abstract via Pubmed shortly.

Sex Life May Hold Key to Honeybee Survival

PhysOrg.com, 9/14/2009

The number and diversity of male partners a queen honeybee has could help to protect her children from disease, say University of Leeds scientists, who are investigating possible causes of the widespread increase in bee deaths seen around the world…

UK Nursing Journal Reviews Use of Honey on Wounds

Topical Antimicrobial Agents for the Treatment of Chronic Wounds
British Journal of Community Nursing, Vol. 14, Iss. 9 WCA Supp , 04 Sep 2009, pp S6 - S15

Chronic wounds are commonly observed in acute and community settings. The management of chronic wounds represents a significant proportion of health-care resources and makes up a substantial amount of contact time with community-based nurses spending approximately 25% to 50% of their time treating wounds.

Chronic wounds often exhibit increased bacterial burden that can negatively impact upon patients, reduce their quality of life and substantially increase treatment costs for health care providers. Antibiotic resistance has become a major medical and public health problem, and interest has been generated in the use of topical therapies to manage wound infection.

This article presents an overview of the historical use of honey, silver and iodine for the treatment of infected wounds progressing through to modern day use and the current evidence base for the use of these antimicrobial agents in the management of infected wounds.

Indian State Seeks to Promote Medicinal Honey

Medicinal Properties of Sikkim Honey Must be Leveraged as USP
United News of India, 9/14/2009

Gangtok, Sep 14: The Export Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) has suggested the state government to leverage the medicinal properties of honey produced in Sikkim as its Unique Selling Proposition.

''Considering that Sikkim is home to a wide range of medicinal plants grown in the wild, honey produced in Sikkim has been found to have medicinal properties and at times, rare ingredients. Further, honey produced from high altitude flora is being considered to be of better quality. These factors need to be leveraged upon by the State as its USP,'' said EXIM Bank in its study report 'Sikkim-Export Potential and Prospects' released recently…

''Bees in Sikkim are reared for production of honey for local consumption and for pollination of orange, passion fruit, beans and mustard crop. The honey is superior medicinally because the bee collects nectar from the rich flora of Sikkim,'' the report stated…

Video: Honey Bees Use Wings to Blow Away Invading Ants

Honeybees 'Buzz Off' Tramp Ants
By Jody Bourton, BBC, 9/10/2009

Honeybees use their wings to 'blow away' marauding ants that venture too close to their nests.

Scientists in South Africa and China have captured this unique behaviour on film for the first time.

As the ants approach, the bees turn in circles and fan their wings with a force greater than when in flight.

This produces such a large force that individual ants can be blown off their feet, the researchers report in the Journal of Insect Behavior.

Cape honeybees (Apis mellifera capensis) are found in southern parts of South Africa.

Their nests are often invaded and damaged by a host of other insect pests, including tramp ants (Pheidole magacephala) hive beetles (Aethina tumida) and the greater waxmoth (Galleria mellonella).

But the researchers only came across the bees' defensive tactic by accident.

"I dropped some honey at the entrance of a honey bee colony by mistake," says Mr Ming-Xian Yang, a biologist at Rhodes University, Grahamstown in South Africa and Yunnam Agricultural University in Heilongtan, China.

"It was not long before the ants came, then guard bees started fanning immediately when they detected the ants."…

Dog’s Burns Treated with Honey

Lady's Recovery from Burns is a Miracle
This is Cornwall, 9/10/2009

A much loved Alsatian dog is making good progress after being terribly burned in a house fire.

Lady was buried under a blanket of flaming ceiling tiles, when the cottage caught alight.

Owner Cyril Bond, 77, managed to rescue his other dog Toby, but was forced out by the smoke when he tried to find Lady.

Fire-fighters eventually found her buried in the debris. She was taken to Rosemullion Vets at Camborne for emergency treatment, and is now undergoing long-term care at Cornwall Animal Hospital at Treleigh.

She suffered severe burns all along her spine and down one side of her body.

