Propolis May Prevent Growth of Tumor Blood Vessels

Researchers at University of Shizuoka Target Angiogenesis
Oncology Business Week, September 30, 2007

"Propolis, a resinous substance collected by honeybees from various plant sources, possesses various physiological activities such as antitumor effects. We have previously shown that propolis of Brazilian origin was composed mainly of artepillin C and that its constituents were quite different from those of propolis of European origin," scientists writing in the journal Cancer Letters report.

"In this report, we examined an antiangiogenic effects of Brazilian propolis and investigated whether artepillin C was responsible for such effects. In an in vivo angiogenesis assay using ICR mice, we found that the ethanol extract of Brazilian propolis (EEBP) significantly reduced the number of newly formed vessels. EEBP also showed antiangiogenic effects in an in vitro tube formation assay. When compared with other constituents of EEBP, only artepillin C was found to significantly inhibit the tube formation of HUVECs in a concentration-dependent manner (3.13-50 mu g/ml). In addition, artepillin C significantly suppressed the proliferation of HUVECs in a concentration-dependent manner (3.13-50 mu g/ml). Furthermore, artepillin C significantly reduced the number of newly formed vessels in an in vivo angiogenesis assay. Judging from its antiangiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo, we concluded that artepillin C at least in part is responsible for the antiangiogenic activity of EEBP in vivo," wrote M.R. Ahn and colleagues, University of Shizuoka.

The researchers concluded: "Artepillin C may prove useful in the development of agents and foods with therapeutic or preventive activity against tumor angiogenesis."…

Propolis Component Demonstrates Anti-Allergic Effect

Evaluation of Anti-Allergic Properties of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester in a Murine Model of Systemic Anaphylaxis
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, August 17, 2007

Abstract: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is an active component of honeybee propolis extracts. It has several positive effects, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and immunomodulatory effects. In particular, the suppressive effect of NF-κB may disrupt a component of allergic induction.

The principal objective of this experimental study was to evaluate the effects of CAPE on the active systemic anaphylaxis induced by ovalbumin (OVA) challenge in mice.

…After challenges, all of the sham-treated mice developed anaphylactic symptoms, increased plasma levels of histamine and OVA-specific IgE, marked vascular leakage, NF-κB activation, platelet-activating factor (PAF) production, and histological changes including pulmonary edema and hemorrhage in the renal medullae within 20 min.

By way of contrast, a reduction in the plasma levels of histamine and OVA-specific IgE and an inhibition of NF-κB activation and PAF release were observed in the CAPE-treated mice. In addition, a significant prevention of hemoconcentration and OVA-induced pathological changes were noted.

These results indicate that CAPE demonstrates an anti-allergic effect, which may be the result of its protective effects against IgE-mediated allergy.

Honey Recommended for Insomnia

Foods that Heal
Vegetarian Times, 1 October 2007

The problem: insomnia, stress Food

Rx: Just before bed, dissolve 2 tsp. honey in a cup of warm water, and drink. Honey relaxes the nervous system and muscles, making it easy to drift off to sleep.

Homeopathic Bee Venom Remedy Used to Treat Teething

Old Fashioned Teething Remedies
By Robin O'Brien, American Chronicle, 9/24/2007

Homeopathic remedies can be a safe, non-toxic way to help relieve the pain of teething. However, you should only use a homeopathic remedy in conjunction with expert advice and guidance. First discovered in 1835, by the Rev. Brauns, in Thuringia, Germany, Apis mellifica has been used to ease teething discomfort. Apis mellifica actually means whole honey bee. It became popular due to its ease of preparation and because it just seemed to work. Over the succeeding years, the preparation has gone through several changes to improve its efficacy.

These improvements involved the introduction and use of Apium virus (removed venom sack) and later Apis Venenum Purum (pure bee venom). You can still buy this preparation today. Other homeopathic products can also be bought, Hyland’s Teething Tablets being the most well known.

Popular Skin Cream Made with Beeswax, Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Propolis

Behind a Mysterious Balm, a Self-Made Pharaoh
By Anna Jane Grossman, The New York Times, 9/27/2007

…Egyptian Magic, which comes in nondescript plastic tubs, remains a decidedly low-key production, and it still has a pop at the helm. (A 4-ounce jar sells for $32 on Egyptianmagic.com.)

The story of Egyptian Magic begins in 1986 at a Chicago diner when an elderly man approaches Westley Howard, a water filter salesman who is passing through. “He said, ‘Brother, the spirit has moved me to reveal something to you,’” said Mr. Howard, as Mr. ImHotepAmonRa was then known. “It didn’t seem too weird to me. I’m a spiritual person, so these things happen to me all the time.”

