METHODS

Apitherapy is the medical use of honey bee products. This can include the use of honey, pollen, bee bread, propolis, royal jelly and bee venom. The exact origins of apitherapy are difficult to pinpoint and can be traced back, in a general sense, to ancient Egypt, Greece, and China. Use of honey and other bee products can be traced back thousands of years and healing properties are included in many religious texts. These are mostly attributed to nutritional benefits of consumption of bee-products and not use of bee venom.

While apitherapy encompasses use or consumption of bee products, in the west the term is most commonly associated with bee venom therapy and not the consumption of honey or other bee products. Bee venom therapy is claimed to be of use in arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, dissolving scar tissue (e.g. keloids), and Herpes zoster, among other illnesses. The most abundant active component of the venom is melittin, which has many useful properties, including powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral actions. However, bee venom is a complex mix of a variety of peptides and proteins, some of which have strong neurotoxic and immunogenic effects.

However, propolis is a focus of a lot of research. For more about propolis, see the paragraph below.

Source – Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apitherapy

The term propolis comes from the Greek words PRO – in front of, and POLIS – town, which can be translated as outskirts or town defense. The term justifies the role of propolis in a hive. Propolis is a resinous mixture that honey bees collect from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources. For centuries, beeskeepers assumed that bees sealed the beehive with propolis to protect the colony from the elements, such as rain and cold winter drafts. Propolis is now believed to prevent diseases and parasites from entering the hive, and to inhibit fungal and bacterial growth.

Propolis has been used as traditional medicine for thousands of years. The medicinal use of propolis has both its proponents and opponents. It is unlikely that propolis has been used for thousands of years, and is unlikely to have maintained its popularity as a traditional medicine if its use was ineffective or associated with frequent or severe adverse reactions.

Herbalism (also herbal medicine or phytotherapy) is the study of botany and use of plants intended for medicinal purposes or for supplementing a diet. Plants have been the basis for medical treatments through much of human history, and such traditional medicine is still widely practiced today. Modern medicine makes use of many plant-derived compounds as the basis for evidence-based pharmaceutical drugs. Although phytotherapy may apply modern standards of effectiveness testing to herbs and medicines derived from natural sources, few high-quality clinical trials and standards for purity or dosage exist. The scope of herbal medicine is sometimes extended to include fungal and bee products, as well as minerals, shells and certain animal parts.

The term, phytomedicine, may also refer to the science of pathology and damage to plants, the causes thereof, their manifestations, development, dissemination, methods for maintaining plant health, and measures used to control plant diseases and their causes.

General practices include ancient methods of traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. Practitioners of herbalism or phytotherapy are referred to as herbalists or phytotherapists. Products used in herbalism may be called herbal medicines, botanicals, natural health products, herbal remedies, herbal supplements, or phytotherapies.

Archaeological evidence indicates that the use of medicinal plants dates back to the Paleolithic age, approximately 60,000 years ago. Written evidence of herbal remedies dates back over 5,000 years, to the Sumerians, who compiled lists of plants. A number of ancient cultures wrote about plants and their medical uses in books called herbals. In ancient Egypt, herbs are mentioned in Egyptian medical papyri, depicted in tomb illustrations, or on rare occasions found in medical jars containing trace amounts of herbs. Among the oldest, lengthiest, and most important medical papyri of ancient Egypt, the Ebers Papyrus dates from about 1550 BC, and covers more than 700 drugs, mainly of plant origin. The earliest known Greek herbals come from Theophrastus of Eresos who in the 4th c. B.C. wrote in Greek Historia Plantarum, from Diocles of Carystus who wrote during the 3rd century B.C, and from Krateuas who wrote in the 1st century B.C. Only a few fragments of these works have survived intact, but from what remains scholars have noted a large amount of overlap with the Egyptian herbals. Seeds likely used for herbalism have been found in archaeological sites of Bronze Age China dating from the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC–c. 1046 BC). Over a hundred of the 224 drugs mentioned in the Huangdi Neijing, an early Chinese medical text, are herbs. Herbs also commonly featured in the medicine of ancient India, where the principal treatment for diseases was diet. De Materia Medica, originally written in Greek by Pedanius Dioscorides (c. 40 – 90 AD) of Anazarbus, Cilicia, a Greek physician, pharmacologist and botanist, is a particularly important example of herbal writing; it dominated for some 1500 years until the 1600s.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80 percent of the population of some Asian and African countries presently use herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care. Pharmaceuticals are prohibitively expensive for most of the world’s population, half of whom lived on less than $2 U.S. per day in 2002. In comparison, herbal medicines can be grown from seed or gathered from nature for little or no cost.

Many of the pharmaceuticals currently available to physicians have a long history of use as herbal remedies, including opium, aspirin, digitalis, and quinine. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 25% of modern drugs used in the United States have been derived from plants. At least 7,000 medical compounds in the modern pharmacopoeia are derived from plants. Among the 120 active compounds currently isolated from the higher plants and widely used in modern medicine today, 80% show a positive correlation between their modern therapeutic use and the traditional use of the plants from which they are derived.

From Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbalism

APITHERAPY BENEFITS:

Numerous research studies demonstrated that propolis ensures wide therapeutic effects thanks to its valuable composition and characteristics. Based on the available scientific evidence, the National Institutes of Health rates propolis as possibly effective for treating cold sores, genital herpes, and post-surgery mouth pain. Currently, there is some evidence to rate the effectiveness of propolis in treating canker sores, tuberculosis, common colds and other infections, nose and throat cancer, improving the immune response, ulcers, stomach and intestinal disorders, wounds, inflammation, minor burns, or other conditions.

Propolis is the focus of a lot of research. Some research findings indicate that propolis has the following properties:

• Antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal
• Anti-inflammatory
• Emollient
• Immunomodulator, immunosuppressive, immunostimulant
• Antiallergenic
• Dental aid protecting against dental caries and other forms of oral disease
• Antioxidant
• Anesthetic
• Possibly cancer preventive

Raw propolis is composed of 55% of resin, 30% of wax, 10% of aromatic and aetheric oils, and 5 % of pollen. There are vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, E, pantothenic and nicotine acids, as well as minerals: sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron, manganese, nickel, copper, strontium, cobalt, molybdenum, vanadium, etc.

Biologically active components of propolis can be classified in several groups, out of which flavonoids and phenol acids must be singled out. The best- known flavonoids, found in propolis, are: galangin, quercetin, pinocembrin, pinobaksin, chrysin, etc. Effectiveness of propolis is primarily attributed to these components.

Products containing propolis are administered orally, and they are also suitable for external use on skin and mucosa. Products with propolis can be used both in acute state of illness and chronic diseases. Certain products can be used for preventive purposes as well. They are safe to be consumed in addition to the therapy prescribed by the medical doctor.

All these characteristics of propolis can be summed up under one principle – it is a natural antibiotic.

Source – Apipharma:
http://apipharma.com/en/zdravlje/propolis-composition-and-properties/
Source – Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propolis

HERBALISM BENEFITS:

About 25 percent of the drugs prescribed worldwide are derived from plants. Of the 252 drugs in the World Health Organization’s essential medicine list, 11 percent are exclusively of plant origin. In fact, about 200 years ago the first pharmacological compound, morphine, was produced from opium extracted from the seed pods of the poppy flower. Since then, scientists have been studying plants to create the pharmaceutical products we know today. But after years of overmedicating, facing resistant bacteria in the microbiome and treating the illness rather than the root of the problem, people are beginning to pay more attention to natural, herbal medicine.

Millions of dollars have recently been invested in looking for promising medicinal herbs. These substantial research investments in traditional herbal medicine are still relatively modest when compared to the overall pharmaceutical industry, but it proves that researchers are beginning to steer away from conventional drug development and look toward more alternative and natural forms of treatment.

Natural plant products have been used throughout human history for various purposes. In fact, written records of the use of herbal medicine date back more than 5,000 years, and for much of history, herbal medicine was the only medicine.

Today, plants are being used to treat a number of health concerns and conditions, including allergies, arthritis, migraines, fatigue, skin infections, wounds, burns, gastrointestinal issues and even cancer — proving that it’s true that food is medicine. These herbs are less expensive and they’re a safer means of treatment than conventional medications, which is why so many people are choosing to go back to this traditional idea of medicine.

Benefits of herbal medicine are:

1. More Affordable than Conventional Medicine: Modern medical science certainly comes with a high price tag, and pharmaceuticals are no exception. One reason why herbal medicine is becoming more popular recently is because people simply can’t afford to pay for their medication month after month. A systematic review published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine evaluated whether or not natural health products provide a cost-effective choice in the treatment of disease. Researchers found that natural health products show evidence of cost-effectiveness in relation to postoperative surgery and complications. More research is needed to determine the cost-effectiveness in other areas of modern medicine, but the preliminary data suggests that herbal products are more affordable than pharmaceuticals.
2. Easier to Obtain than Prescription Medication: Herbal products, such as herbal extracts, essential oils and herbal teas, are available in most health food and even grocery stores, so you don’t have to see a doctor to get prescriptions before purchasing them. This certainly makes it easier to obtain herbal products and avoid additional health care costs. Herbs are classified as dietary supplements, so they can be produced, sold and marketed without going through the FDA. Although this makes it easier to purchase and use these beneficial products, it’s our job as consumers to choose among the competitors. Make sure to read the ingredients and labels carefully before using any herbal supplement. Purchase from a reputable and trustworthy company that verifies the product is 100 percent pure-grade.
3. Hold Beneficial, Healing Properties: Herbs are used for the treatment of chronic and acute conditions and various ailments, including major health concerns like cardiovascular disease, prostate problems, depression, inflammation and weakened immune system. Herbs are used around the world to treat conditions and diseases, and many studies prove their efficacy. In fact, of the 177 drugs approved worldwide for the treatment of cancer, more than 70 percent are based on natural products or chemical imitations of natural products.