Amanda Manley, a vet at Cornwall Animal Hospital, said: "Lady had horrendous injuries, which became infected. We treated the burns with Manuka honey and we are changing her dressings every two days.

"She would never have survived without treatment. They are very painful injuries, but she's a very good-natured dog. She needs long-term treatment which we are providing at cost."…

Bee Venom Component 100 Times More Potent Than Hydrocortisone

Can ‘Nanobees’ Sting Tumors to Death?
By Afifa Jabeen Quraishi, The Saudi Gazette, 9/12/2009

US researchers have recently developed tiny artificial “nanobees”, which are armed with a cancer-killing toxin found in bee venom, that literally sting tumors to death. Tested on mice, after four to five injections of the Melittin-carrying nanobees over several days, the growth of breast cancer tumors in the mice was slowed by nearly 25 percent. Melanoma (skin cancer) tumors shrunk in size by 88 percent.

Saudi Gazette asked Debabrata Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D., a Professor at the Nanotechnology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, Minnesota - via an email interview - the scope and implications of this research.

“The main propose of this work is to deliver toxic drugs into the tumors in a targeted manner and side by side to overcome drug resistance of the tumor cells. In this regard, the authors made use of Melittin, a water-soluble peptide derived from the venom of the honeybee and formed a nanoemulsion-peptide complex.

Melittin is highly toxic to the cells and disrupts the cellular membrane, killing the cells. If the cancer cells come closer to the Melittin, its membrane will be broken down; therefore the traditional mechanisms of cancer resistance cannot happen,” explained Mukhopadhyay.

“The uniqueness of the paper,” he continued, “is that the authors developed the nanoemulsion and put a tumor targeting agent that helps to deliver this highly toxic drug straight to the tumor mass and bypass the toxic effect of the venom. Therefore, the authors claimed that this nanoemulsion-peptide could kill the cancer cells precisely without damaging normal cells.”

The research also brings into focus the powerful bee toxin – Melittin - and its use in disease treatment.

“In several parts of Asia, such as, China and Korea, Bee Venom therapy (BVT) has been used for several diseases such as multiple sclerosis to relieve the symptoms associated with disease. Melittin is a powerful anti-inflammatory substance as well and may be 100 times more potent than hydrocortisone…

Mystery of Green Honey Solved

Green Honey a Surprise
By Linda Copeland, Sequoyah County Times, 9/11/2009

After seeing the “Bee Movie” and talking to a beekeeper Gabriel Timmerman, 7, of Sallisaw wanted to start a hive of his own.

“I thought the bees were cool and I wanted the honey from them,” Timmerman said.

Timmerman said he and his grandpa, David Rogers, harvested their first honey in August.

“I didn’t know what to think when I saw the green honey. It tasted like honey,” Timmerman said.

“We didn’t know what it was. I showed it to a beekeeper up in Tulsa and he had never seen anything like it before either,” Rogers said.

Rogers said that they think they have solved the mystery of the green honey…

See: Online Excerpts from Russian Apitherapy Book Explain ‘Express’ Method of Medicinal Honey Production

Nanofiltration Efficient at Concentrating Propolis Extracts

Concentration of Flavonoids and Phenolic Compounds in Aqueous and Ethanolic Propolis Extracts Through Nanofiltration
Journal of Food Engineering, Article in Press

Propolis has a variable and complex chemical composition with high concentration of flavonoids and phenolic compounds present in the extract. The extract varies with the solvent used in extraction. Ethanol extracts more phenolic acid and polar compounds than water.

Before their use in industry, extracts must be concentrated but the use of high temperatures can degrade some compounds. Membrane processes is an option that allows concentration at low temperatures.

Nanofiltration was carried out with aqueous and ethanolic extracts and each extract results in two distinct fractions: permeate and retentate. The capacity of the membrane to retain the compounds was verified by spectrophotometric analysis…

Thus, the nanofiltration process showed high efficiency in the concentration of propolis extracts.