The stranger’s name was Dr. Imas. He never revealed his first name or made it clear what kind of doctor he was. Over the next two years, Dr. Imas periodically visited Mr. Howard in Washington and showed him how to make a skin cream from olive oil, beeswax, bee pollen, royal jelly and bee propolis (a substance that seals hives)…

How Bee Venom Could Be Used to Fight UK's Allergy Epidemic

By Jenny Hope, The Daily Mail (UK), 9/26/2007

A treatment abandoned by the NHS 30 years ago could be brought back to fight the allergy epidemic. Immunotherapy involves repeated doses of bee or wasp venom, grass pollen or extract of dust mite to build up tolerance…

Study: Honey May Be Valuable Sugar Substitute Those With Mild Diabetes

Subjects with Impaired Glucose Tolerance Exhibit a High Degree of Tolerance to Honey

Journal of Medicinal Food, September 2007, 10(3): 473-478

The present study compared the relative tolerance to honey and glucose of subjects with impaired glucose tolerance or mild diabetes.

Thirty individuals 35–60 years old with a proven parental (mother or father) history of type II diabetes mellitus were subjected simultaneously to an oral glucose tolerance test (GTT) and a honey tolerance test (HTT).

Glucose tolerance was found to be impaired in 24 subjects, while six of the subjects were diagnosed as mildly diabetic. All subjects with impaired glucose tolerance exhibited significantly lower plasma glucose concentrations after consumption of honey at all time points of the HTT in comparison to the GTT. The plasma glucose levels in response to honey peaked at 30–60 minutes and showed a rapid decline as compared to that to glucose.

Significantly, the high degree of tolerance to honey was recorded in subjects with diabetes as well, indicating a lower glycemic index of honey.

Thus, it is evident from the present investigation that honey may prove to be a valuable sugar substitute for subjects with impaired glucose tolerance or mild diabetes.

Honey ‘Excellent’ Pre- and Post-Workout Carbohydrate Source

Honey Helps Exercisers
By Lisa Ryckman, Rocky Mountain News (USA), 9/25/2007

Question: Is honey better for you than regular sugar? And why do they warn people about giving it to babies?

Answer: Honey's good stuff, particularly for the exerciser. Studies have shown that it's excellent as a pre- and post-workout carbohydrate source and helps maintain stable blood sugar. A honey-protein shake after exercise has been shown to help promote muscle recuperation and refuel the muscles' energy.

Honey also contains disease-fighting antioxidants - the darker the honey, the higher the content - and vitamins and minerals. Depending on what flower the nectar came from, honey can contain niacin, riboflavin, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

Honey also has strong anti- bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities...

Beeswax Balm Used to Treat Eczema

Skin Balm Spurs a Rash of Demand Nationwide
By Victoria Cheng, Boston Globe (USA), 9/23/2007

When Mike Arsenault saw the red bumps blooming across his 2-month-old daughter's cheeks, he felt immediate pangs of guilt.

Arsenault, an acupuncturist who lives in Brookline, has a tendency toward allergies and he suspected that Emily's baby eczema might have stemmed from the same sensitivity.

Not wanting to apply the harsh topical steroids usually prescribed for eczema on his daughter's skin, Arsenault turned to his training in Chinese traditional medicine.

"Chinese herbalism is four, five thousand years old," he said. "I just took herbal remedies for skin conditions, looked at the common denominators, and pared it down."

The result was a salve called Emily's Skin Soother, made of olive oil, beeswax, and three Chinese herbs. It's now sold in more than 35 stores across the country and has generated an invitation from Whole Foods Market to present at a buyers exposition next month…

Study: Propolis Showed ‘Significant Protective Effect’ on Intestinal Lining

Propolis Reduces Bacterial Translocation and Intestinal Villus Atrophy in Experimental Obstructive Jaundice
World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2007 October 21; 13(39): 5226-5231

AIM: To investigate the effects of propolis on bacterial translocation and ultrastructure of intestinal morphology in experimental obstructive jaundice…

CONCLUSION: Propolis showed a significant protective effect on ileal mucosa and reduced bacterial translocation in the experimental obstructive jaundice model. Further studies should be carried out to explain the mechanisms of these effects.

First Apitherapy Symposium in Ecuador Nov. 13-16

Primer Simposio Internacional de Apiterapia del Ecuador
Quito, del 13 a 16 de noviembre del 2007

Use of Honey in Surgical Wards ‘Highly Recommended’

Honey: Nutritional and Medicinal Value
International Journal of Clinical Practice, Volume 61 Issue 10 Page 1705-1707, October 2007

Summary: Honey is not only used as nutrition but also used in wound healing and as an alternative treatment for clinical conditions ranging from gastrointestinal tract (GIT) problems to ophthalmic conditions.

We did the literature search and found interesting facts about the nutritional and medicinal value of honey. No wonder, it is a good source of nutrition, the results of the studies prove that it also helps in wound healing.

On burns, it has an initial soothing and later rapid healing effects. It has been used as wound barrier against tumour implantation in laparoscopic oncological surgery. No infection has been reported from the application of honey to open wounds. It has a potential therapeutic role in the treatment of gingivitis and periodontal disease.

