Saturday, December 31, 2005

Beeswax Used in ‘Ear-Candling’

Patients Warm to Ear-Candling Treatment
By Francine Milford, Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Florida), 12/29/05

What can lighting a candle and sticking it in your ear actually do for you?

The answer, according to Venice aesthetician Therese Lynston, is quite a lot.

The process is thought to date back at least to 2500 B.C., when ancient Egyptians used linen from flax. Ear candling also was thought to be common in China, India, Tibet, and in Mayan, Aztec and American Indian cultures.

While offering facials, paraffin treatment, body wraps and waxing services, Lynston has decided to add one more type of wax to her available treatments -- beeswax.

According to Lynston, ear candling, also known as ear coning, restores equilibrium, clears the ear canal and provides tranquility. . .

There is disagreement about the effectiveness and safety of using ear candling.

Some people have had bad reactions to this treatment. Before deciding if ear candling is right for you, consult with your primary care physician before seeking treatment.

Beeswax Cone Candles
Dutchman's Gold

Cone candles can be used for the ears as a painless, therapeutic cleansing procedure which removes excess earwax and congestion from sinuses etc., using a hollow cone candle made of cotton and covered with 100% beeswax.

Friday, December 30, 2005

U.S. Researchers Use New Technique to Identify Floral Sources of Honey

Hybrid Sampling Identifies Floral Sources of Honey
Photonics.com, December 2005

Not all honey is created equal. When bees feast on the pollen from different flowers, they produce honey that differs greatly in taste and appearance. For example, a study by the National Honey Board of Longmont, Colo., revealed that bees that dine on buckwheat create dark honey with a medicinal taste, while those eating clover produce sweet and transparent honey.

Now postdoctoral researcher Jagdish C. Tewari and associate professor in agricultural and biological engineering Joseph M.K. Irudayaraj from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., have used Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and surface acoustic wave sensing to identify the flowers responsible for the sweet fluid. . .

The two scientists performed the research while at Pennsylvania State University in University Park, in collaboration with the National Honey Board. They published their results in the Sept. 7 issue of Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Contact: Jagdish C. Tewari, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.; +1 (765) 496-2030; e-mail: E-mail: jctewari@purdue.edu.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Australian Bees Exported to U.S.

Why California is Abuzz with the Sound of Australian Bees
John Thistleton, The Canberra Times, 12/29/05

Although a toss-up as to who works hardest - Steve Rickets or his honeybees - the latter have a new job description: moneybees.

Mr Ricketts thought he struck gold in honey but the real money is flowing in exporting bees to America, where a mite has wiped out the bee population.

Without bees there can be no Californian almond and fruit crop, which is worth billions of dollars. And Australian honey producers are making the most of the new industry.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Australian Firm Studies Venom’s Use to Treat Pain, Inflammation

Developer of Peptides Based on Animal Venoms Launches U.S. Presence
Managed Care Law Weekly, 12/25/05

Xenome Limited announced it has extended its business development operations to the United States and strengthened its management team with four key appointments.

David Slack has been named chief business officer, Richard Lewis was named chief scientific officer, Kathryn Radford was named vice president of strategic marketing, and Katherine Nielsen was named director, intellectual property. . .

Lewis an original co-founder of Xenome, will be the key driver in identifying, prioritizing and developing a continually evolving stream of novel drug candidates from Xenome's chemically diverse library of synthetic venom peptides. He has been considered a key opinion leader in the area of venom peptide pharmacology for over 20 years. Lewis has managed several commercial venom research programs at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), University of Queensland where he spearheaded the development of new classes of peptide therapeutic candidates. . .

Xenome discovers peptides from Australian animal venoms. Based in Brisbane, Australia, Xenome translates the evolutionary advantages inherent in venom peptides into highly bioactive libraries of molecules used by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Xenome uses the peptide molecule in its drug development activities, which are focused on pain management and inflammatory disease.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Venom Immunotherapy to Prevent Anaphylactic Shock

Immunotherapy of Hypersensitivity to Hymenoptera Venom is Reviewed
Immunotherapy Weekly, 12/28/05

Researchers review immunotherapy of hypersensitivity to hymenoptera venom in a recent issue of Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy.

"Insect sting allergy is a common condition with a risk of life-threatening anaphylaxis. After a severe reaction, the fear of being re-stung can significantly reduce quality of life. Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is a highly effective treatment of the underlying type I-sensitization. [Our] review addresses the mechanisms of immune modulation by VIT and outlines current clinical application," investigators in Germany report. . .

Roers and Hunzelmann published their review in Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy (Immunotherapy of hypersensitivity to hymenoptera venom. Expert Opin Biol Ther, 2005;5(10):1349-1358).

For additional information, contact Nicolas Hunzelmann, Department of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Josef-Stelzmann-Strasse 9, D-50931 Cologne, Germany. E-mail: Nicolas.hunzelmann@uni-koeln.de.

The publisher of the journal Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy can be contacted at: Ashley Publications Ltd., Telephone House, 69-77 Paul Street, London EC2A 4LQ, England.

VOA News Report on Beeswax

Bees Keep Busy Producing More Than Just Honey
By Mario Ritter, Voice of America News, 12/26/05

Last week we talked about how bees make honey. Yet bees also produce other useful materials.

Beeswax is another product, although much less of it is produced than honey. Bees need to eat about three kilograms of honey, or more, to produce less than one-half kilogram of wax.

