New Zealand Couple Use Honey to Heal Patients in Indian Clinic

Why Jason's Buzzing at Bay's Healing Honey
By Joel Ford, Bay of Plenty Times (New Zealand), 5/31/2007

Jason Cobb is using a little piece of the Bay to help heal sick people in one of India's poorest areas.

Mr Cobb and his wife Andrea run a health clinic and children's home in Orissa, Eastern India, where they use medical-grade manuka honey to help patients…

Comvita provides the Foundation with manuka honey used to treat patients and Mr Cobb says it is amazing how well it works on a variety of different skin ailments.

"Manuka has special properties. It kills bacteria, repairs tissues and provides the perfect healing environment," he said.

"We don't have a lot of remedies so we use it for everything - it's great."

The honey has many marvellous properties: it acts as a liquid barrier between the wound and the dressing to prevent the dressing from sticking; it provides a moist, bacteria-free environment keeps wounds moist so scarring is reduced; and studies have shown that the acidity produced by manuka honey helps stimulate minor wound healing…

Newly-Isolated Propolis Component Inhibits Proliferation of Cancer Cells

Propolin H from Taiwanese Propolis Induces G1 Arrest in Human Lung Carcinoma Cells
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2007 May 26

Propolis, a natural product collected by honeybee, has been reported to exert a wide spectrum of biological functions. In this study, we have isolated a novel component, namely, propolin H, and investigated its effects in human carcinoma cells. Propolin H inhibited the proliferation of human lung carcinoma cell lines in MTT assay, and a significant G1 arrest was observed to occur in a dose-dependent manner at 24 h of exposure in H460 cells…

Propolin H exerts its significantly growth inhibitory effects and may have therapeutic applications.

Croatian Bees Sniff Out Landmines

By Nicholas Walton, BBC News, 5/30/2007

A new technique to help find unexploded landmines using honey bees is being developed at Zagreb University in Croatia…

Training the bees to find mines takes place in a large net tent pitched on a lawn at the university's Faculty of Agriculture.

A hive of bees sits at one end, with several feeding points for the bees set up around the tent.

But only a few of the feeding points contain food, and the soil immediately around them has been impregnated with explosive chemicals.

The idea is that the bees' keen sense of smell soon associates the smell of explosives with food. So far this has proved successful.

The first day or so is spent in the large net tent, getting the bees used to associating the smell of TNT with food.

After that several bees are taken out of the colony and tested to see if they react correctly when presented with extracts of explosives…

American Beekeeper Uses Bee Venom to Treat MS

Amateur Beekeepers Abuzz with Excitement
By Chad Hunter , News-Leader (USA), 5/29/2007

At Scott Kissee's home in Ozark, two hives provide bees he uses for an alternative treatment of multiple sclerosis called "bee-venom therapy," or apitherapy. Although not scientifically proven or endorsed, the practice, according to Kissee, has been a blessing.

"When I came out of the Army, I was on heavy, heavy medication, of course my shots every day and muscle relaxers and painkillers," said Kissee, who spent months in a wheelchair following the diagnosis in 2000. "I was pretty skeptical (of bee venom therapy), but I started trying it and got off almost all my medication."

Every other day, Kissee prods 21 bees into stinging his back from the neck down.

"You catch them with the tweezers and tap the butt. They sting you every time. It's working great for me, and it's saving the taxpayers a whole lot of money on medication."…

Pollen, Raw Honey Recommended for Allergy Relief

To Sneeze or Not to Sneeze
By Laurie Castaneda, The Pinnacle (USA), 5/11/2007

For some, modern medicine often takes a back seat to home remedies. These methods vary, from taking 16 grams of Vitamin C orally over a 24 hour period to aromatherapy (lavender and chamomile oils are said to help calm asthma attacks).

Others, such as Leon Bray, say bees may provide the relief allergy sufferers are looking for.

Bray, a Hollister resident who has kept bees as a hobby for 40 years, says both bee pollen and raw honey may work to ease certain allergy symptoms. Several years ago, a co-worker of Bray's used bee pollen provided by Bray to ease his symptoms.

"I made some pollen traps and brought it into him," he said. "He swore by it."

Bray also said the pollen bees carry naturally finds its way into honey, creating another way to get bee pollen into the diet.

"Bees bring in pollen to feed their brood," he said. "They feed them the nectar which mixes with the pollen. The pollen then transfers when they move from there into the honey chamber. As the bees go up and down they bring the pollen with them."