Based on these facts, the use of honey in the surgical wards is highly recommended and patients about to undergo surgery should ask their surgeons if they could apply honey to their wounds postoperation.

Honey Help Keep Lips Moist

The Beauty of Honey
Rodale Press, 9/21/2007

Here's a yummy way to keep lips luscious: Eating honey -- whether spooned into your tea or smeared on toast -- helps your pucker stay soft and smooth.

"Honey's natural sugars tend to stick to your lips, increasing their ability to attract and maintain moisture," says Kenneth Beer, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Miami and author of Palm Beach Perfect Skin (Ingram, $17.50)…

Apitherapy Conference in Puerto Rico Nov. 1-4, 2007

What: 1st Antillean Congress of Apiculture
Location: Guayanilla, Puerto Rico
Date: November 1-4, 2007

Scientific Program

Friday, November 2, 2007

Attainment and Elaboration of the Seven Beehive Products
Dr. Moisés Asís - USA

Commercial Technology of Production and Medicinal Properties of Bee Venom
Dr. Vetaley Stashenko – USA

Therapeutic Properties of the Seven Beehive Products
Dr. Moisés Asís - USA

Added Value of Apian Products, a Profitable Economic Alternative
Mrs. Trinidad Terrazas – Apiarios la Tía Trini, México

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Apitherapy and its Principal Applications
Dr. Moisés Asís - USA

Principles and Technique of Bee Venom Therapy
Dr. Vetaley Stashenko – USA

Information Sources and Future Impact of Apitherapy
Dr. Moisés Asís - USA

New Zealand Apitherapy Firm Signs Deal with SE Asian Retailer

Kiwi Bees to Boost Asian Health
By Wayne Timmo, Waikato Times (New Zealand), 9/20/2007

A Te Awamutu bee products company has signed a deal to tap into an Asian health market that could be worth up to $10 million a year in five years.

Manuka Health New Zealand makes a range of bee-derived products, including manuka table honey and health products including propolis, bee pollen and jelly with health and anti-bacterial properties.

Southeast Asian retailer Eu Yan Sang will distribute Manuka Health's products, first in Malaysia then expanding into other Asian countries...

Manuka Health has also set up a research partnership with the University of Dresden to look into methyl glyoxal, the anti-bacterial agent in manuka honey.

Honey Recommended as ‘Perfect’ Natural Moisturizer

A Taste of Honey: Glamour on a Budget
The Mirror (UK), 9/18/2007

It's not just nice to eat, honey is rich in goodness and gentle on the skin, making it the perfect natural moisturiser. Here's how to get the benefits...

L'Occitane Creamy Honey Lip Balm, £8 (http://www.loccitane.com/)
Delicious! This goodenough-to-eat lipbalm is nourishing and helps soothe dry autumn lips.

Hamadi Honey Soymilk Hair Wash, £15.50 (http://www.hqhair.com/)

A fab shampoo for boosting fine hair. Packed full of honey and soya milk to add volume, texture and body, without weighing it down.

Honey B Mellowing Bath Nectar, £5.95 (0132 457 3402 http://www.scottishfinesoaps.com/)

For pure relaxation, drizzle this in your bath and feel the benefits of acacia honey and royal jelly all over…

Honey May Fight Ageing, Obesity and Cancer

Alternative Remedies: Honey
By Jessica Kiddle, The Scotsman (UK), 9/18/2007

Mary Poppins swore that a spoonful of sugar helped the medicine go down. But could a spoonful of something sweet have been the medicine all along?

Believing that it had anti-ageing properties, the ancient Egyptians used honey as a moisturiser, but now nature's sweetener is once again being heralded as a potent anti-ageing substance - but for the brain rather than the skin.

When you add this to the number of supposed benefits, which include the use of honey as a diet aid, relaxant, immune-system booster and even - in the case of Manuka honey grown from the native New Zealand Manuka bush - as an antibiotic, it's little wonder that it's fast becoming our favourite superfood.

This rise to the top of the health food tree is, in part, thanks to an Antipodean study recently published in New Scientist, which has found that eating honey improves memory and reduces feelings of anxiety…

The good news for honey fans doesn't stop there. Apparently, a spoonful of honey just before bed can help us lose weight. According to the Edinburgh authors of The Hibernation Diet, it prevents the body from going into starvation mode while you sleep…

Although the study was only small, research in Israel has also shown that Life Mel honey - a special type of honey made by bees that gorge on the nectar from specific herbs and other immune-boosting substances - can help cancer patients…

Beeswax Extract May Have Antioxidant Action

Preventive Effect of D-002, a Mixture of Long-Chain Alcohols From Beeswax, on the Liver Damage Induced with CCl4 in Rats
Journal of Medicinal Food, 2007 Jun;10(2):379-83

D-002 is a mixture of higher aliphatic primary alcohols purified from beeswax with antioxidant effects.

Acute hepatotoxicity induced with CCl4 in rats has been related to increased hepatic lipid peroxidation and prevented with some antioxidants.