Source – DrAxe.com:
https://draxe.com/herbal-medicine/

APITHERAPY RISKS:

It should be accentuated here that propolis has no harmful effects on human organism. Allergic reactions and resistance to it are rather rare, typically exhibited in people who are allergic to bees and bee products. Special precautions and warnings:

• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of propolis during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
• Asthma: Some experts believe some chemicals in propolis may make asthma worse. Avoid using propolis if you have asthma.
• Allergies: Don’t use propolis if you are allergic to bee by-products including honey, conifers, poplars, Peru balsam, and salicylates.

Allergic reactions may cause swelling, redness, eczema, or fever. Propolis may irritate the skin and may cause burning, peeling lips, irritation, lesions, itching, swelling, psoriasis, or eczema. Case reports of irritation in and around the mouth have occurred after use of propolis lozenges or extract taken by mouth.

Source – WebMD:

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-390-PROPOLIS.aspx?activeIngredientId=390&activeIngredientName=PROPOLIS

Source – Healthline:

http://www.healthline.com/natstandardcontent/propolis#3

HERBALISM RISKS:

A number of herbs are thought to be likely to cause adverse effects. Furthermore, “adulteration, inappropriate formulation, or lack of understanding of plant and drug interactions have led to adverse reactions that are sometimes life threatening or lethal. Proper double-blind clinical trials are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of each plant before they can be recommended for medical use. Although many consumers believe that herbal medicines are safe because they are “natural”, herbal medicines and synthetic drugs may interact, causing toxicity to the patient. Herbal remedies can also be dangerously contaminated, and herbal medicines without established efficacy, may unknowingly be used to replace medicines that do have corroborated efficacy.

Standardization of purity and dosage is not mandated in the United States, but even products made to the same specification may differ as a result of biochemical variations within a species of plant. Plants have chemical defense mechanisms against predators that can have adverse or lethal effects on humans. Examples of highly toxic herbs include poison hemlock and nightshade. They are not marketed to the public as herbs, because the risks are well known, partly due to a long and colorful history in Europe, associated with “sorcery”, “magic” and intrigue. Although not frequent, adverse reactions have been reported for herbs in widespread use. On occasion serious untoward outcomes have been linked to herb consumption. A case of major potassium depletion has been attributed to chronic licorice ingestion., and consequently professional herbalists avoid the use of licorice where they recognize that this may be a risk. Black cohosh has been implicated in a case of liver failure. Few studies are available on the safety of herbs for pregnant women, and one study found that use of complementary and alternative medicines are associated with a 30% lower ongoing pregnancy and live birth rate during fertility treatment. Examples of herbal treatments with likely cause-effect relationships with adverse events include aconite, which is often a legally restricted herb, ayurvedic remedies, broom, chaparral, Chinese herb mixtures, comfrey, herbs containing certain flavonoids, germander, guar gum, liquorice root, and pennyroyal. Examples of herbs where a high degree of confidence of a risk long term adverse effects can be asserted include ginseng, which is unpopular among herbalists for this reason, the endangered herb goldenseal, milk thistle, senna, against which herbalists generally advise and rarely use, aloe vera juice, buckthorn bark and berry, cascara sagrada bark, saw palmetto, valerian, kava, which is banned in the European Union, St. John’s wort, Khat, Betel nut, the restricted herb Ephedra, and Guarana.

There is also concern with respect to the numerous well-established interactions of herbs and drugs. In consultation with a physician, usage of herbal remedies should be clarified, as some herbal remedies have the potential to cause adverse drug interactions when used in combination with various prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, just as a patient should inform a herbalist of their consumption of orthodox prescription and other medication.

For example, dangerously low blood pressure may result from the combination of an herbal remedy that lowers blood pressure together with prescription medicine that has the same effect. Some herbs may amplify the effects of anticoagulants. Certain herbs as well as common fruit interfere with cytochrome P450, an enzyme critical to much drug metabolism.

Source – Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbalism#Safety

APITHERAPY LINKS:

American Apitherapy Society – www.apitherapy.org
Apitherapy Center – http://www.apitherapy.com/
National Institutes of Health (NIH) – www.nih.gov
or search for Propolis – http://search.nih.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=nih&query=propolis

HERBALISM LINKS:

American Botanical Council – http://abc.herbalgram.org/site/PageServer
American Herbalist Guild – http://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians – https://www.naturopathic.org/
American Herbal Products Association – http://www.ahpa.org/
Medical Herbalism – http://medherb.com/MHHOME.SHTML
Other Herbalism Links – https://chestnutherbs.com/about/links/