There are so many healing powers in nature, it really is unbelievable. Most people think of honey as a delicious ingredient to add to their desserts, have in their tea or spread on a piece of toast, but did you know that honey, as well as a myriad of other bee products, have some pretty amazing healing powers? They are loaded with B vitamins, antioxidants and enzymes which are wonderful for your health. Whether you are using them to help with a disease state or just to maintain good health, there are many benefits to using bee products.

I have done a lot of research undressing the most common bee products available and made a short synopsis of each product and some of the health benefits that it offers.

In the area that I live we are lucky to have some great, unpasteurized honey, with Dutchman’s Gold being a popular supplier. Check out your local health food market to see what brands of honey are available to you and to uncover which other bee products you can buy.

Let’s have a look at why honey looks so good naked and also take a look at the other common bee products on the market to see why they are so fantastic as well.

Honey

  • contains natural vitamins, lots of enzymes, minerals and powerful antioxidants
  • it has to be raw/unpasteurized/unprocessed otherwise the heat from pasteurization destroys most if not all of the nutrition
  • pasteurized honey is equivalent to and just as unhealthy as eating refined sugar
  • honey has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties
  • it has many, many benefits including: strengthening the immune health, improving digestive health, helps eliminate allergies (by helping to heal a leaky gut), stabilizing blood pressure, balancing sugar levels, relieving pain, calming nerves, treating ulcers, and can help with respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis (by helping to expel mucus)
  • it’s not only used as a digestive but also as a topical agent to heal bed sores, burns, rashes, abrasions, acne, and improve skin health

Manuka honey

  • a type of honey produced in New Zealand by bees that pollinate the Manuka bush
  • it is an antiseptic, antibacterial, antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral
  • the anti-bacterial component of Manuka honey can be over 100 times greater than that of regular raw honey
  • it contains hydrogen peroxide which gives this honey its antibiotic quality
  • the major antibacterial component in Manuka honey is methylglyoxal (MG) and this is how the potency of Manuka honeys are rated – based on how much methylglyoxal it contains
  • rating is called UMF, standing for Unique Manuka Factor, and a honey that is labeled “UMF Manuka Honey” or “Active Manuka Honey” means that the UMF is above 10, which means that its classified as potent enough to be therapeutic
  • that being said, the higher the UMF the more potent it is, and therefore the more effective the honey
  • for a good quality honey you’re looking at around $50 for a small jar, but some people swear by its healing and say it’s worth it – plus, it tastes like heaven as well! 😛
  • there is also “Medical Grade Manuka Honey” that is manufactured especially for topical dressings, which is even more expensive and harder to find. It is a long, meticulous process that is done to ensure the honey is specially sterilized and pure.
  • possible health benefits of Manuka (some overlap regular, raw honey though Manuka is much more potent): treats minor wounds and burns, helps prevent cancers, reduces high cholesterol, reduces systemic inflammation, can help manage diabetes, treats eye, ear, and sinus infections, treats GI problems like ulcers, effective against H. Pylori, diarrhea, IBS, gastritis and over acidity (hyperchlorydia), can be effective against dermatitis and fungal skin conditions, can be a part of an effective cough syrup for a cold, a natural face moisturizer, a pain reliever, heals leg ulcers quicker than any other medical treatment, treats athlete’s foot, plays a role in dental health, eye infections, diabetic wounds, arthritic inflammation, insect bites and stings, sore throats, relief for allergies, acid reflux disease, ring worm, rashes, chronic wounds, pressure sores, surgical wounds, psoriasis, cold sores, Candida Albicans, nail fungus, esophagus ulcers, chemical burns, decubitus ulcer, reducing scars and aids in all tissue healing
  • inhibits cell division in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) which is a “Superbug” bacteria that is resistant to most antibiotics (the only ones it tends to respond to are really harsh on your organs and can cause a variety or health concerns)

Propolis

  • a resinous mixture that honey bees collect from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources used to seal small spaces in the bee hive; essentially “bee glue”
  • at least 180 different compounds have been found in it so far including a variety of flavanoids
  • it is an antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal ant-viral and even an anesthetic!
  • usually used in holistic health to help relieve inflammation, viral disease, respiratory problems, ulcers and superficial burns and scalds
  • thought to promote heart health and strengthen the immune system
  • effective against some parasites, like ringworm
  • being a natural antibiotic, it works against harmful bacteria without destroying the friendly bacteria your body needs and has even been proven effective against some strains of bacteria that resist chemical antibiotics
  • has a cytotoxic effect against cancer – effectiveness has been shown in helping with some of these: breast cancer, melanoma, colon cancer, lung cancer, renal carcinoma, hepatic carcinoma, uterine carcinoma, ovary cancer and sarcoma-type tumours

Royal Jelly

  • a honey bee secretion that is used to nourish larvae as they grow
  • it contains a variety of B-complex vitamins
  • it contains many trace minerals and some enzymes , a relatively high amount of fatty acids and small amounts of a variety of amino acids
  • it has antibiotic and antibacterial components and it promotes wound healing
  • research on its immunomodulatory effects especially with Graves disease (autoimmune hyperthyroidism)
  • may reduce tumour growth by inhibiting the vascularisation of tumours
  • may have some cholesterol lowering effect
  • apparently stimulates the growth of glial cells and neural stem cells in the brain

Bee Pollen

  • first and foremost, you have to take caution using this with a bee sting allergy
  • pollen comes from a variety of flowers, fruits and other crops that bees collect to bring back to the hive to feed young bees
  • it’s thought to some as nature’s most complete food – it contains nearly all the nutrients that we require, its roughly 40% protein and half of this comes in the form of free amino acids that are highly assimilated by the body, has lots of vitamins including B-complex and Folic Acid and is loaded with enzymes!
  • it is used in a variety of successful ways by different cultures throughout the world such as: improving endurance and vitality, extending longevity, aiding recovery from chronic illness, adding weight during convalescence, reducing cravings and addictions, regulating the intestines, building new blood, preventing infectious diseases such as the cold and flu (it has antibiotic type properties), helping overcome some retardation and other developmental problems in children and is thought to protect against radiation and to have anti-cancer qualities

What is your favorite way to use bee products? Let me know in the comment section below. I would love to hear from you!

“Image courtesy of Dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.