Case Study: Bee Venom Therapy Used to Treat Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Dr. B. Kaviani
E-Mail: b.kaviani@dpiranian.com

A 36-year-old female came to me from Kuwait. The lady was diagnosed with GBS (Guillain-Barre syndrome) four years earlier with numbness and paralysis in her legs and arms. Severe fatigue, prolonged confinement in bed at a regional hospital in Kuwait made her disabled, despite being active previously as a teacher. Different medications were used for the patient during her stay in hospital, such as IVIG and chemotherapy with antineoplastic medication.

After performing our routine tests, we started Bee Venom Therapy (BVT) with live honey bees and assessed its results. Due to her limited stay in Tehran, we followed a condensed program for achieving the most possible acceptable results. (See: http://www.apitherapy.ir/)

BVT causes nausea, chills and increased body temperature, and sleeping disturbance due to a systemic reaction of the patient's body to the antigens of Bee Venom and could be compared to the reaction to a routine vaccination. The duration of these symptoms is between several hours and up to 72 hours. During this period, the patient should drink plenty of water. (Bee Venom and all other natural toxins have protein structural and water-soluble base). In this regard it is necessary to make sure that the patient's kidneys are working well before starting BVT. Therefore, we performed tests such as clearance of creatinine. After the initial treatment, the patient needs a complete rest without BVT for a week.

The following results were obtained after BVT and gradually increased during the past three years from her first visit (26-12-2007) until now:

1. Increasing the feeling of her affected limbs (legs and arms) as though the patient has feeling of warmness and blood moving in her limbs.
2. Decreasing the movement hindrance in her legs
3. Decreasing the fatigue
4. Increase of appetite

Now the patient is completely active and able to work in a tropical area such as Kuwait.

Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly Recommended for Chronic Fatigue

The Antidote for Celiac Related Chronic Fatigue, a Super Food Recipe
By Lorinda Hill, LA Gluten Free Examiner, 9/8/2009

Royal jelly is a honey bee secretion that is used in the nutrition of the queen bee. As a panacea used for thousands of years, it dates back to ancient Egypt. After harvesting from the hive it must be preserved carefully, and used fresh. Royal jelly contains vitamins A, C, D, E, B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12. It is also a good source of folic acid, and amino acids. These amino acids are essential for growth and repair of our cells and tissues and are thought to be of great importance in helping combat 'free radicals' in the body.

Bee pollen is velvety sweet and loaded with more than 96 nutrients. It is sometimes called the perfect food.

The final mixture looks like chocolate icing, You can spoon it into paper muffin cups if you do not have the silicon baking cups.

4 tbsp Seabiotics
4 tbsp raw cacao powder
4 tbsp Shilajit (or more if you like)
½ cup royal jelly
3 tbsp raw honey (or to taste)
Bee pollen—Enough to cover (approximately 1 tsp/serving)

Mix first three ingredients together first, the cacao and shilajit will dissolve easily in the Seabiotics®. Add the royal jelly, and then honey to taste. Spoon into silicone or paper cups; sprinkle a layer of bee pollen on top. Put in covered bowl or dish and freeze. Make sure you freeze it in an airtight container so that it says fresh tasting. This recipe makes 12 or more servings. One serving of "The Antidote" each morning wakes you up! One word of caution, some individuals can be highly allergic to bee products.

Apitherapy Conference in Thailand Nov. 11-14

New Manuka Honey Standards to be Announced

Progress on Manuka Honey Standards
Radio New Zealand, 9/8/2009

A group set up to resolve arguments over labelling and testing standards in the manuka honey industry plans to have a proposal ready within two or three months.

Manuka sells for a premium over other types of honey because of its unique antibacterial properties, but the industry is divided over how that antibacterial activity should be measured and described on honey products.

The steering group of honey exporters was formed after a meeting called at Parliament earlier this year to address the conflict…

Meanwhile, Waikato University will launch a new consumer standard for manuka honey this month, which it says will update and improve what is currently used…

Medical Benefits of Sidr Honey from Yemen

YemenSidrHoney.com

Natural Arphrodisiac - Mixing Sidr honey with carrot seeds makes it an aphrodisiac. A blend of the honey with certain combination of nuts, ginseng and herbs are claimed to be better than Viagra, with no side effects.