This study investigated whether D-002 could prevent the acute CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats…

In conclusion, D-002 effectively prevented the histological liver disturbances and lowered MDA levels, a marker of cellular lipid peroxidation, in rats treated with CCl4.

Since increased liver lipid peroxidation has been postulated as a cause of CCl4-induced liver damage in rats, the preventive effects of D-002 could be due to its antioxidant action, but such a proposal still requires further research.

Sugar, Honey Speed Wound Healing

By Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., King Features Syndicate, 9/15/2007

My father developed a bedsore on his back around the beginning of the year. It became infected months ago and has healed somewhat.

My dad is on hospice care. They were using a "wives' tale" remedy of applying sugar to the infected sore. This sure seemed to work; it had to be discontinued, however, because the agency personnel are not supposed to apply it. I guess the remedy is not Food and Drug Administration-approved.

Have you ever heard of this remedy? I am in charge now of applying the sugar, and it seems to work.

It is certainly an old wives' tale, but there is also evidence to back up this approach for stubborn wounds. Decades ago, surgeon Richard Knutson, M.D., published his experience using this old-fashioned approach to wound care in the Southern Medical Journal (November 1981). We spoke with him, and he told us he resisted his elderly nurse's recommendation at first: "When we started I thought it was absolutely nuts." But his experience with more than 5,000 patients convinced him it was useful to speed healing.

Recently, scientists compared honey and sugar as wound dressings. They concluded that honey is somewhat more effective than sugar in reducing bacterial contamination and promoting wound healing (Journal of Wound Care, July 2007)…

Eva Crane, English Expert on World’s Bees, Dies at 95

By Douglas Martin, The New York Times, 9/16/2007

Eva Crane, who earned a doctorate in nuclear physics and then abandoned the field to devote herself to expanding and spreading knowledge about bees as a researcher, historian, archivist, editor and author, died on Sept. 6 in Slough, England.

She was 95, 57 years shy of the reputed life span of the 17th-century English farmer Thomas Parr who, she suggested in one of her books, owed his longevity to eating honey that she said he produced as a beekeeper. The International Bee Research Association, which she founded in 1949, announced her death.

For more than a half-century Dr. Crane worked in more than 60 countries to learn more and more about honeybees, sometimes traveling by dugout canoe or dog sled to document the human use of bees from prehistoric times to the present. She found that ancient Babylonians used honey to preserve corpses, that bees were effectively used as military weapons by the Viet Cong, and that beekeepers in a remote corner of Pakistan use the same kind of hives found in excavations of ancient Greece…

Presentation on Veterinary Apitherapy, Orlando, Florida, January 19, 2008

Save that Apitherapy or The Therapy that Stings
Dr. S. Ben-Yakir, North American Veterinary Conference

January 19-23, 2008, Orlando, Florida, USA

Camel’s Milk and Honey Recommended for Insomnia, Asthma

Camels are at the Heart of Changing Saudi Life
By Mariam Al Hakeem, Gulf News, 9/14/2007

Milk of the camel is another unique feature as it is believed to have many health benefits compared to milk from other animals.

The amount of protein in the camel's milk, for instance, is higher than that in cow's milk. It has been observed that camel breeders or those who live on camel's milk rarely feel sick.

Camel's milk has lower fat levels and is rich in vitamin C compared to that of a cow. The milk is a good source of iron than milk from any other animals.

The non-saturated fatty acids in the camel's milk play a significant role in protecting human cardiac health.

According to anecdotes, mixing camel's milk with honey can help in the digestion process, cure insomnia and help cures asthma and cough…

Newly-Approved Dental Floss Uses Propolis, Beeswax

Tom's of Maine Tooth Floss Earns American Dental Association's Seal of Acceptance

KENNEBUNK, Maine, Sept. 13 - Tom's of Maine, a leader in natural personal care products and values-based business, reaffirms its commitment to safety and efficacy with the announcement that its natural antiplaque dental floss has earned the American Dental Association's Seal of Acceptance…

The Tom's of Maine Naturally Waxed Antiplaque Floss has a unique combination of natural waxes allowing removal of plaque and particles -- which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease -- from places between teeth that brushing can't reach. Here's how it works:

-- Three natural waxes -- beeswax, carnauba and jojoba -- help the floss
glide smoothly between teeth while remaining gentle on gums.

-- The natural resins propolis and myrrh make your mouth feel clean and
healthy…

Article Outlines Medicinal Use of Bee Products

Cells of Urban Sweetness

By Cyan James, Metro Times (USA), 9/12/2007

…Advocates claim that the pollen bees harvest provides energy, rejuvenates cells and boosts immunity. "It’s more valuable than gold," Wieske says. We’re at another site in the city, where he encourages me to sample pollen, in the form of soft, grayish-yellow balls, like Dipping Dots candy. Hesitantly, I smash a few of the balls and eat them. They’re sweet and doughy.