The beauty industry uses a lot of beeswax as a base for skin care products. Anyone who has ever lit a candle might have lit one made of beeswax. Woodworkers mix beeswax with oils to protect wood surfaces. And leatherworkers use beeswax to protect leather from water. . .

Monday, December 26, 2005

Antibacterial Activity of 13 Honeys Against Escherichia Coli and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

Journal of Medicinal Food, Mar 2005, Vol. 8, No. 1: 100-103

In this study the activity of 13 honeys, including three commercial antibacterial honeys, against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined. Antibacterial activity of the honeys was assayed using standard well diffusion methods.

All honeys, and an artificial honey, were tested at four concentrations (10%, 5%, 2.5%, and 1% wt/vol) against E. coli and P. aeruginosa, and zones of inhibition were measured. All honeys tested had an inhibitory effect on the growth of E. coli and P. aeruginosa, with one honey still having activity against E. coli and three having activity against P. aeruginosa at 2.5%. No honey was active at 1% concentrations. E. coli was more susceptible to inhibition by the honeys used in this study than was P. aeruginosa.

In this study we have demonstrated that several honeys, in addition to commercial antibacterial honeys, can inhibit E. coli and P. aeruginosa and may have potential as therapeutic honeys.

Honey Component Linked to Obesity

Fructose May Trick You into Thinking You are Hungrier than You Should Be
Biotech Law Weekly, 12/30/05

University of Florida (UF) researchers have identified one possible reason for rising obesity rates, and it all starts with fructose, found in fruit, honey, table sugar and other sweeteners, and in many processed foods.

Fructose may trick you into thinking you are hungrier than you should be, say the scientists, whose studies in animals have revealed its role in a biochemical chain reaction that triggers weight gain and other features of metabolic syndrome - the main precursor to type 2 diabetes. In related research, they also prevented rats from packing on the pounds by interrupting the way their bodies processed this simple sugar, even when the animals continued to consume it.

The findings, reported in a recent issue of Nature Clinical Practice Nephrology and in a recent online edition of the American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, add to growing evidence implicating fructose in the obesity epidemic and could influence future dietary guidelines. UF researchers are now studying whether the same mechanism is involved in people. . .

"If you feed fructose to animals they rapidly become obese, with all features of the metabolic syndrome, so there is this strong causal link," Johnson said, "And a high-fructose intake has been shown to induce certain features of the metabolic syndrome pretty rapidly in people."

Now UF research implicates a rise in uric acid in the bloodstream that occurs after fructose is consumed, Johnson said. That temporary spike blocks the action of insulin, which typically regulates how body cells use and store sugar and other food nutrients for energy. If uric acid levels are frequently elevated, over time features of metabolic syndrome may develop, including high blood pressure, obesity and elevated blood cholesterol levels. . .

"We cannot definitively state that fructose is driving the obesity epidemic," said Johnson. "But we can say that there is evidence supporting the possibility that it could have a contributory role - if not a major role. I think in the next few years we'll have a better feel for whether or not these pathways that can be shown in animals may be relevant to the human condition. . ."

Yemeni Beekeepers Urged to Form Associations

Honey Industry Gains Higher Dimensions
Yemen Times, 12/25/05

SANA'A, Dec. 25 - The production of Yemeni honey is rated at an annual total of 1706 tons as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture in its latest report. Seventeen percent of the quantity produced is exported to neighboring and foreign countries generating an income of $ 9 million. . .

More interesting is that the honey sector is encouraged to create its own associations and networks. This would be considered as a significant step in professional this industry and including it in the organized sector of the national economy. The creation of such associations as mentioned by the beekeepers would assist in marketing their products and beekeeping tools. In addition, a database of the beekeeping industry and relevant information will be created during the project implementation.

Friday, December 23, 2005

U.S. Entrepreneurs Use Beeswax, Honey in Products

West Mayfield Firm Builds Healthy Business on Organic Products
Stephanie Waite, Beaver County Times (USA), 12/19/2005

In 2004, the small West Mayfield-based manufacturer of body and skin care products introduced the nation's first U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic full line of body and skin care, called Nourish. . .

The Nourish line is set to do $1 million in business this year, and triple that amount in 2006, Lynn Betz said. The Nourish line will appear next year in major grocery stores including Whole Foods, Wegman's, Harris Teeter and Price Chopper. Sensibility Soaps also won contracts to make its product under private-label brand names. . .

Nourish meets exacting standards to merit the label. Strawberry products must contain actual strawberries, with no chemicals to enhance the smell. Fruits, vegetables and even beeswax must be purchased from organic farmers. . .

Nourish's biggest seller is the deodorant, Melia said. The wild greens variety contains cocoa butter, coconut oil, beeswax, corn starch, shea butter, vegetable protein extract, essential oils of lavender, patchouli and oakmoss. And it works. . .

Granola & Brown Sugar Body Smoothie, 10 oz., $11.95

Raw cane sugar, soybean oil, shea butter, apple flavor, almond oil, oatmeal, beeswax, almonds, olive oil, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, cinnamon leaf pure essential oil, oregano leaf extract, olive leaf extract, rosemary leaf extract, lavender flower extract, golden seal root extract.

Woman's Soap Business Takes Off With Help of Feisty Goat
Christina Cooke, Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee), 12/19/05

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. -- Jill Wyse bought three La Mancha goats last year to eat the brush that was overtaking her 14-acre farm atop Lookout Mountain, but she soon discovered the animals were more than just weed eaters. . .