The pollen in the raw honey can help a person build up immunity to the pollen, said Bray, who suggests taking a teaspoon of raw honey every day.

"Some people swear by it, but I believe that while it will work for some people, maybe it won't for others," he said.

Bray said he believes the honey eases symptoms from pollen that was in the air at the time the bees made the honey - pollen released later won't find its way into the honey until the next batch - and that only raw honey provides the benefits allergy sufferers seek…

Sea Lion Shark Bite Wound Treated with Honey

California Sea Lion Receives Sweet Treatment After Shark Attack
American Bee Journal, April 2007
Excerpted from “The Sea Dog,” Winter 2007

On September 6th the Care Center received a yearling female sea lion with extensive wounds to her side and abdomen. The marks were characteristic of a shark bite…

The problem was how best to treat a contaminated wound of this size. Sea lions are notoriously good at removing bandages and the necessary restraint for repeated bandage changes is stressful to the animal.

She was not stable enough to undergo anesthesia, so whatever treatment was selected would need to be rapidly applied and minimally painful to an awake animal.

Due to the size of the wound and the degree of contamination I decided to try a novel wound treatment that dates backs at least several centuries, honey.

Two bandages that looked something like big silver band aids were constructed with a cloth center which was coated with honey. This was applied to the wounds every other day for 2½ weeks.

No other topical treatments were used and no necrotic tissue was removed by a standard surgical procedure known as debridement.

The changes in the health of the wound were noticeable at the first bandage change. After two weeks sufficient healing had occurred that oral antibiotics were discontinued, the wound was left un-bandaged and the animal allowed to return to an in-ground pool with other animals. She was released December 1st with only a small crescent shaped wound still visible…

Researcher/Author Seeks Testimonials to Apitherapy’s Effectiveness

Kirsten Traynor, an American researcher based in Germany, is seeking personal stories from individuals who have treated any type of illness or disorder with bee hive products. The stories may be included in a book she is writing on Apitherapy. Traynor’s book will be based on scientific studies from around the world confirming the medicinal value of hive products.

E-Mail: Kirsten@mdbee.com or kstraynor@adelphia.net

Ugandan Boxers Use Honey as Dietary Supplement

Boxers Resort to Honey to Supplement Diet
By Norman Katende, The New Vision (Uganda), 5/25/2007

UGANDAN boxers at the Africa Boxing Championships in Madagascar have resorted to taking honey so that they make up for the ‘poor’ diet on their menu.

The boxers have to brave the breakfast with dry tea and hard French bread, which team doctor Ntege Ssengendo says is not healthy and beneficial to the fighters.

“They tell us that this is the continental breakfast but we feel it is not nutritious enough. We have resorted to providing honey to supplement on the missing nutrients,” said Ntege, who thought that breakfast should have had sausages, bananas and eggs…

Apitherapy Training Center Under construction in Romania

The International Apitherapy Center is currently under construction in Mereni, Romania.

The center will offer training in Apitherapy, Apipuncture and Api-Phyto-AromoTherapy.

Propolis an Option for Treating Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Propolis Antimicrobial Activity: What's New?
Le infezioni in medicina, 2007 Mar;15(1):7-15

Propolis is a hive product that bees manufacture from balsamic resins actively secreted by plants on leaf buds and barks. Propolis composition is highly variable, depending on the plant species and on the season of collection. However, propolis essentially contains resins, balsams, essential oils, flavonoids, vitamins, minerals and pollen, albeit at different concentrations.

Although more than 300 constituents have been identified in propolis samples, biological activity is mainly due to few substances, such as flavonoids, terpens, caffeic, ferulic and cumaric acids and esters.

Propolis is characterized by multifactorial activities, but only some of them have been substantiated by clinical and experimental evidence. It is widely acknowledged to exert antimicrobial activity against a wide range of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and viruses), but also exerts antiinflammatory, anaesthetic, healing, vasoprotective, antioxidant, antitumoral, antiulcer and hepatoprotective activities.

The wide spectrum of activities has led in recent years to the development of new technologies to improve propolis properties of the traditional hydroalcoholic extract. This paper reviews the antimicrobial properties of propolis, focusing on respiratory pathogens. These characteristics make propolis a valid option for therapy of upper respiratory tract infections.