Bees also use propolis, a resin they gather and manufacture from tree bark and buds. Scientists investigating propolis, as reported by the BBC and rakemag.com, get favorable results in tests pitting propolis against AIDS and cancer. The substance won’t be cleared by the FDA or be mass-produced anytime soon, but fans gather it from hives by hand, or purchase it at farmers’ markets, and swear by its curative and preventive properties. I chew a clump of it myself. It’s like tasteless, long-lasting gum, and after chewing it for half an hour my mouth feels slightly numb.

Some bee fanciers practice apitherapy, deliberately allowing bees to sting them in an effort to ameliorate inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. And royal jelly, a clear, glutinous paste fed to growing larvae, is harvested and used in nutritional supplements and skin creams….

Study: Honey Could Target Age-Related Memory Decline, Anxiety

Honey Linked to Delayed Ageing
In The News (UK), 9/13/2007

Honey could be used to target age-related problems including memory decline, scientists have discovered.

Studies on mice found that those on diets including honey had better spatial memory and were less anxious.

Lynne Chepulis and Nicola Starkey of the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand, raised rats on diets containing either ten per cent honey, eight per cent sucrose or no sugar at all for 12 months.

According to the New Scientist magazine, honey-fed rats spent almost twice as much time in the open sections of an 'assessment maze', which the researchers say suggests that they were less anxious.

They were also more likely to spend time in new sections of a Y-shaped maze, suggesting that they knew where they had been before and had better spatial memory…

The researchers propose that honey may improve memory due to its antioxidant properties, which help to prevent free radicals damaging cells in the body…

Medicinal Honey Researcher Presents Findings at Apimondia

A Honey of a Cure Takes the Sting Out
By Chee Chee Leung, The Age (Australia), 9/11/2007

It's not just great on toast. A dollop of honey can kill off germs that cause infections, and may even help to ward off pimples.

That's according to University of Sydney microbiologist Shona Blair, who has been investigating the medicinal use of the sticky sweetener for the past decade.

Her laboratory work has shown that honey — even at concentrations of just 5 per cent — is effective at killing off golden staph, including the so-called "superbug" varieties.

"With some strains that are floating around in hospitals, they are resistant to every single drug we've got," she said. "This is one of the big roles that honey can play … it's just as effective against superbugs as it is against ordinary germs."

Dr Blair and colleagues have also found honey kills off bacteria that cause tetanus, wound botulism and scar-forming acne.

"For acne or sunburn or nappy rash, you can't walk around covered in honey all day, but you can mix one-third honey in with two-thirds base cream, like moisturiser." For an open wound, she says, the best medicine is a daub of pure honey…

Dr Blair will present her research at an international beekeeping conference in Melbourne this week…

Honey Useful for Treating Wounds in Earthquake, War Zones

A Cheap Fix in a War Zone
By Karen Dente, Los Angeles Times, 9/10/2007

Honey is cheap, making it potentially useful for treating wounds in earthquake-stricken and war-torn areas where running water is scarce and often contaminated. It is being used in Iraq to treat burn wounds in children.

When Col. Dr. Craig Lambrecht, an emergency physician working at the MedCenter One Health Clinic in Bismarck, N.D., served in Iraq for his second mission late last year as part of the National Guard, he was involved in overseeing a makeshift civilian outpatient care center to treat Iraqi children suffering from burns. The Smith Gate Burn Clinic, an hour south of Baghdad, is the only service in the country offering such burn care to children.

The center was supplied with Medihoney, now produced by the company Comvita in New Zealand, to fill the need for a cost-effective wound-dressing solution. The sterile, medical-grade honey was paid for by donations.

Patients' wounds were dressed with honey instead of the silver sulfadiazine gauze dressings usually used to treat burn wounds. The children were sent home with the honey, and their parents told to reapply it.

"We were seeing great results," Lambrecht says. "Patients were following our instructions and reapplying honey to dress their wounds. There were no problems with allergies. The [edges of the wounds] were healing, there were less infections." In fact, he says, "observations were that it worked better than the silver dressings."…

Photo from: Airborne Honey Ltd

Honey's Healing Touch

Antibacterial properties could make the nectar an effective treatment for sores that refuse to mend.
By Karen Dente, Los Angeles Times, 9/10/2007

With the rise in cases of diabetes, more and more people will suffer from foot ulcers that do not heal and may end up needing amputation because treatment of chronic wounds is so difficult.

Today, an alternative treatment based on a remedy used since antiquity is getting increased attention -- smearing wounds with honey.

Manuka Honey, a medicinal honey harvested from beekeepers in New Zealand, is now being marketed for application on wounds. In June, Health Canada approved it under the brand name Medihoney for use as a wound dressing and antimicrobial. In July, the Food and Drug Administration cleared it for use in wounds and burns in the U.S.

The effects of treating wounds with honey have been noted mostly in anecdotal reports and case histories, making it hard for scientists to know whether the remedy compares favorably with standard wound dressings such as hydrogels, silver-impregnated gauzes or topical antibiotics.

