It is often said that bees are indispensable to human life on Earth, and that if they were to disappear, we would only have four years to live before our entire eco-system would be destroyed. Bees alone account for almost 80% of pollination on our planet. It's also thanks to bees that we can enjoy beehive products, the concentrated well-being benefits that have been enjoyed by human beings for millennia.
The benefits of beehive products for our health, well-being and beauty are a hot topic of current interest! Let's discover the science behind using honey, royal jelly and pollen to improve our daily well-being: apitherapy.
What is apitherapy?
Beekeeping is a well-known term, but what about apitherapy? Apitherapy is a method of improving well-being through the benefits of beehive products. The term "apitherapy" comes from the Latin apis, meaning "bee".
In apitherapy, all bee products are used, i.e. products that have been harvested, processed or secreted. The products used in apitherapy are le miel, la propolis, la gelée royale, le pollen, la cire et le venin.
Today, apitherapy is not just reserved for beekeepers, but is recognized as an alternative medicine, and is the subject of in-depth scientific studies aimed at isolating the specific benefits of the various products of the hive on our health. Apitherapy can be the tool of choice for maintaining well-being and working with nature to prevent illness and stay in shape!
History of apitherapy
Beekeeping has been around for a long time, and humans have been enjoying the benefits of beehive products ever since they first got close to bees! We could say that apitherapy is just as old as beekeeping, the method of raising bees.
In ancient times, many beekeepers were already practicing this science, notably with the use of bee venom, which is mentioned in ancient Chinese texts dating back over 2,000 years. Hippocrates himself, now considered the father of modern medicine, mentions bee venom several times in his writings.
More recently, it was Austrian physician Phillip Terc who brought apitherapy to the forefront with a publication in 1888 detailing his success with the use of bee venom. This apitherapy pioneer later gave way to Charles Mraz, an American beekeeper and therapist who played a major role in the development of apitherapy through his teachings around the world.
Apitherapy took a giant step forward in 1928 when beekeeping specialist Franz Kretchy finalized his method of using bee venom. He succeeded in finalizing a method of injecting bee venom instead of applying it directly to the skin.
Today, numerous associations and groups of professional therapists and beekeepers are actively transmitting their discoveries in apitherapy.
Who practices apitherapy?
Apitherapy is a well-known method in beekeeping circles. At present, there is no apitherapy training course leading to an official diploma. However, it is possible to train in apitherapy through organizations and associations offering regular training courses. Beekeepers and apitherapy practitioners work together to offer interested parties mini-training courses and workshops enabling them to pass on their knowledge and bring to life the art of using bees. mielpollen, royal jelly, wax and propolis to maintain well-being.
The American Apitherapy Society, for example, organizes an annual three-day training course for people interested in apitherapy. In France, there are online training courses which, although they do not offer certification, enable students to familiarize themselves with the art of apitherapy and apply their knowledge to their professional practice.
In fact, the branch of apitherapy involving the use of bee venom is booming worldwide. More and more people are training in this practice, including doctors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, homeopaths and beekeepers.
What are the benefits of apitherapy?
Honey
Super-star du monde de l’apiculture, le miel est bien connu en cuisine pour son goût délicieux ! Mais les avantages du miel are not limited to just that, but are diverse and varied depending on the plant of origin.
Le fennel honey is particularly beneficial for the mouth and throat. It has a pleasant effect on the throat, pharynx and vocal cords.
Honey works miracles for our beauty! We recommend using it as a face mask. You can vary the pleasures with honey from different flowers. Honey Lavender honey is ideal for oily skin, which it helps to balance, while acacia honey is preferable for dry, sensitive skin. Apply the honey mask to the skin in a thin layer and leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse off with lukewarm water and moisturize with your usual cream.
Pollen
Le pollen (Pollantinum) is an essential in the family of hive products! Depending on its origin and the plant from which it comes, pollen is of particular interest. Pollen Willow pollen, for example, is rich in vitamins B3 and B9, which help reduce fatigue. Cistus pollen is naturally rich in vitamin B2, which also contributes to fatigue reduction and a normal energy metabolism. Pollen Chestnut Bramble helps rebalance and soothe the emotional state, and protects against the harmful effects of stress thanks to its antioxidant potential (ORAC value). It is a source of vitamin B6, which contributes to the normal functioning of your nervous system.
Generally speaking, pollen helps with fatigue. It boosts the body's vitality and resistance.
Royal jelly
La royal jelly, produced by the glands of nurse bees, is certainly one of the most highly prized beekeeping products! It is used to feed larvae in the hive. The bees destined to become queens feed exclusively on royal jelly, while the worker bees consume nectar, pollen and honey.
In fact, when you compare worker bees and the queen bee, the difference is obvious! Although rather whitish and gelatinous, royal jelly doesn't look very appetizing, and yet this beneficial substance means a lot to us. Visit royal jelly contains proteins and B vitamins (B1, B3, B5, B6, B8) as well as vitamins A, C and E. Royal jelly is also rich in minerals and trace elements.
Propolis
La propolis (Propolis)Propolis, also known as "black wax", is a resin gathered by bees and used in certain creams and dietary supplements. Within the hive, propolis helps maintain good hygiene by preventing bacterial infections. In fact, propolis owes its name to this protective function: the Greek "pro" means "before" and "polis" means "the city". Propolis is placed by the bees at the entrance to the hive to protect it, at the entrance to the city!
In cosmetics, propolis is interesting in the form of masks or added to creams. It helps maintain clear skin, particularly for people with imperfections such as pimples or oily skin. Propolis-based cosmetics are recommended for regulating excess sebum and restoring clear skin.
Le venin
It may seem strange to use bee venom to promote well-being! A bee sting is synonymous with major discomfort, and we'd do anything to avoid it. And yet, bee venom has been used for thousands of years as a preventative or return-to-fitness treatment. Bee venom-based treatments are an integral part of apitherapy, and are becoming increasingly popular, particularly in Europe and Asia.
Course of an apitherapy session
A doctor trained in apitherapy is qualified to inject bee venom to improve well-being.
In the traditional method, venom is administered naturally through bee stings. The practitioner places live bees on the skin of the person concerned. However, there is a major limitation to this method: once the bee plants its stinger in the skin, it detaches from the upper part of its abdomen and quickly dies. Today, it is finally possible to isolate the venom and harvest it without affecting the bee's well-being. More and more practitioners are working with venom injections using a syringe, a more ethical method of benefiting from this branch of apitherapy.
During a session, the area to be injected is chosen precisely according to the location of the discomfort, or on a specific acupuncture point. Depending on the objective of the session and the situation of the person consulting you, a specific number of sessions and a precise quantity of injections are recommended!
As apitherapy is not a scientifically recognized method at present, there are no precise recommendations, so the user must find a trusted therapist experienced in the art of apitherapy in order to achieve good results. To find a serious practitioner, it is advisable to turn to recognized apitherapy associations.
A session of apitherapy can cost between 80 and 120 euros, depending on the practitioner's reputation and geographical location.
Apitherapy is the use of beehive products to improve well-being. It's a practice that has been used informally for thousands of years! Today, apitherapy is the subject of extensive research, and apitherapy professionals, doctors and beekeepers are constantly working to pass on their knowledge and make apitherapy accessible to all.