Honey Boosts GI Tract Villi Growth without Adverse Effects

Of importance in this study are the effects of not only the intestines but vital organs, as well. Feeding honey vs cane syrup from infancy to adolescence produced no harmful side effects, which is what our elders have always encouraged - honey is good food and good medicine...  

Comparative effect of cane syrup and natural honey on abdominal viscera of growing male and female rats

Indian Jrnl Experimental Biology, 2013 April

The high intake of refined sugars, mainly fructose has been implicated in the epidemiology of metabolic diseases in adults and children. With an aim to determine whether honey can substitute refined sugars without adverse effect, the long-term effects of natural honey and cane syrup have been compared on visceral morphology in growing rats fed from neonatal age.

Honey increased the caecum and pancreas weights in male rats, which could enhance enzymatic activities of pancreas and digestive functions by intestinal microflora of caecum.

Villi growth reviewed from each group

Unlike honey, cane syrup caused fatty degenerations in the liver of both male and female rats. Honey enhanced intestinal villi growth, and did not cause pathology in the rodents' abdominal viscera, suggesting potential nutritional benefit as substitution for refined sugars in animal feed.

Arrows point to fat droplets in liver of cane syrup-fed subjects

Bees Selectively Choose Antimicrobial Propolis Components

This is an amazing study which identifies the honey bees ability to discern between plants which can best maintain the health of the beehive. Carefully selecting the antimicrobial properties of specific resins provides additional confidence in that honey bees have an inate ability to choose only the "good stuff" which goes into propolis...

Metabolomics reveals the origins of antimicrobial plant resins collected by honey bees

PLoS One, 2013 Oct 18

The deposition of antimicrobial plant resins in honey bee, Apis mellifera, nests has important physiological benefits. Resin foraging is difficult to approach experimentally because resin composition is highly variable among and between plant families, the environmental and plant-genotypic effects on resins are unknown, and resin foragers are relatively rare and often forage in unobservable tree canopies. Subsequently, little is known about the botanical origins of resins in many regions or the benefits of specific resins to bees.

We used metabolomic methods as a type of environmental forensics to track individual resin forager behavior through comparisons of global resin metabolite patterns. The resin from the corbiculae of a single bee was sufficient to identify that resin's botanical source without prior knowledge of resin composition. Bees from our apiary discriminately foraged for resin from eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), and balsam poplar (P. balsamifera) among many available, even closely related, resinous plants. Cottonwood and balsam poplar resin composition did not show significant seasonal or regional changes in composition. Metabolomic analysis of resin from 6 North American Populus spp. and 5 hybrids revealed peaks characteristic to taxonomic nodes within Populus, while antimicrobial analysis revealed that resin from different species varied in inhibition of the bee bacterial pathogen, Paenibacillus larvae.

resin gatherer in the beehive

We conclude that honey bees make discrete choices among many resinous plant species, even among closely related species. Bees also maintained fidelity to a single source during a foraging trip. Furthermore, the differential inhibition of P. larvae by Populus spp., thought to be preferential for resin collection in temperate regions, suggests that resins from closely related plant species many have different benefits to bees.

Bee Products Protect Humans from Neurodegenerative Diseases

Consuming several bee products provides a synergistic effect, whereby the benefits of each are enhanced when taken ensemble. This has been established in previous studies and this new study reaffirms that Apitherapy protects and prevents even neurodegenerative illnesses...

Total monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition by chestnut honey, pollen and propolis

J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem, 2013 Oct 24

Abstract Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors are generally used in the treatment of depressive disorders and some neurodegenerative illnesses, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the MAO [MAO (E.C.1.4.3.4)] inhibiting effect of various apitherapeutic products, such as chestnut honey, pollen and propolis.

Extracts' MAO inhibition was measured using peroxidase-linked spectrophotometric assay in enzyme isolated from rat liver microsomes, and the values are expressed as the inhibition concentration (IC50) causing 50% inhibition of MAO. The antioxidant activity of the bee products was also determined in terms of total phenolic content (TPC) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power in aquatic extracts.

All samples exhibited substantial inhibition of MAO, propolis having the highest. Inhibition was related to samples' TPCs and antioxidant capacities.

These results show that bee products possess a sedative effect and may be effective in protecting humans against depression and similar diseases.

Shingles Treated Successfully with Bee Venom Therapy

As ironic as it may seem, Bee Venom Therapy provides relief from pain and not vice versa. This case study is only one of many that have had incredible results with bee venom. It's truly a potent medical development with numerous applications...

Bee Venom Treatment for Refractory Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Case Report

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine: 2013, Oct 5

Objective: 

Bee venom has been reported to have antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in experimental studies. However, questions still remain regarding the clinical use of bee venom. This report describes the successful outcome of bee venom treatment for refractory postherpetic neuralgia.

Patient: 

A 72-year-old Korean man had severe pain and hypersensitivity in the region where he had developed a herpes zoster rash 2 years earlier. He was treated with antivirals, painkillers, steroids, and analgesic patches, all to no effect.

Intervention: 

The patient visited the East-West Pain Clinic, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, to receive collaborative treatment. After being evaluated for bee venom compatibility, he was treated with bee venom injections. A 1:30,000 diluted solution of bee venom was injected subcutaneously along the margins of the rash once per week for 4 weeks.

Results: 

Pain levels were evaluated before every treatment, and by his fifth visit, his pain had decreased from 8 to 2 on a 10-point numerical rating scale. He experienced no adverse effects, and this improvement was maintained at the 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year phone follow-up evaluations.

Conclusion: 
Bee venom treatment demonstrates the potential to become an effective treatment for postherpetic neuralgia. Further large-sample clinical trials should be conducted to evaluate the overall safety and efficacy of this treatment.