But in recent years, larger studies have shown promising results, and more are underway…

Allergic Reaction to Royal Jelly Mistakenly Attributed to Antibiotic

Severe Anaphylaxis to Royal Jelly Attributed to Cefonicid
J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol, 2007; Vol. 17(4): 277-285

Royal jelly, a secretion of the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of worker honey bees (Apis mellifera), is a creamy yellow–white, acidic material made up of proteins, free amino acids, fatty acids, sugars, vitamins, and some minerals.

It is the only food of female bee larvae during early stages of development, but once other larvae have developed into sexually immature worker bees, only the queen bee continues to receive this diet.

Although imprecisely defined chemically and generally not standardized, royal jelly is widely used as a health tonic and “alternative” medicine but its beneficial effect in humans is unproven and severe allergic reactions, especially asthma, have occurred following its ingestion.

We report the case of a 28-year-old man who presented with a 25-year history of asthma that had worsened in recent months to a level of 2 attacks per week and frequent use of salbutamol (up to 15 inhalations per day)…

Five months later, the patient was referred to our department in order to identify a safe alternative antibiotic drug. He underwent skin prick tests with standard aeroallergens (Stallergénes S.A., Antony Cedex, France) and positive results were obtained with grass pollen, house dust mite, Alternaria, and cat dander.

Negative results were obtained in immunoassays to determine the presence of immunoglobulin (Ig) E specific to penicilloyl G and V, ampicilloyl, and amoxicilloyl (UniCAP Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) and in a homemade assay of serum specific IgE to cefonicid using epoxy-activated Sepharose as the solid phase [3].

Total serum IgE concentration was 346 kU/L. However, it emerged during the diagnostic procedure that the patient had ingested royal jelly after each injection of cefonicid. In light of this information, further tests were planned in order to investigate the role of royal jelly in producing the systemic reaction.

A prick-to-prick test with royal jelly gave a positive result with a wheal diameter of 10 mm. The same test was negative in a group of 10 healthy subjects who never ate royal jelly. The presence of serum specific IgE to royal jelly was demonstrated with a homemade radioallergosorbent test using nitrocellulose as the solid phase [4]…

Many people who have experienced an adverse reaction while taking an antibiotic are classified as allergic to the drug without any further investigation. However, over diagnosis is common due to a fear of anaphylaxis, and as a result, nonallergic patients may be deprived of potentially useful drugs. It is therefore important to diagnose allergic reactions to antibiotics.

The findings in the described case show that when an adverse drug reaction is suspected a thorough clinical history and allergy evaluation is needed, and that this should not only include drug allergy tests but also assessment of other allergens such as food…

Propolis Has ‘Potentially Useful’ Role in Treatment of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal Disease Therapy
Pharma Investments, Ventures & Law Weekly, 9/16/2007

New research, "Semisolid systems containing propolis for the treatment of periodontal disease: in vitro release kinetics, syringeability, rheological, textural, and mucoadhesive properties," is the subject of a report.

"Formulations containing poloxamer 407 (P407), carbopol 934P (C934P), and propolis extract (PE) were designed for the treatment of periodontal disease. Gelation temperature, in vitro drug release, rheology, hardness, compressibility, adhesiveness, mucoadhesion, and syringeability of formulations were determined," investigators in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil report…

The researchers concluded: "The data obtained in these formulations indicate a potentially useful role in the treatment of periodontitis and suggest they are worthy of clinical evaluation."

Bruschi and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Semisolid systems containing propolis for the treatment of periodontal disease: in vitro release kinetics, syringeability, rheological, textural, and mucoadhesive properties. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2007;96(8):2074-89).

Honey Antioxidants May Lower Risk of Atherosclerosis, Diabetes, Cancer

Antioxidant and Radical Scavenging Activity of Honey in Endothelial Cell Cultures
Planta Medica, 2007 Sep 7

The therapeutic properties of honey, once considered a form of folk or preventive medicine, are acquiring importance for the treatment of acute and chronic free radical-mediated diseases (atherosclerosis, diabetes and cancer).

The aim of this work was to study the protective activity of a honey of multifloral origin, standardized for total antioxidant power and analytically profiled (HPLC-MS) in antioxidants, in a cultured endothelial cell line (EA.hy926) subjected to oxidative stress…

Native honey (1 % w/v pH 7.4, 10 (6) cells) showed strong quenching activity against lipophilic cumoxyl and cumoperoxyl radicals, with significant suppression/prevention of cell damage, complete inhibition of cell membrane oxidation, of intracellular ROS production and recovery of intracellular GSH.

Experiments with endothelial cells fortified with the isolated fraction from native honey enriched in antioxidants, exposed to peroxyl radicals from 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (AAPH, 10 mM) and to hydrogen peroxide (H (2)O (2), 50 - 100 muM), indicated that phenolic acids and flavonoids were the main causes of the protective effect.

These results provide unequivocal evidence that, through the synergistic action of its antioxidants, honey by reducing and removing ROS, may lower the risks and effects of acute and chronic free radical induced pathologies IN VIVO.