Since June, Ms. Wyse has been making and selling goat milk soap to shops across North Georgia and Tennessee. She calls her business Sassy Goat Milk Soap, after Ruby's brazen attitude. Brown's Ferry Nursery and Market, Flintstone Farm and Garden, Greenlife Grocery, The Little Market and Tootie's Treasures carry the soap, and Ms. Wyse sells it online, too. . .

She milks her goats twice a day, usually at about 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Then in her kitchen, she heats lye and the fresh goat milk in one pot and olive oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, castor oil, beeswax and honey in another. . .

Thursday, December 22, 2005

First ‘World Apitherapy Day’ – March 30, 2006

Bees For Life, World Apitherapy Network

World Apitherapy Day:

Dr. Philipp Terc (formerly Filip Tertsch), the first scientific researcher on medical uses of apitoxin, was born on March 30, 1844, Praporiste, Bohemia, Czech Republic, at 9 Praporiste Street, the son of Johann Tertsch and Barbara Stepan (Barbara Tertsch).

As Praporiste is not far from Passau, and March 30 is just the next day after the Apitherapy Congress, Expo and Course in Passau (March 24-29, 2006), all those interested will be able to visit Praporiste and to meet Czech beekeepers and apitherapists, and -who knows- some descendants from Terc/Tertsch family.

This next coming March 30 will be the first celebration of Dr. Terc's birthday and the World Apitherapy Day.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Japanese Cosmetic Company Uses Royal Jelly

Cosmetics Makers Focus on Anti-Aging Products
Nikkei Weekly (Japan), 12/19/05

A growing number of products are being promoted by cosmetics makers for their ability to restore and reinvigorate tired skin. . .

Last month, Kose Corp. started selling Ultimation Stretch Comfort, which comes in a package containing a beauty essence and a mask.

Users spread the essence, which contains a rich blend of such nutrients as royal jelly, on the face, then wear a jelly-type mask for about 15 minutes.

CON: Bee Sting Therapy No Help in Multiple Sclerosis

By Anne Harding, Reuters, 12/20/05

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Bee sting therapy is not effective in treating the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), and does not improve quality of life, according to the first controlled study to investigate the alternative treatment in MS patients.

Patients with MS should not undergo bee venom therapy "unless better evidence to justify its use becomes available," warn Dr. Jacques De Keyser of the University Medical Center Groningen in The Netherlands and colleagues in the journal Neurology this month. . .

A Randomized Crossover Study of Bee Sting Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis

Results: During bee sting therapy, there was no significant reduction in the cumulative number of new gadolinium-enhancing lesions. The T2*-weighted lesion load further progressed, and there was no significant reduction in relapse rate. There was no improvement of disability, fatigue, and quality of life. Bee sting therapy was well tolerated, and there were no serious adverse events.

Conclusions: In this trial, treatment with bee venom in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis did not reduce disease activity, disability, or fatigue and did not improve quality of life.

PRO: 40 Percent of MS Patients Benefit From BVT

Treasure Coast MS Patients Endure Stings to Ease Pain
Katie Campbell, Fort Pierce Tribune (Fort Pierce, FL), 2/24/2004

"There's an underground movement in this country that says bee venom helps treat MS (multiple sclerosis)," said Joseph A. Bellanti, director of the Immunology Center at Georgetown University, who since 2000 has been conducting the first controlled study of the therapy.

For the past half-century, theories of bee venom relieving multiple sclerosis symptoms have been floating around folk medicine circles. Advocates maintain that bee venom contains an anti-inflammatory substance that activates the body's adrenal glands to boost the immune system.

With multiple sclerosis the immune system and nervous system progressively deteriorate. Conventional medical doctors say there is no cure.

So far the bee venom treatment has not been scientifically proven to effectively treat multiple sclerosis, but Bellanti's initial findings in the Multiple Sclerosis Association-backed study show that more than 40 percent of the small group of people he studied experienced significant improvement.

"They swore by it," he said.

PRO: 58 Percent of MS Patients had 'Significantly Positive Result' Benefit From BVT

Bee Stings: Poison or Panacea?
Lorilyn Rackl, Chicago Daily Herald, 10/11/1999

But anecdotal evidence - especially about alternative therapies - rarely makes the pages of prestigious, peer-reviewed medical journals.

Oak Park physician Ross Hauser knows this.

The conventionally trained medical director of Caring Medical and Rehabilitation Services also knows that bee venom therapy has appeared to work in some of his patients.

So he set out to prove that in a scientific setting.

Hauser enrolled 51 patients with chronic MS in a study, overseen by the institutional review board of the American College for Advancement in Medicine, an organization of natural-medicine doctors.

Like many of the physicians who practice apitherapy, Hauser used purified bee venom in syringes rather than live bee stings.

He started by giving each patient a sample "sting" to check for allergic reactions, which occur in roughly 2 percent of the general population. Reactions are more likely from yellow jackets or wasps than run-of-the-mill honeybees.

Based on where the MS patient had problems, injections were given at various trigger points on the body.

"The first symptoms to respond were fatigue and endurance," Hauser said. "Significant improvements were also made in balance and bowel control."

After one year, 58 percent of the study's patients had a "significantly positive result," Hauser said. Nearly 30 percent saw no benefits, and one patient's condition actually got worse.

There's plenty of debate among apitherapists about how long patients should stick with the therapy before bailing on the bees.

Some patients say they see results right away; others endure stings for months without any noticeable change. How long a person has to stay on a stinging regimen varies widely, too.