Antioxidant - Some honesy are found to have as much as 75-150 mg ascorbic acid per 100g, while others have less than 5mg per 100g. Antioxidants are important in counteracting the damage caused to the body by ree radicals whic play a role in the aging process and in triggering diseases such as arterial disease and cancer. Research has found that darker honeys have higher antioxidant properties.

Antibacterial - Medical science is rediscovering the effctiveness of honey in the use of alternative therapies in areas where the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (the"superbugs") spreads. Honeys may differ in the potency of its antibacterial activity thus affecting its healing abilities. Some honeys are no more antibacterial than sugar, while others can be diluted more than 100-fold and still halt the growth of bacteria.

Kuwaitis Use Honey to Ward of Swine Flu

Kuwait Honey Sales Rise on Swine Flu Fears
By Elsa Baxter, Arabian Business, 9/8/2009

Honey sales in Kuwait rose 20 percent last month as people concerned about the spread of swine flu attempted to boost their immune system naturally.

Traditional medicine expert Youssef Al-Faresi told KUNA news agency that people were taking honey to ward off the H1N1 virus because of a lack of official vaccines…

Manuka Honey Kills Superbugs by Destroying Bacterial Proteins

Manuka Honey Inhibits MRSA Infections by Killing Bacterial Proteins
News-Medical.net, 9/7/2009

Manuka honey may kill bacteria by destroying key bacterial proteins. Dr Rowena Jenkins and colleagues from the University of Wales Institute - Cardiff investigated the mechanisms of manuka honey action and found that its anti-bacterial properties were not due solely to the sugars present in the honey. The work was presented this week (7-10 September), at the Society for General Microbiology's meeting at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.

Meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was grown in the laboratory and treated with and without manuka honey for four hours. The experiment was repeated with sugar syrup to determine if the effects seen were due to sugar content in honey alone. The bacterial cells were then broken and the proteins isolated and separated on a system that displayed each protein as an individual spot. Many fewer proteins were seen from the manuka honey-treated MRSA cells and one particular protein, FabI, seemed to be completely missing…

"Manuka and other honeys have been known to have wound healing and anti-bacterial properties for some time," said Dr Jenkins, "But the way in which they act is still not known. If we can discover exactly how manuka honey inhibits MRSA it could be used more frequently as a first-line treatment for infections with bacteria that are resistant to many currently available antibiotics".

Nutritionist Recommends Honey for Athletes

Show Me the Honey: UCD Nutritionist Thinks Bees are Sweet
By Daily Democrat, 9/6/2009

"I recommend honey -- honey should be part of a good refueling strategy," nationally renowned nutritionist and fitness expert Liz Applegate of UC Davis, told beekeepers and scientists at the 31st annual Western Apicultural Society conference held recently in Healdsburg.

"I always have my athletes consume honey before and during strenuous exercise," said Applegate, director of sports nutrition at UC Davis and the nutritionist for the Oakland Raiders.

"Honey works," she said.

Applegate, a member of the UCD Department of Nutrition faculty, and a newly announced recipient of the 2009 UC Davis Distinguished Teaching Award, explained that the body manufactures and stores glycogen primarily in the liver (glycogen is found in lower concentrations in the muscles). During strenuous exercise, the liver depletes the short-term energy storage of glycogen in about two hours. "If you don't replenish it, it's like a runner hitting the wall or bonking," Applegate said.

"There's no glycogen in any food we eat," said Applegate, herself an athlete who lifts weights, runs and cycles.