Honey’s Therapeutic Properties Used in Beauty Products

Honey is Sweet for the Body
By Elise Minton and Paige Herman, Orange County Register (USA), 5/23/2007

Honey has become a staple ingredient in some of today's most sought-after beauty products – and for good reason. Besides its sweet scent, this natural moisturizer is hailed for its wide variety of therapeutic properties, such as the ability to keep skin hydrated and moist, as well as the power to fight against the signs of aging. Plus, honey is an anti-irritant, so it's safe to use on even sensitive skin.

Benefits of honey

Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture. It contains essential vitamins such as B5 and panothenic acid. It's also full of minerals like zinc and magnesium, which increase the skin's moisture retention. And it improves cell production and scalp circulation. Honey also contains loads of enzymes and amino acids, making it a powerful antibacterial ingredient that is excellent for treating acne, as well as reducing redness and inflammation. Rich in antioxidants, honey also helps regenerate damaged tissue, deflect free radicals and improve skin tone and elasticity. To reap the full benefits, look for dark-colored honey, which contains more antioxidants than light-colored versions.

Sun Protection

Since honey is suitable for sensitive skin and is a natural moisturizer, it is being considered as a substitute ingredient for some of the harsh chemicals found in most sun blocks. With its natural antioxidant properties, honey also helps the skin protect itself from the sun's damaging UV rays and aids in skin cell rejuvenation…

70 Percent of Honey Sold in Hungary is ‘Counterfeit’

Counterfeit Claims: Honey Laced with Additives and Sugar
The Budapest Sun, 5/23/2007

May 23, 2007 08:00 am Seventy percent of the honey sold in Hungarian supermarkets is counterfeit, and includes additives and sugar, according to the Hungarian Beekeepers’ Association (Országos Magyar Méhészeti Egyesület or OMME)...

Photo Essay: Palestinians Use Honey and Bee Stings to Treat Disease

United Press International, May 2007

Palestinian bee and honey expert Rateb Samor treats patients using bee venom therapy at his clinic in Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Samor and his wife Oum Ebrahem use honey and bee stings to treat illnesses like paralysis, nasal sinuses, rheumatism, and other serious diseases.

The Prophet Mohammad recommended using honey for medicinal purposes. He is reported to have said: "Make use of the two remedies: honey and the Quran (Islam’s holy text)." The Quran states: “[T]here issues from within [bees] a fluid of many hues, wherein is healing for mankind.” (Chapter 16, Verse 69)

National Geographic Video Examines Bee Venom Therapy in Taiwan

Bee Therapy
Video: National Geographic Channel

Can bee stings cure arthritis, or MS? Meet some people in Taiwan willing to endure hundreds of bee stings to cure what ails them.

Doctor to Study Honey as Diabetic-Ulcer Treatment

By Kawanza Newson, The Milwaukee Journal (USA), 5/20/2007

Jennifer Eddy vividly remembers the 79-year-old old man with foot ulcers so severely infected that his dried and deteriorated skin caused the loss of two toes.

Two surgeons urged amputation of the man's lower legs to save his life, but the man opted to go home, and he then lost a third toe.

Eddy, a family physician taught to never give up on a patient, approached the man with an idea she'd first heard about during medical school.

She told him that honey had been used since the early days to treat wounds and asked if he'd be willing to try it.

The man agreed and placed a thick application of honey he'd purchased at a supermarket on his sore each day.

Within three weeks, Eddy says, the man's foot began creating nice, healthy tissue. It took about a year for the ulcer to clear up.

Now, more than three years later, Eddy is conducting her own randomized study to test the usefulness of topical honey for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers on 40 patients throughout Wisconsin. So far, five people have enrolled in the study to determine how much their wound size decreases within four weeks of twice-daily use of grocery-variety honey.

"It's just a medical intervention that should be evaluated like anything else," said Eddy, an assistant professor with the University of Wisconsin Medical School who practices at the Eau Claire Family Clinic.

The study is funded with a $100,000 grant from the Wisconsin Partnership Fund for Health and a $30,000 grant from the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation. A podiatrist is donating his time for seeing patients.

Eddy expects to have enough information within two years to draw some conclusions on the effectiveness of honey and will decide if a larger study is needed.

"If it works, it works, and if it doesn't, it doesn't," she said. "But the good thing about these chronic diabetic ulcers is if honey is successful, not only will patients benefit but all of society will benefit (because) it's a tremendous cost savings."…