For thousands of years, Egyptian, Roman, Aztec, and Mayan civilizations used honeybee byproducts or apitherapy for food and even as remedies for health conditions.  The Greek physician Hippocrates used bee byproducts to treat many individuals with poor health conditions and Phillip Terc, a famous Austrian physician, used bees to treat patients with arthritis in the late 1800s. Today in the United States, bees are primarily used for their honey to produce food and beauty products. Bee byproducts are only used by a small number of health care providers as healing therapy.

This is not the case in countries such as Europe, Russia, China, and Korea. Although still used for food and beauty products, honeybee byproducts are widely used for their healing attributes. These byproducts include venom, royal jelly, bee pollen, and propolis. Studies suggest that these agents may be able to treat an array of conditions from allergies to chronic pain syndrome. 

Bee Venom:

Approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a homeopathic medicine, homeopathic bee venom (HBV) has at least 18 active substances including neurotransmitters and is used to heal in three ways: by live bees, bee injections, and bee creams. Substances such as mellitin, adolapin, and apamin have anti-inflammatory effects, while compound X and histamine assist in the inflammatory response. It is important to remember that HBV differs from treatment using the whole bee venom in that the HBV is highly diluted and uses the amount of venom equivalent to 4 percent of an average bee sting. Before using any of the mentioned treatments, consult your physician.

Homeopathic bee venom injections are used to treat a number of conditions such as:

• Tendonitis;
• Osteoarthritis of any joint;
• Bursitis;
• Pain from degenerative conditions of the spine, especially in the neck and lower back areas;
• Sciatica and “pinched nerve” syndromes;
• Pain from trauma or surgery; and
• Chronic muscle spasms and inflammation.

The mechanics, however, are unknown. It is possible that the venom brings relief by strengthening the body’s inflammatory response.

The use of HBV as a treatment can bring mild pain, redness, itching, and swelling to the area of injection. This is considered typical and should only last a few minutes. There is also the possibility of an allergic reaction to the venom. People with severe bee allergies should avoid this type of treatment.

Bee venom therapy may be more effective if you drink plenty of water and avoid food and drinks with sugar, dairy products, and saturated fats. It is also recommended to avoid drinking alcohol and smoking.

Royal Jelly or Honeybee Milk:

Young nurse bees produce a substance called royal jelly or honeybee milk that is fed to the queen bee during maturation and later while laying eggs. Royal jelly has been used to treat problems such as general metabolic diseases, chronic kidney insufficiency, and even the side effects of menopause.

Bee Pollen:

Collected by honeybees from flowering plants and trees, bee pollen contains amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. It is used for many purposes including:

• Aphrodisiac;                                       
• Anti-allergen;
• Anti-bacterial;
• Anti-depressant;
• Antioxidant;
• Anti-toxin;
• Lowering high blood pressure; and
• Lowering stress levels.

Propolis

This waxy material collected from the buds of trees is used to protect the colony from small organisms and to keep the hive sturdy.  Propolis benefits include:

• Anti-inflammatory;
• Anti-depressant;
• Anti-septic;
• Anti-allergic;
• Anti-oxidant; and
• Stimulation of tissue regeneration.

It also can be used in creams, shampoos, and toothpastes in personal hygiene and beauty products.

It is important to consult your health care provider before using any bee therapy treatments mentioned above.

Sources: HolisticMD and Jefferson Hospital