Honey, a rich source of carbohydrates, "provides a quick source of energy," she said. It's easy to carry (in packets), easy to consume (no chewing), easy to digest and is easily assimilated…

Propolis Induces Cancer Cell Death

Propolis from Turkey Induces Apoptosis Through Activating Caspases in Human Breast Carcinoma Cell Lines
Acta Histochemica, Article in Press

Propolis is a sticky substance that is collected from plants by honeybees that has anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic properties with biological and therapeutic effects. The target of this study was to investigate the anti-apoptotic effect of propolis extracts (PE) on the caspase pathway in the human breast cell line MCF-7 in culture…

We conclude that propolis may have anti-tumour effects by increasing apoptosis through the caspase pathway. Such propolis extracts may be important economically and allow development of a relatively inexpensive cancer treatment.

Bee Pollen Recommend to Aid Weight Loss

Curbing Cravings
By Kimberly Wesley, St. Louis Weight Loss Examiner, 9/3/2009

…Instead of pigging out on that pack of Oreo cookies followed by chocolate chip ice cream, maybe that craving can be fixed by other means...

Bee Pollen - Has 40% protein and is known to curb or reduce your appetite. Bee pollen is a natural supplement alternative which makes it even more appealing. Research also suggests that Bee Pollen may even regulate you weight if taken correctly and regularly.

The Health Benefits of Royal Jelly

Health Tip of the Day: Benefits of Royal Jelly
Tayyar, 9/5/2009

For decades Royal Jelly has been widely used as an addition to man’s diet acting as a natural 'health supplement'. Royal Jelly is an entirely natural substance that is created by bees that is packed full of nutritional bounty…

Health benefits of Royal Jelly

People who intake Royal Jelly commonly express the opinion that it helps slow down the ageing process, improves a person’s vitality and energy levels, improves the condition of the skin and improves the strength and condition of the hair and nails. It has also been used for helping control cholesterol levels and to improve sexual vitality.

The range of nutritional content in Royal Jelly is impressive. It includes Vitamins: A, C, D, E, B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12. It is also a good source of Folic acid.

It is around 12% protein and has all 8 of the essential amino acids that the body cannot manufacture, but needs to be supplied with. These amino acids are essential for growth and repair of our cells and tissues and are thought to be of great importance in helping combat 'free radicals' in the body.

It also has a good balance of lipids and carbohydrates as well as aspartic acid which is used in growth and repair of cells and tissues.

Royal Jelly also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

Bee Venom Therapy May Trigger Flare-Up of Lupus

A New Onset of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Developed After Bee Venom Therapy
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine, Vol. 24, No. 3, September 2009

Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease of an unknown origin, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can be triggered by numerous stimuli. Bee venom therapy is an alternative therapy that is believed to be effective for various kinds of arthritis. We present here a case of a 49-year-old female who experienced a new onset lupus after undergoing bee venom therapy, and this looked like a case of angioedema. The patient was successfully treated with high dose steroids and antimalarial drugs. We discuss the possibility of bee venom contributing to the development of SLE, and we suggest that such treatment should be avoided in patients with lupus…

Discussion

The idea of using bee venom as a treatment for arthritic symptoms is not a new one, and it is thought to have originated during ancient times. Bee venom is effective in murine arthritic models and it has also shown effectiveness in human trials. Its effectiveness is thought to be mediated through inhibition of macrophages and lymphocytes, which leads to decreased IL-1/IL-2 production and inhibition of NF-κb.

In addition, bee venom’s anti-nociceptive effects were found to be mediated though alpha-2 adrenoceptors. At the same time, it is also well known that bee venom can inflict severe complications such as anaphylaxis.

We cannot be entirely sure of the role of bee venom in our patient because rechallenge experiments could not be done. Also, the possibility of having an underlying infection as a precipitating factor cannot be totally refuted. However, considering the temporal sequence of the patient’s clinical history, it is likely that a mild subclinical level of lupus activity must have been ongoing, and it seems very likely that the venom triggered the borderline disease into a full-blown onset of overt lupus…

In conclusion, although bee venom therapy may be effective, taking a careful pre-treatment history and clinical evaluation must be done before starting treatment. It also should be noted that bee venom therapy may cause a flare-up of lupus, and this can happen in previously diagnosed patients, so prudence is needed before treating such patients.

