Fact and Fiction

Apitherapy, Home Remedies, Mythology, and Science

As beekeepers, we would love to tout all that one hears or reads about the various health or medical benefits of honey, pollen, bee venom, and other products of the hive. Unfortunately, many of these claims are simply unfounded or, at best, anecdotal. Although most of these claims are questionable, there are some promising health benefits associated with the products of the beehive that are receiving real attention and are being actively researched.

Sometimes it is difficult to pick out what is true from what is fictitious, urban legend, an old wives' tale, or simply a scam. If a claim is not backed by evidence in a rigorous, published, peer-reviewed study, then it is definitely suspect and likely false. Even if a study was conducted, one must understand that not all studies have equal merit and standing until they survive the scrutini of others and are strengthened through additional study that confirms prediction. A claim can benefit from a healthy dose of skepticism until it is verified. A single positive study supporting a claim usually means merely that more study is needed.

Some studies are more obviously conclusive, but neither The Carolina Bee Company nor science fully endorse something until study after study confirms it and a consensus is formed. That is how science works.

Here are some of the facts and myths we have run across:

Fact and Fiction

Fact

• Honey bees pollinate roughly 1/3rd our food supply.

  Put another way, pollinating honey bees are required for 80% of our fruit, vegetable and seed crops.

• Honey and wound dressing.

  Honey has superior anti-septic, anti-bacterial, and general anti-microbial properties. Use honey in place of anti-bacterial creams and ointments on wounds. It particularly excels as a burn treatment.

• Honey should not be fed to infants less than 1 year old.

  The reason: Infant botulism via Clostridium botulinum. Honey and corn syrup can (but don't commonly) contain botulism spores that an infant's gastronomical system cannot combat. For the same reason, infants need to also avoid vacuum cleaner dust and soil which can also contain these spores. Especially in the first 6 months of life. Note: Infant botulism is very rare, even if the child eats honey. This factoid may be almost written off as parenting over-reaction, but if someone asks us, we do not recommend risking it.
  (See also, the wikipedia article on this topic.)

Promising

• Honey treats nighttime cough and sleep difficulty.

  Study suggests honey provides superior cough relief. Here's some discussion in The James Randi Education Foundation's forums. The science looks sound. But more study is probably needed to be conclusive. For easier reading, the New York Times reported as well. Just mix lemon juice with honey and consume every few hours. Or just use honey alone!

• Propolis and dental treatment.

  There is some positive evidence for the use of propolis in the treatment of canker sores and other treatments surrounding anti-inflammation. Propolis is beginning to garner interest for potential future study for a number of potential applications.

• Propolis and cancer

  Research is underway, but evidence is minimal at the moment and non-conclusive. We are hopeful.

• Bee venom therapy (for inflamatory joint pain).

  There does seem to be a cortisol effect that may be effective therapy for things like arthritis, tendinitis, etc. But, research is slim.

Unstudied and/or Suspect

• Bee venom therapy (for MS therapy).

  While the jury is still out on whether BVT is effective treatment for arthritis and other joint inflamatory issues, the evidence just isn't there for treatment of such malladies as Multiple sclerosis. MS sufferers have looked to bee venom for treatment. There is zero evidence that bee venom aids MS sufferers unfortunately. Maybe someday this will change but so far, it has not withstood any scrutiny.

• Allergies and local honey.
  Does local raw (merely coarsely strained) honey help relieve pollen allergies?

  Honey contains minute quantities of pollen, so it makes physiological sense that a couple tablespoons of local honey a day months prior to allergy season may have a benefit. But the evidence is just not there. That being said, even some allergists give this idea some credence. It may help to a limited degree or it may not. Give it a whirl. Buy local honey because it's higher quality and tastes fantastic!

Fiction!

• A misattributed quote: "If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live." -Albert Einstein

  Einstien didn't say this. That being said, though an example of hyperbole, honey bees are extremely critical to our food supply in the form of the services they provide for pollination of our crops.

• "I'm allergic to honey bees."

  Nearly every one of you that claims this is wrong.

  We hear this claim all the time in the context that the claimant is dangerously allergic to bee stings. Far more people (by many magnitudes) claim to be dangerously allergic to honey bee stings than actually are.

  There are degrees of severity. Most people are, to a limited extent, allergic to honey bee stings (like we are), but not dangerously or systemically so. Less than 1% of the population needs fear being stung by honey bees. For an example, the first time that Todd was stung by a honey bee, his whole hand (and then some) swelled up (think: catcher's mitt). This is a normal allergic reaction and not something to fear.

  One can also be systemically allergic to the stings of honey bee relatives (ants, wasps) but not allergic at all to honey bees. If you suspect you are sensitive, visit your local allergist. If that allergist says you are allergic to honey bee stings, ask him or her "how allergic?". You are probably not systemically allergic to honey bees.

• The miracle foods Royal jelly and pollen

  Also, sometimes called perfect foods: they aren't, except for bees. If someone claims they are, it's a scam or they are simply perpetuating a myth.