Honey Recommended to Treat Dry Skin, Acne

A Honey for All Skins
National Honey Board (USA)

Honey is a humectant, which means it attracts and retains moisture. It's also an anti-irritant, making it suitable for a number of sensitive skin issues.

Christopher Watt, a licensed aesthetician who cares for some of Hollywood's most famous faces, including Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez, suggests the following homemade honey-based regimens for today's most common skin problems:

Dry Skin

Dry skin is a prevalent issue. Watt suggests applying the following dry skin honey moisturizer to the face:

Dry Skin Moisturizer
Makes 2 Applications

Ingredients
2 Tablespoons honey
2 Tablespoons cocoa butter, melted
2 drops bergamont oil (optional)
1 drop lavender oil or tea tree (optional)

Directions
Mix all ingredients together and apply to clean, dry face. This all-natural moisturizer can be covered and kept in a cabinet, but it will solidify. For a second application, heat in microwave for 10 seconds, stir and apply to skin same as before.

Acne

Contrary to popular opinion, acne can occur at any age. It is a disorder caused by a bacterial inflammation of the skin's glands and follicles. Because honey has anti-bacterial properties, Watt recommends washing the face with a honey-based cleanser twice weekly for acne-prone skin:

Gentle Honey Cleanser
Makes 1 Application

Ingredients
1/4 cup honey
1 Tablespoon liquid soap
1/2 cup glycerin (available at drug and beauty stores)

Directions
Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl until fully blended. Pour onto clean face sponge or soft cloth and gently rub onto face, wash away with warm water and pat face dry….

Study: Bee-Collected Pollen a Good Source of Minerals

Concentration of Selected Elements in Honeybee-Collected Pollen
Journal of Apicultural Science, Vol.51 No.1 2007

Summary: The objective of the study was to investigate the macro- and micro-nutrient composition of the multifloral pollen harvested in different countries (Poland, South Korea and China)…

Potassium followed by magnesium, sodium and calcium occur in the highest concentrations. Potassium accounted for as much as 59% of total assayed minerals, magnesium for 18%, sodium for 12%, calcium for 8% and the remaining elements jointly about 3%...

Pollen samples harvested in Poland, as compared to those from other countries, were characterized by a significantly higher content of calcium, samples from China had a significantly higher content of sodium, potassium and manganese and samples from South Korea were significantly higher in zinc and iron.

Of all the minerals under investigation manganese showed the highest variation. Pollen harvested by bees as pollen loads, due to its high content of minerals, can be used by man as a natural source of minerals.

Full Text

Study on the Sugar Composition of Honeybee-Collected Pollen

Journal of Apicultural Science, Vol.51 No.1 2007

Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the sugar composition in bee pollen collected in different countries (Poland, South Korea and China)…

The study showed that sugar content of pollen loads dry matter averages 40%. Fructose to be the sugar occurring in the greatest amounts. It accounted for 46% of the total sugar content of the examined samples. The second highest sugar content - 37% - was that of glucose. Monosaccharides expressed as total fructose and glucose accounted for about 83% of the carbohydrate fraction of pollen.

Of the assayed disaccharides sucrose accounted for 8% and maltose for 7%, and the remaining disaccharides (trehalose and turanose) for about 1% each.

Chemical composition of bee-collected pollen varied substantially with regard to saccharide content which was probably due to its different botanical origin. As compared to pollen loads samples from South Korea and China those collected in Poland had a significantly higher fructose to glucose ratio.

Full Text

Indonesians Use Beeswax ‘Ear Candles’ to Treat Hearing Impairment

Ear Candling Therapy Getting Thousands Out of Sticky Situations
By Kanis Dursin, The Jakarta Post (Indonesia), 9/5/2007

An attendant inserts the pointy end of a candle into the auditory canal of her patient's ear and immediately lights the blunt end.

And, for the next 15 minutes or so, she holds the candle steady and upright, while the patient, eager to get rid of his earache, lies motionless on the bed, listening to the crackling sound of the wick burning down.

By the end of the ritual, which lasts for up to one-and-a-half hours and takes six candles -- three for each ear -- the patient declares he is feeling much better and is looking forward to the next treatment session.

If this sounds like magic to you it is because the therapy, called ear candling or auricular candling, has worked wonders for the more than 12,000 people who have resorted to the alternative treatment for persistent hearing impairments.

"Those who come here are hopeless cases, medically speaking," said Susanna Budiman, who has been administering ear candling therapy for the last four years at her drugstore in West Jakarta.

Ear candling, known also as coning, refers to various procedures that involve placing a burning cone-like device in the ear canal in order to remove ear wax and other impurities in the ear.

At Harapan Indah drugstore, Susanna uses hollow candles made from linen soaked in pure beeswax. The candles contain, among other things, natural antibiotic sage, chamomile, rosemary and yucca root.