Video: Minn. TV Anchor Wears Bee Beard to Raise Awareness

FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (WCCO) ― Don Shelby has been a beekeeper and has a lot of concern about the disappearing number of hives around the world. To help raise awareness, he got up close and personal with a few thousand bees at the Minnesota State Fair.

Newly-Discovered Molecule Augments Manuka Honey Antibacterial Activity

Honey Breakthrough Reveals Manuka’s Secrets
Press Release: University of Waikato

New research on New Zealand's world-famous antibacterial manuka honey has unveiled another of its secrets.

Watson and Son, a major New Zealand producer of manuka honey, in collaboration with Professor Peter Molan of Waikato University’s Honey Research Unit, has commissioned research by a specialist research laboratory in Singapore, which shows that a special molecule acts to augment the antibacterial activity of methylglyoxal in the honey – a process known as synergy.

The unique type of antibacterial activity in manuka honey was discovered in research at the University of Waikato in 1982. Evidence shows manuka’s special antibacterial properties are effective at healing wounds, but research also shows that this activity is present in only some manuka honeys.

Last year, Waikato University Associate Professor Merilyn Manley-Harris of the Chemistry Department, showed that methylglyoxal was responsible for the antibacterial activity in manuka honey.

However Prof Molan has long maintained there is also a synergy at work in the honey and last October, New Zealand beekeeper-chemist Denis Watson commissioned a specialist research laboratory in Singapore to investigate several active fractions in manuka honey. Mr Watson is one of New Zealand’s largest manuka producers. In partnership with iwi groups in the Far North he has more than 15,000 beehives in manuka plantations around New Zealand.

Dr Manley-Harris and Prof Molan say they are delighted companies are taking the initiative to commission research of this calibre.

The results have proven the existence of a formerly secret synergist: a special molecule that combines with the methylglyoxal molecule and other fractions in the honey to create the very powerful antibacterial activity the honey is world famous for. The discovery is also the key to understanding why the clinically proven antibacterial activity is so effective and why international research to date has shown that bacteria fail to develop the resistance that is inevitable with conventional antibiotics…

Honey Not Altered by Gamma Radiation Sterilization

Effect of Gamma Radiation on Honey Quality Control
Radiation Physics and Chemistry, Volume 78, Issues 7-8, July-August 2009, Pages 583-584

Honey is one of the most complex substances produced by bees, mainly from the nectar of flowers. Gamma radiation is a technique that can be used to decrease the number of microbiological problems associated with food and increase the shelf life of certain products.

The objective of this study was to verify the effect of gamma radiation with source of cobalto-60 (10 kGy) on some parameters used in honey quality control. Seven samples of pure honey were obtained from local markets in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2007. The methods used are in accordance with Brazilian Regulations. The physicochemical parameters analyzed were: moisture, HMF, free acidity, pH, sugars and ash.

The results showed that gamma radiation, in the dose mentioned above, did not cause significant physicochemical alterations.

Malaysian Study Shows Effectiveness of Honey on Wound Healing

The Efficacy of Honey Dressing on Wound Healing: A Clinical Observation Study
Kamaruddin Mohd Yusoff, Anwar Suhaimi, Zainabe Syed Akka and Mohd.Yassim Mohd Yusof
Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya
[The results of this study will be presented at Apimondia 2009 in France.]

Honey dressings were performed on 102 patients with wounds and ulcers that had failed to heal with conventional treatment. The conventional treatments include oral antibiotic (tablets or intravenous), cleaning the wounds with saline and dressing with povidine-iodine. Wounds were defined as having failed to heal after being exposed to conventional treatment for up to one month.

All 102 cases showed recovery at remarkable pace. All wounds were infected before honey treatment starts. Wound sterility was achieved by the third week of treatment. Honey promoted wound healing by causing rapid debridement, clearance of sloughs and absorption of oedema. Honey also promoted rapid production of granulation tissue.

Honey dressing is highly recommended for wounds and ulcers that are difficult to heal. The healing time is much reduced and some patients were saved from amputations. It is high time for this natural remedy be given due recognition by conventional medicine.