Bee-Venom Therapy for Treating Multiple Sclerosis: A Clinical Trial

Bee Venom Therapy References

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

First Evidence of Honey’s Anti-Viral Effect

Honey Can Help Heal Cold Sores
Daily Mail (UK), 12/20/05

HONEY may be an effective treatment for cold sores. Researchers at the University of Wales have shown that the length of an attack, the pain and the healing time were all less for sores treated with honey compared to the widely used acyclovir cream.

Honey is known to have an antibacterial effect but the researchers say this is the first evidence that it has an anti-viral effect too. . .

Sixteen adults with a history of recurrent attacks of herpes took part in the research, and results showed that honey was 28 to 43 per cent better than acyclovir cream at treating the cold sores.

A similar effect was found for genital herpes and in the treatment of one patient with MRSA in a leg ulcer. The researchers say: 'Honey is a traditional anti-bacterial therapy which appears to have enormous potential in solving new problems.'

Honey Bees Recognise People

Larry O'Hanlon, Discovery News, 12/20/05

Don't be too proud of never forgetting a face: It turns out even a humble honey bee can distinguish and recall different human faces, says an international team of researchers. Dr Adrian Dyer, of La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia and Cambridge University in the UK, and colleagues, report their findings online in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

Monday, December 19, 2005

Recent Clinical Usage of Honey in the Treatment of Wounds - A Review

Honey Supplement
Wounds UK, November 2005, Volume 1, Issue 3

Articles include:

* Natural Therapeutic Agents for the Topical Management of Wounds
* Recent Clinical Usage of Honey in the Treatment of Wounds - A Review
* The Implications for Honey Dressings in UK Primary Care
* The Control of Wound Malodour with Honey-based Wound Dressings and Ointments
* Mesitran Ointment Case Studies
* Preliminary Findings of Case Study Evaluations of Honey Dressings
* Mesitran Product Focus
* A Review of the Physical Performance Characteristics of Honey-based Wound Dressings and Ointments

International Honey News

US: New Antibiotic Approved for Treating Bacterial Honey Bee Disease
Jan Suszkiw, Agricultural Research Service (USDA), 12/19/05

American beekeepers will soon have a new antibiotic with which to protect their colonies from American foulbrood disease, thanks to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) studies that paved the way for the compound's regulatory approval.

TYLAN Soluble (tylosin tartrate), produced by Elanco Animal Health of Greenfield, Ind., was approved for use October 20 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, following the agency's review of research data compiled by scientists with the ARS Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, Md.

Australia: Leatherwood Honey Under Threat by Logging
Tim Jeanes, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 12/19/05

Leatherwood honey is highly prized by sweet-tooths all over the world. But beekeepers in southern Tasmania are sounding a warning about their unique local product, saying logging of the leatherwood trees that give the honey its distinctive taste is threatening their industry.

Bangladesh: The Lure of Liquid Gold
Paul Watson, Los Angeles Times, 12/19/05

Pushed off their land by shrimp farms, many villagers in southwest Bangladesh turn to hunting for wild honey in a tiger-infested jungle.

Bee Products as Anti-Cancer Agents

Bee products tell cancer to buzz off!
Foodinfo Online FSTA Reports, November 2005

Naturally occurring anticancer agents are becoming increasingly sought after as a result of epidemiological studies into diet and cancer. Plant-based diets rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes are known to reduce the risk of various types of cancer, including breast cancer. However, the protective mechanisms are not fully understood.

It has been suggested that carotenes, antioxidant vitamins and other components such as flavonoids could act as anticancer agents. Flavonoids are present in fruits and vegetables, grains, seeds, tea, wine and in propolis and honey. There is increasing interest in the medicinal properties of honey-bee products because they are thought to possess a range of activities including antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cytostatic, wound-healing and antitumour effects. Bees are also used in health treatment, with their products being consumed as health supplements. . .

A study by Orsolic et al., therefore investigated the effects of a water-soluble derivative of propolis, caffeic acid, honey, royal jelly and bee venom on tumour development and metastasis in murine tumour models. Honey, propolis and caffeic acid all exhibited strong antimetastatic effects, although royal jelly did not when given intraperitoneally or subcutaneously. However, the synchronous application of tumour cells and royal jelly intravenously significantly inhibited the formation of metastases. The results showed that honey-bee products given orally or systemically could be potentially useful in the control of tumour growth and metastasis.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Vietnam: Traditional Healers Recommend Honey to Prevent Bird Flu

Traditional Measures to Prevent Bird Flu
Vietnam News Agency, 12/15/05

Traditional experiences in bird and human flu prevention were presented by twelve practitioners at a seminar held in Hanoi on Dec. 15 by the Vietnam Red Cross.

The practitioners made presentations on traditional measures to disinfect farms using lime powder, and on using soapberry smoke to prevent poultry flu. For human, drinking water with garlic extract and honey is good, they said, adding that using water with garlic extract as a nose drop and some other popular remedies are very helpful.

The seminar aims to encourage awareness in the community, highlighting traditional medicine practitioners who advocate effective traditional remedies to help prevent a flu pandemic.

See Also: Bird Flu Fever Coughs Up Dubious Cures

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Major U.S. Company Offers Propolis Cold Sore Treatment

U.S.-based Johnson & Johnson, one of the world's largest manufacturers of health care products, now offers a cold sore treatment containing propolis. The company’s AVEENO skin care line is currently advertising “Advanced Relief Cold Sore Treatment” nationwide in television commercials. The product’s propolis content is highlighted in the spots.