As the candle burns down, the smoke goes into the ear canal, causing it to warm up and loosen the wax and other impure materials. The heat and vacuum draw out the wax and other materials from the ear canal into the base of the candle.

The origin of ear candling therapy is obscure, but Ancient Tibet, China, Egypt, the pre-Columbian Americas and even the mythical city of Atlantis are cited as possible contributors…

Honey Recommended for Skin Problems

A Honey for All Skins
National Honey Board (USA)

Honey is a humectant, which means it attracts and retains moisture. It's also an anti-irritant, making it suitable for a number of sensitive skin issues.

Christopher Watt, a licensed aesthetician who cares for some of Hollywood's most famous faces, including Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez, suggests the following homemade honey-based regimens for today's most common skin problems:

Dry Skin

Dry skin is a prevalent issue. Watt suggests applying the following dry skin honey moisturizer to the face:

Dry Skin Moisturizer
Makes 2 Applications

Ingredients
2 Tablespoons honey
2 Tablespoons cocoa butter, melted
2 drops bergamont oil (optional)
1 drop lavender oil or tea tree (optional)

Directions: Mix all ingredients together and apply to clean, dry face. This all-natural moisturizer can be covered and kept in a cabinet, but it will solidify. For a second application, heat in microwave for 10 seconds, stir and apply to skin same as before…

Hawaiian Honey First ‘Carbon Neutral’ Food

An Hawaiian honey company has launched what it describes as the nation’s first certified carbon neutral food product. The carbon neutral certification of Royal Hawaiian Honey is being carried out in cooperation with the Washington-based CarbonFund.org.

All carbon emissions generated in the production and shipping of the honey are off-set by investments in carbon-reducing projects.

Honey May Be Better Than Table Sugar

APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 9/3/2007

Honey is sweeter, has lesser calories, healthful antioxidants and pre-biotic properties.

Scientist said it might be better than table sugar for people who want to lose weight, a private radio reported.

They investigated claims that certain types of honey have a better glycemic index than others and found that one honey is as good as another at least as far as glucose content is concerned.

The researchers found very little difference in the Honey's glycemic indices. They ranged from 69.13 to 74.14. All were very close to table sugar's glycemic index of 68. The researchers note that honey is sweeter, but consumes fewer calories.

Honey Used to Treat Horse’s Wound

Honey Does Trick For Horses
By Rebecca Harper, Hawke’s Bay Today (New Zealand), 9/1/2007

A nappy and manuka honey have proved to be secret weapons in the recovery of a neglected horse.

Copper and Fantasy featured in Hawke's Bay Today after concerns were raised the pair were not receiving adequate feed or care.

Both were underweight, particularly Copper, who was badly emaciated and had a terrible wound on her wither from an ill-fitting cover…

Copper still had a long way to go, but received four feeds a day and had her wound dressing changed daily.

"The nappy was the perfect shape and size for her wither and the manuka honey has good healing properties," she said…

Propolis Recommended for Acne

Get Rid of Acne: Guaranteed Results
By Peter Rodrick, Articlesbase, 9/1/2007

If you really want to get rid of acne then you are at the right place. In next 10-15 minutes I will tell you how to heal acne with simple but best home remedies.

These home remedies will gives you good results but if you still not get good results from these remedies then you should consult your doctor…

Another lotion that uses bee propolis extract may also be helpful. Merge eight ounces of water and 11 drops of bee propolis extract. One of the acne home remedies which has been proven successful with many people…

Propolis Showed Minimal Effect on H. Pylori Infection

Green Propolis on Helicobacter pylori Infection. A Pilot Clinical Study
Helicobacter, Volume 12 Issue 5 Page 572-574, October 2007

Abstract: Recent in vitro studies suggest that propolis and some of its phenolic components are able to inhibit Helicobacter pylori growth. To date, there are no clinical studies.

Aims: To evaluate the effect of Brazilian green propolis on H. pylori-infected individuals.

Patients and methods: Eighteen (11 females, 7 males, mean age 47 years) participants were included. Before treatment, all participants were submitted to gastroscopy, and H. pylori infection was confirmed by histology, urease test, and 13C-urea breath test (UBT). Participants with UBT showing a delta over baseline (DOB) value higher than 4‰ were considered positive for H. pylori infection. Twenty drops from an alcoholic preparation of Brazilian green propolis were administered three times a day for 7 days. Clinical evaluation and UBT were performed at 1–3 days and at 40 days after the end of therapy to evaluate H. pylori suppression or eradication, respectively.

Results: All participants took all medication and completed the study. Eighty-three percent of the subjects did not succeed in suppressing or eradicating H. pylori. Two participants reached partial suppression after treatment, but became positive again at UBT performed 40 days after treatment. Another participant presented negative at UBT 40 days after treatment, not confirmed by a second UBT performed 100 days after treatment.

Conclusions: Brazilian green propolis used in popular dose showed minimal effect on H. pylori infection. Larger studies with longer duration, larger dose, and different frequency of administration of propolis extract should be undertaken to define its role on H. pylori therapy.