Apitherapy: Experience of German Beekeepers
 Apitherapy is the use of bee products such as honey to prevent or treat illness and promote healing.
Researchers at Justus-Liebig-University in Giessen, Germany conducted a survey of beekeepers.
First, the details.
- Approximately 35,000 beekeepers were surveyed; 1059 completed questionnaires were returned.
- The questionnaire included questions on the use of apitherapy.
And, the results.
- The beekeepers reported the most effective and favorable therapeutic effects with honey, followed by propolis, pollen, and royal jelly.
- Propolis: reddish resinous cement collected by bees from the buds of trees
- Pollen: fertilizing element of flowering plants
- Royal jelly: substance secreted from the glands of worker honeybees, fed to all larvae during their first few days and then only to those larvae selected to be queens
- Propolis was most frequently to treat colds, wounds and burns, sore throats, gum disorders, and as a general prophylactic.
- Pollen was most commonly used as a general prophylactic and, less frequently to treat prostate diseases.
- No adverse experiences were reported.
- Factors associated with successful experiences:
- Age of the beekeeper
- Number of hives tended
- Health consciousness of the beekeeper
- Positive experiences with 1 product
- Self-administration of treatment
The bottom line?
This appears to be the first study on therapeutic experiences with bee products among beekeepers.
A Cochrane review and others have published favorable reviews of honey to treat wounds.
1/20/09 21:33 JR