AVEENO promotion materials state:

“This exclusive treatment is clinically proven to help treat cold sore symptoms fast. With a unique ACTIVE NATURALS™ formula containing natural propolis, it begins working on contact to improve the condition of cold sores an average of 3.5 days faster.”

Propolis Component Helps in Radiation Treatment

CAPE Sensitizes CT26 Colorectal Adenocarcinoma to IR, Does Not Affect Marrow Radioresponse, Biotech Week, 12/21/05

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester preferentially sensitizes CT26 colorectal adenocarcinoma to ionizing radiation without affecting bone marrow radioresponse.

According to a study from Taiwan, "Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a component of propolis, was reported capable of depleting glutathione (GSH). We subsequently examined the radiosensitizing effect of CAPE and its toxicity. The effects of CAPE on GSH level, GSH metabolism enzyme activities, NF-kappa B activity, and radiosensitivity in mouse CT26 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells were determined."

Y.J. Chen and colleagues at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital explained, "BALB/c mouse with CT26 cells implantation was used as a syngeneic in vivo model for evaluation of treatment and toxicity end points. CAPE entered CT26 cells rapidly and depleted intracellular GSH in CT26 cells, but not in bone marrow cells. . ."

Chen and colleagues published the results of their research in International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, & Physics (Caffeic acid phenethyl ester preferentially sensitizes CT26 colorectal adenocarcinoma to ionizing radiation without affecting bone marrow radioresponse. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 2005;63(4):1252-1261).

For additional information, contact M.S. Shiao, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Dept. of Medical Research & Education, 201 Shih Pai Rd., Section 2, Taipei 11217, Taiwan.

The publisher of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, & Physics can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Inc., 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA.

Friday, December 16, 2005

Propolis and Cancer Therapy

Administration of Propolis and its Polyphenolic Compounds Delayed Tumor Formation and Growth, Drug Week, 12/23/05

Administration of propolis and its polyphenolic compounds might delay tumor formation and growth. . .

"Caffeic acid (CA) and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), members of the polyphenolic compounds, are present in high concentrations in medicinal plants and propolis, a natural beehive product. A water-soluble extract of propolis (WSDP) and two components of propolis, CA and CAPE were investigated for direct antitumor activity in vivo and in vitro," explained N. Orsoilc and colleagues, University of Zagreb.

"The local presence of CA and CAPE in the tissue caused a significant delay in tumor formation and increased life span 29.30 to 51.73%, respectively. CA and CAPE, but not WSDP, significantly suppressed human HeLa cervical carcinoma cell proliferation in vitro."

The researchers concluded, "Based on these results, we postulate that the antitumor activity of polyphenolic compounds includes direct cytotoxic effects on tumor cells."

Orsoilc and colleagues published their study in Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin (Effects of local administration of propolis and its polyphenolic compounds on tumor formation and growth. Biol Pharm Bull, 2005;28(10):1928-1933).

For additional information, contact N. Orsoilc, University of Zagreb, Faculty Science, Dept. Animal Physiol, Rooseveltov Trg 6, Zagreb 10000, Croatia.

Entrepreneur’s Healing Cream Uses Manuka Honey

She's Got Honey of a Discovery
Clem Richardson, New York Daily News, 12/16/05

Ingrid Anderson is staking a career on the medicinal properties of honey from Down Under. . .

She found a job as a technical writer for several publishing houses. But Anderson still wanted her own business.

She found one while on a trip with a Kitakyushu classmate to New Zealand two years ago, when she was introduced to Manuka Honey, a natural honey believed to have medicinal and healing powers because it is collected from the Manuka bush, which is indigenous to certain regions of New Zealand.

Applying the research abilities honed in Japan, Anderson, who said she has often suffered from dry skin, created a healing cream, facial serum and lip balm with Manuka Honey as the main ingredient.

You can find them on her Web site, www.symren.com.

Research:

Antibacterial Activity of 13 Honeys Against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Australia)

Antimicrobial Potential of Honey on Some Microbial Isolates (Oman)

Comparative Antibacterial Activity of Honey and Gentamicin (Nigeria)

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Propolis Helps Alleviate Cold and Flu Symptoms

What’s New in Throat Soothers
By Madeline Bailey, The Mirror (UK), 12/15/05

Bee Propolis Throat Spray

The latest buzz-word in health, propolis - the glue-like substance bees use to construct their hives - has been shown to have strong antibacterial and antiviral properties in clinical trials, significantly alleviating cold and flu symptoms. It contains disease-fighting vitamins, minerals and soothing essential oils. . .

Superdrug Honey and Lemon Sore Throat Lozenges with Antiseptic

The honey and lemon coat irritated throats, easing soreness, while the mild antiseptics kill off the bacteria that lead to mouth and throat infections.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Honey an Ideal and Cost-Effective Dressing for Burn Patients

Honey Dressing in Pediatric Burns
Bangroo AK, Khatri R, Chauhan S, Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons, Volume 10, Issue 3, Page 172-175, December 2005

Conclusion

Honey acts mainly as a hyperosmolar medium and prevents bacterial growth. Because of its high viscosity, it forms a physical barrier and the presence of enzyme catalase gives honey an antioxidant property. Its high-nutrient content improves substrate supply in local environment promoting epithelialization and angiogenesis. These properties of honey make it an ideal and cost-effective dressing for burn patients.