Honey is Both a Superfood and Medicine

Margie King, Philadelphia Nutrition Examiner, 9/2/2009

…In addition to its many culinary uses, honey has a long and impressive resume as a medicinal healer. In traditional medicine it has been used for treating gastric ulcers, burns, high blood pressure, sore throat and dry cough.

Modern medicine is also now recognizing the medicinal benefits of honey. In 2007, research out of Penn State College of Medicine concluded that a small amount of buckwheat honey before bed was more effective than over-the-counter cough suppressants for children over 2 years of age.

Also in 2007, the FDA approved a line of wound care dressings lined in honey produced by Derma Sciences, Inc. Because honey is high in sugar and low in moisture it has been traditionally used to fight bacterial growth, producing hydrogen peroxide as it draws moisture from wounds. It also contributes to reduced swelling and inflammation.

In addition, honey has been shown to aid digestion, and an Oklahoma allergist even claims that one teaspoon of raw honey every day is effective to treat 90% of allergies…

Saving Bees: What We Know Now

New York Times, 9/2/2009

The first alarms about the sudden widespread disappearance of honeybees came in late 2006, and the phenomenon soon had a name: colony collapse disorder. In the two years that followed, about one-third of bee colonies vanished, while researchers toiled to figure out what was causing the collapse. A study published last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences surmises that there may not be a single pathogen involved but a collection of culprits. What have entomologists and beekeepers learned in the last few years of dealing with the crisis? We asked May R. Berenbaum, an author of the study, and other experts for an update.

Kim Flottum, editor, Bee Culture
Joe Traynor, California bee broker
May R. Berenbaum, entomologist, University of Illinois
Marla Spivak, entomologist, University of Minnesota
Diana Cox-Foster, entomologist, Pennsylvania State University

Humans, Bees Not at Risk From Heated HFCS, Says CRA

By Jess Halliday, Food Navigator, 9/1/2009

Storage standards and temperature control for HFCS mean human health is not at risk from the formation of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), the Corn Refiners Association asserts, which also refutes suggestions that the toxin could be a factor in honeybee colony collapse disorder.

Video: Bee Venom Therapy in Chile (Spanish)

Book Explores Myth, Science of Honey

By Jim Danielson, The Lincoln Journal Star, 9/1/2009

("Letters From the Hive: An Intimate History of Bees, Honey, and Humankind" by Stephen Buchmann with Banning Repplier, Bantam, 221 pages, $14 paperback).

Most of us have little knowledge of honey. We're content to buy little plastic spouted bottles, cover our toast or pancakes with sweetness and go on with our day, or buy little bears filled with it from cute children selling them at our front door.

But honey has a famous past and a dubious future. Honey has played major roles in war and love, in religion and death, had a profound influence on economics in parts of the world and has been heralded as a cure for what ails you.

"Letters from the Hive" takes you down a path, from ancient history to modern discoveries, which will keep you from ever thinking about it again as just honey. For example, did you know that Egyptian royals were buried with pots of honey? The Paris Opera House has five bee hives. The King James Bible alludes to bees springing forth in immaculate conception. The modern bee hive was created about the time of our Civil War. The full moon of every month in our calendar has a name, and one month is the honey moon. Which month is it? No, not June…

Canadian Hospital Uses Honey on Burns

RUH Burn Unit a Tribute to Teamwork
By Bob Florence, The StarPhoenix, 8/31/2009

…Honey is the active ingredient in a dressing that is applied to burns or wounds. This is special, import honey. It's made by bees that pollinate Manuka, a type of tree almost exclusive to New Zealand.

"Growing up at home, we put Manuka honey on cuts and burns all the time," said Colleen Ferguson-Smith, a native of New Zealand who is in her second year as manager of the major surgery ward at RUH.

Let's give it a go here, she said.

Shauna Elek is the clinical co-ordinator of the unit. In her office, cartons of Medihoney compete for shelf space with binders labelled Advanced Burn Life Support and Acute Burn Management and Burns Resource…