We associate bees with a lot of things: honey, hives to avoid, and fear of an allergic reaction from bee stings. What many don’t know is that bees can provide a huge host of effective health benefits. With a little bit of knowledge and testing, bees can provide us with a multitude of benefits and treatments to boost your day to day health.
Honey Health Prevention & Treatments
We all know that honey is delicious, but it’s also great for your health. Despite its sweetness, studies have shown that honey is significantly healthier for you than sugar, as well as rich in antioxidants, particularly phenolic compounds like flavonoids. Honey increases blood flow and has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and even certain types of cancers. It’s also been shown to lower blood pressure, blood triglyceride levels, and cholesterol, making it a great option for those at risk for heart disease.
Honey is a great option for skin treatment and general health. Natural honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which can be used to treat skin conditions, psoriasis, and lesions. Manuka honey is also used by some to treat burn wounds and ulcers.
For children over one year of age suffering from flu symptoms, honey has been shown to be a safe, natural alternative to common over-the-counter medications. Never give honey to children younger than one year. One study has found honey to actually outperform over-the-counter medication for sleep aid and cough prevention.
Whatever you use honey for, make sure you only use natural, high-quality, undiluted honey products.
Bee Venom Therapy and Treatment
That’s right, bee venom – the kind you find in bee stings. Note: please don’t begin any natural or herbal treatment regimen without the guidance of your licensed physician. Some individuals are allergic to bee venom, and bee stings or bee venom treatments may carry side effects including anaphylactic shock and death for these individuals. For those without an allergy, bee venom is suspected to have some effect on a variety of ailments and is sometimes used as an organic health treatment. Some research suggests that bee venom may contain anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and pain relief properties; particularly the compounds apamin and adolapin. Bee venom has been used as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis to reduce pain and stiffness.
Bee venom has been used as a skin treatment for redness and wrinkles. Studies have also been conducted to test bee venom as a treatment for acne and atopic dermatitis due to the antibacterial properties of the venom.
Bee venom has been suggested to benefit immune health, which would make it possible to reduce the symptoms of some autoimmune conditions by reducing inflammation and boosting the immune response. Bee venom may also provide some benefit to sufferers of certain environmental allergies by boosting the production of regulatory T-cells. Please consult your physician or allergist to discuss before beginning any new treatment regimen for your allergy symptoms.
Bee-sting therapy as a clinical study has been used as a form of acupuncture: patients were stung 5-15 times per day to examine the effect on chronic pain and swelling.
Before using any bee sting or venom related therapy or treatment, be sure to confirm with your healthcare physician or allergen specialist that you are not allergic to bees. Though the percentage of people who are prone to severe allergies is small, caution is advised to those who have had even a small reaction to a bee sting in the past as you are 25%-65% more likely to develop a severe or life-threatening allergy.
Beeswax in Ancient Medicine
Bees also provide us with beeswax. Beeswax has been employed medicinally for generations. Beeswax supplements and extracts have been used in traditional medicine to lower cholesterol, reduce pain, and treat swelling, ulcers, and stomach issues.
Bee Pollen Allergy Treatments
Bee pollen has been shown to be an effective treatment for allergies and other common maladies since it’s rich in nutrients and antioxidants. It can be taken in capsules, or raw bee pollen can be mixed into teas or smoothies.
At Salem Botanicals, we have the expertise and the experience to turn these common compounds into powerful organic treatments with bee products. For these and other healthy remedies, shop Salem today!