Study Reveals Presence of Medecines in the Production of Honey

PRO TESTE Analysed Twenty Samples of Honey
Regiao Sul (Portugal), 12/14/05

The magazine, PRO TESTE has carried out a study that has concluded that the producers of honey are continuing to use medecines, among them antibiotics and sulphonamides.

From the twenty samples of honey that were tested, six contained residues of antibiotics and/or sulphonamides, and of the three royal jellies, one contained chloranfenicol. This is an antibiotic prohibited within the European Union in the production of foods for human consumption. Some products showed remains of more than one substance

The situation is, however, better than in 2003, the year in which PRO TESTE also analysed twenty honey samples. The study at that time revealed that half contained traces of antibiotics and/or sulphonamides.

The situation relating to royal jelly is also worrying, as was announced last August. A sample of Celeiro Dieta contained an antibiotic prohibited in the European Union. . .

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

The Effect of Honey on the Growth of Bifidobacteria

National Honey Board (USA)

Bifidobacteria are part of a group of bacteria considered important to the health of the gastrointestinal tract (GI). Clinical studies have associated other beneficial effects such as immune enhancement and anticarcinogenicity with the presence of bifidobacteria in the GI tract. . .

This research project has a number of key findings:

* Honey enhanced the growth, activity and viability of commercial strains of bifidobacteria typically used in the manufacture of fermented dairy products. However, this effect was strainspecific.

* There was a synergistic effect among the carbohydrate components of honey in promoting growth and activity of bifidobacteria.

* The effect of honey on the growth and activity of intestinal Bifidobacterium spp was similar to that of commercial oligosaccharides (FOS, GOS, and inulin). This research provides promising results on the growth-promoting and prebiotic activity of honey on bifidobacteria.

Monday, December 12, 2005

German Apitherapy Congress and Workshop

4th German Congress and Workshop on Apitherapy with International Participation, March 24-29, 2006, Passau, Germany, Holiday Inn Hotel

Intensive Apitherapy Course in Germany

February 16-19, 2006 in Stuttgart, Germany

French Bee Bread (Pain d'Abeille)

Energétique et Protecteur

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  • Composé de sucres simples, de protéines, d’enzymes, d’un spectre complet d’oligo-éléments, de vitamine K, et d’un grand nombre d’autres molécules actives
  • Parfaitement assimilable par le corps humain grâce à un très large spectre enzymatique

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Beekeeping Thrives in Paris

Paris is Buzzing
Peter Ford, The Christian Science Monitor, 12/12/05

When you think Paris, chances are you don't think bees. When you do, you wonder what on earth the honey Parisian bees produce might taste like: even a perfunctory sniff of the exhaust-laden air or a glance at a Parisian sidewalk raises possibilities best left unexplored. But of course, sidewalks aren't where bees browse. And Paris turns out to grow a wider range of plants than any comparably sized piece of countryside. . .

"The urban biotope is completely artificial, but a lot more varied than in the countryside," explains Jean-Jacques Schakmundès, who sells apiarists' paraphernalia, royal jelly, pollen, and honey at his shop in central Paris. "There are dozens of different species, and there is something in flower from April to October."

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Trial Proves Honey's Value in Stopping Infection

Townsville Bulletin/Townsville Sun (Australia), 9/15/05

HONEY is mentioned in the Bible, the Koran and the Torah as being used for healing purposes.

Now, Australian researchers have found it's just as effective as an antibiotic cream to prevent infections when applied to catheter sites in kidney dialysis patients.

Kidney specialist David Johnson said honey also had an advantage over the commonly used antibiotic ointment, mupirocin, in that hospital 'superbugs' had not developed resistance to it.

Nephrologists, like Professor Johnson, have been concerned that bugs such as Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as Golden staph, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have developed resistance to mupirocin.

"Honey covers a broader spectrum of bugs. It covers bacteria and fungi as well as many super-resistant bugs like VRE and Golden staph," said Professor Johnson, of Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital.

"There are no documented cases of honey-resistant bacteria."

Prof Johnson and colleagues compared a specially formulated honey, sold as Medihoney, with mupirocin cream applied to catheter sites in patients with renal failure undergoing haemodialysis.

The results of the trial, published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, prompted the hospital's renal unit, after consultation with infectious disease specialists, to switch to Medihoney.

Antimicrobial Potential of Honey from United Arab Emirates on Some Microbial Isolates

Noori S. AL-Waili, Muhammad Akmal, Faiza S. AL-Waili, Khelod Y. Saloom, Amjed Ali, Medical Science Monitor, December 2005

Summary: Background: The study investigated activity of honey towards pathogens when grown in media contained honey, or when honey was added to cultures after inoculation.

Conclusions: Honey prevents growth of the isolates and inhibits their growth when honey was added to growing culture. The therapeutic period of honey and recovery growth of inhibited isolates necessitates adjustment of honey doses according to type of isolate and grade of growth.

Friday, December 09, 2005

Propolis Formula Toothpaste

Global Nutraceuticals Group named Exclusive US Distributor of PhytoShield Toothpastes
2005-12-09 - Global Nutraceuticals Group

San Francisco, CA, December 1st, 2005 -- The New Zealand Natural Oral Care Company announced it has named Global Nutraceuticals Group of San Francisco, California Exclusive US Wholesale Distributor for its PhytoShield™science-based, non-flouridated toothpastes.

PhytoShield™ natural toothpastes are leading-edge, science-based formulas that naturally care for your teeth and gums. . .

