Gloucestershire Beekeepers' Association

(The following has been edited from an article in a health magazine under the heading ‘Alternative Medicine’, sent in by Roger Fleming of Colchester Division from the Shropshire Beekeepers Association Newsletter)

Million of years before man appeared on earth, sophisticated healing and preventative techniques already existed, as well as complex chemical medicaments …in beehives.

There is an excellent antibiotic called propolis, a nutrient rich in energy and hormones known as ‘royal jelly’, a complex group of substances which serve as nutrients and defences against all types of illnesses, in the pollen and honey, and wax and the bee sting have curative properties too.

Honey
Honey has over 70 substances – 75% sugars, 20% water, 5% made up of vitamins, oleaginous elements, antibiotic and digestive fermenting properties. The sugars provide high energy and the digestive enzymes make it very tolerable to stomach mucus. Rich in natural antibiotics, honey is an excellent intestinal antiseptic.

A Prescription
Constipation: Take honey with a spoonful of plum conserve in a half glass of natural tomato juice. Good for any intestinal infection caused by bacteria or parasites.
Diarrhoea: Honey, in lemon juice diluted with water, with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda.

Other Uses

A good Cough linctus: Juice of half a lemon and a tablespoon of honey warmed in a ‘bain-marie’. Sip warm.

Royal Jelly
Contains water, vitamins of every group, complex combinations of amino acids, minerals and balsams. It has cetilcolina, an antibiotic especially active against the germs in intestinal and urinary infections

Good for: exhaustion, mild stress, appetite, insomnia, failing memory, the liver, impotence, complement to treatments for stomach ulcers and coronary problems and skin disorders.

Pollen
Contains carbohydrates, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, oleaginous elements, fermenting agents, antibiotics, some hormones, and some as yet unidentified substances. Chew the little balls of pollen, alone or mixed with honey, yoghurt or fruit juices and it helps with fatigue or convalescence and increases appetite. Take two tablespoonfuls of pollen daily to help prostate problems, but not if you have renal problems.

Propolis

Propolis was widely used in Egypt and Greece. It is the hive’s antibiotic and is anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Propolis contains flavinoids, vitamins of Group B and minerals including titanium and vanadium.
It is particularly active against such as staphylococci, streptococci and salmonella. It is good as addressing for broken skin. The ancient Egyptians utilised propolis for their mummies, and the Soviets preserved Lenin with it. Some people are allergic to it and you should not use it if you suffer anaphylactic shock to bee stings.

Venom
It is rich in formic acid, with peptides, histamine and magnesium phosphate, and many components still unknown.

Apitherapy
Bee venom’s good effect on pain and the joint inflammation of rheumatism has long been known. It can also be used in the treatment of asthma, varicose ulcers and nauseas. Some persons are allergic to direct stinging of course, but there are no such inconveniences in the use of creams prepared for external use. The honeycomb is seldom exploited and scientists still do not yet know all its possibilities.