Propolis formula toothpaste is a mild tasting toothpaste suitable for daily dental hygiene needs and for extra gum care or receding gums when minimum gum irritation during brushing is required. (Read More)

Thursday, December 08, 2005

What's the Buzz on Sting Allergies?

Claire Bates, Daily Mail (UK), 11/29/05

We all worry about getting stung by bees and wasps, but for those who are allergic, it is a far more serious concern. Here we look at the symptoms and treatments of the allergy as well as useful avoidance strategies:

What are the causes of the allergy?

An insect allergy is caused by the body reacting against the insect's venom. A first sting sometimes primes the immune system in susceptible people, so that subsequent stings will cause an allergic reaction. Gardeners are more likely to become allergic. The majority of sting sufferers are allergic to either wasps or bees but not both.

Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly Used to Treat Fatigue

Tired of Waking Up Tired
Shake that sleepy feeling with a few sun salutations and a shaman
Elizabeth Bromstein, Now Magazine (Toronto), 12/8/08

MARION HARRIS, director, Feldenkrais Centre, Toronto "Fatigue is not a disease, but a symptom of a disease. It can be [caused by] a problem with diet; people who eat a lot of refined carbohydrates lack nutrients. If iron or B12 or folic acid is deficient, you might need these. Fatigue can also be a symptom of hypoglycemia and low blood sugar, whose other symptoms are sweating and dizziness. Drugs, alcohol and caffeine can cause fatigue, or sometimes it's a side effect of medications like diuretics or beta blockers. It could be an endocrine problem. We stress proper diet and exercise. Depending on the individual case, we might prescribe herbs that can help, like ginseng , bee pollen or royal jelly. Nutrients like chromium can regulate blood sugar."

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Research Note: Topical Honey for Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Jennifer J. Eddy, MD; Mark D. Gideonsen, MD
University of Wisconsin Medical School, Eau Claire
The Journal of Family Practice, June 2005

Course of Treatment with Honey

Once-daily, thick applications of ordinary honey purchased at a supermarket were smeared on gauze 4x4s and placed on the wounds, which were then wrapped. Oral antibiotics and saline dressings were discontinued, but otherwise treatment was unchanged. Since the patient’s family purchased and applied the honey, the cost of this therapy was merely that of the dressings. Dressing changes were painless and the serum glucose remained in excellent control.

Granulation tissue appeared within 2 weeks; in 6 to 12 months the ulcers resolved. Two years later, the ulcers have not recurred; the patient ambulates with a walker and reports improved quality-of-life. (Read More)

Research Note: Honey Used to Treat Diaper Rash

Clinical and Mycological Benefits of Topical Application of Honey, Olive oil and Beeswax in Diaper Dermatitis
N. S. Al-Waili, Clinical Microbiology & Infection,Volume 11, Issue 2, Page 160 - February 2005

Abstract: Twelve infants suffering from diaper dermatitis were treated four times daily for 7 days with a mixture containing honey, olive oil and beeswax. The severity of erythema was evaluated on a five-point scale. Three infants had severe erythema and ulceration, four had moderate erythema, and five had moderate erythema with maceration. The initial mean lesion score of 2.91 ± 0.79 declined significantly (p < 0.05) to 2.0 ± 0.98 (day 3), 1.25 ± 0.96 (day 5) and 0.66 ± 0.98 (day 7). Candida albicans was isolated initially from four patients, but from only two patients after treatment. This topical treatment was safe and well-tolerated, and demonstrated clinical and mycological benefits in the treatment of diaper dermatitis.

Monday, December 05, 2005

Herbal Rejuvenation Drink for Women Contains Royal Jelly

An Ancient Royal Prescription
By Rozi Ali, New Straits Times, 12/4/05

"FACE 2 FACE", a day spa, is one of the better-kept secrets of Shah Alam, not least for the fact that proprietress Noorhashimah Md Ishak, 45, has prepared a herbal rejuvenation drink specially for the woman.

It’s an ancient, royal Javanese recipe which she inherited from her Javanese grandmother. Comprising royal jelly, wild honey, manjakani, the yolk of egg from a free range chicken, ginger, daun sireh, daun inai, bunga inai and various dried roots, its potency lies in the gum resin-like property of the plants. (Read More)

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Bees Increase Wing Arc When Carrying Pollen

Scientists Abuzz About Finding Secret of Bee Flight
Thomas H. Maugh Ii, Los Angeles Times, 12/4/05

Scientists have long been derided because of mathematical calculations made in 1934 by French entomologist August Magnan proving that, despite visible evidence to the contrary, the flight of bees is "impossible." But now bioengineer Michael H. Dickinson of the California Institute of Technology and his colleagues have shown conclusively how the hefty insects manage their aeronautical excursions.

Dickinson's team used a combination of high-speed digital photography and a giant robotic mock-up of a bee wing to demonstrate the unusual mechanics behind bee flight. The secret, they reported last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is a combination of short wing strokes, rapid rotation of the wing as it changes direction and a very fast flapping frequency. . .

Bees, moreover, do not vary their beating rate when carrying a load. Instead, when burdened with pollen, they increase the arc of their flapping, Dickinson found. (Read More)

Saturday, December 03, 2005

NZ Company Recommends Honey, Propolis for Bird Flu

Bird Flu Fever Coughs Up Dubious Cures
By NIKKI MACDONALD, The Dominion Post, 12/3/05

We have a winner. The full body camouflage suit that covers all body parts except the ones that actually matter takes the prize for the most ridiculous bird flu protection item.

But it is only one of hundreds of products, ranging from the dubious to the absurd, claiming to provide protection against the dreaded lurgy. . .

One New Zealand company claims to have produced a homoeopathic antidote to bird flu, while another recommends treating face masks with manuka oil, taking bee propolis supplements and eating manuka UMF honey. (Read More)

Friday, December 02, 2005

Illegal Antibiotics Found in Spanish Royal Jelly

Royal Jelly Products in Health Scare
Round Town News (Spain), 12/2/2005

The Department of Health is launching proceedings against several makers of Jalea Real (Royal Jelly) after it was discovered that the products contain illegal antibiotics. The regions affected by this are Castilla and León, Madrid, Cataluña and Castilla-La Mancha.

OCU, the Organisation of Consumers and Users, have decided to make this public knowledge, three months after passing the information on to the Department of Health. It seems that traces of cloranfenicol, an antibiotic used on bees and farm animals and illegal in the European Union, has been found in seven different brands of Royal Jelly.
(Read More)

Teen Tests Bacteria's Resistance to Propolis

Science 'Bee-yond' the Classroom
By Cristen Perkowski, The Allen American (TX), 12/1/05

At 14 years old, Camden Miller has already won numerous regional and national science fair awards and has an asteroid named for her.

And watch out, scientists, the Allen High School freshman has already started her experiments for next year's science fair.

A self-proclaimed science nerd, Miller won grand prize at Curtis Middle School last year for her experiment testing the effects of propolis, or bee glue, on bacteria. . .

Last year, she tested two kinds of bacteria's resistance to propolis. Miller said she found bacteria with a cell wall stopped growing when propolis was introduced, but the propolis couldn't penetrate bacteria with a cell membrane. (Read More)

Antibacterial Soap with Honey and Beeswax

Natural Antibacterial Action
Bowhunter, 12/1/05

Camo Soap, shampoo and body bar from Old Mill Bath & Body Shop is unscented and natural containing all-vegetable oils and butters. For natural antibacterial action they have added honey and beeswax. The bar is colored with mineral clay, is handmade, biodegradable and all natural. Plus, the seven-ounce bar reveals a camo appearance. Contact: Old Mill Handcrafted Soaps and Sundries, Dept. PB, 11500 Orcas Ave. Lakeview Terrace, CA 91342; (800) 688-6461; www.oldmillsoap.com.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

German Congress and Workshop on Apitherapy

March 24-29, 2006: The 4th German Congress and Workshop on Apitherapy with International Participation, Passau, Germany, Holiday Inn Hotel

For more information, contact Dr. Stefan Stangaciu.

Malaysian Conference on the Medicinal Use of Honey

1st International Conference on the Medicinal Use of Honey
August 26-28, 2006
The Renaissance Hotel, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, Kota Bharu Kelantan, Malaysia

In order to popularize the medicinal uses of honey, the School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia is hosting an international conference on the medicinal uses. This would be a common platform where surgeons, physicians, oncologists, gynecologists, dermatologists, microbiologists, dentists, pathologists, and complimentary medicine practitioners can share their views on the therapeutic uses of honey.

Healing Qualities of Manuka Honey with Bee Venom

Natural Healing Qualities of Nectar Ease Honey
Herald Express (UK), 11/24/05

Patricia Hart is a qualified registered nurse, and district nurse, and after 40 years' nursing experience of heavy work with patients, she now has vast damage to her spine, which has developed into osteoarthritis. She has been in severe pain for 12 years, unable to do housework or go upstairs easily.

Two operations on her back, burning off nerve endings, resulted in the nerves growing back, so she was still in severe pain. Doctors could do nothing for her. A friend, who was also a nursing sister with the same problem, introduced Patricia to Nectar Ease Original Manuka Honey with Bee Venom.

Patricia has been taking this for several months and is now virtually pain-free. It has changed her life, and her manoeuvrability, so much that she wants to thank the producers of this marvellous honey.She has introduced many of her friends with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other muscular pains, to this remedy with great success, and is now looking forward to the future without fear of the serious deep pain that she has had for more than 12 years.

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Charles Mraz Apitherapy Course Feb. 16-19 in Seattle

Sponsor: American Apitherapy Society

When: February 16-19, 2006

Where: Clarion Hotel, SeaTac International Airport, Seattle, Washington 98188

Cost: $350 per person for the course, if registered and paid by Jan. 16, 2006. $400 if registered and paid after January 16. Student rate of $250 is available with ID.

The course will focus on the basics of Apitherapy, culminating in an understanding of indications for the use of Apitherapy, procedures for safety and treatment techniques

Topics include: Bee venom therapy, pollen, propolis, acupuncture, treatment procedures.

New topic: Treatment of animals

Apitherapy In Nigeria

Friend of Bees
The Daily Sun (Nigeria), 11/30/05

As you walk into the bush of the Biological Garden in the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, the first question, Lanrewaju Badmus, a bee therapist, who cures diseases with bees, would ask as you approach the bee keeping section is: “Did you spray perfume?” If yes, he would tell you that you cannot be his guest. If no, he would host you with the bees flying around, but counsels: “Please if the bees fly around you, do not wave them. They are friendly when you obey their rules. . .’’

Badmus tells Daily Sun that “there is no disease or problem on earth bees cannot cure. You name them; high blood pressure, diabetes, pains, strokes, paralysis, asthma, cough, barrenness, fibroid, ulcer, low sperm count, irregular menstruation, and even HIV. . . (Read More)