The Medicinal Uses of Bee Pollen
Pollen is the powdery substance of a plant that generates the male reproductive elements necessary for fertilization. Pollination is the transportation of the pollen from the anther of the stamen of one flower to the stigma of a pistil on another. After being deposited on the stigma, pollen then travels down the style and into the female plant ovary for fertilization. Pollen is assisted in this process by wind, rain, water-currents, animals and insects. Pollination allows for plants to reproduce itself.
About one-third of the human diet is derived from insect-pollinated plants, and honeybees are responsible for 80 percent of this pollination. Cornell University estimated the direct value of honeybee pollination in U. S. agriculture in the year 2000 at $14.6 billion.
Worker bees will make 12 or more trips a day to gather pollen and nectar. The bees mix the pollen grains with a sticky substance that is secreted from their stomachs, which allows the pollen to adhere to their rear legs in "pollen baskets" in order to safely transport it to their hives. The honeybee will visit thousands of flowers in a day. Usually they collect from only one species per trip thus creating a pollen pellet that contains mostly a single type of pollen.
Pollen has an extraordinary range of colors which is mainly due to the varying pigments of the antioxidant flavonoids and carotenoids found in the plant. In the hive, pollen is used as a protein source necessary during brood rearing. One teaspoonful of bee pollen contains approximately 1,200 bee-collected pellets or 2.5 billion grains of pollen. Pollen is an excellent nutrition supplement. It contains all the nutrients necessary for human health. Bee pollen is richer in proteins than any animal source. It contains more amino acids than beef, eggs, or cheese of equal weight. Some believe that bee pollen is particularly concentrated in all elements necessary for life.
Nutritional Breakdown
250 calories per 100 grams
7-35% protein
22 amino acids (2 tablespoons has 100% daily requirements)
15-50% sugar
200 enzymes, coenzymes, and hormones
unsaturated fatty acids, lecithin
Minerals
Elements: Mn, Fe, P, Zn, Cu, Mg, Ca, K, Na, Ni, Bo, Cr, Mo, I, F, Se
Vitamins
B1 Thiamin 9.2mcg/gram of Pollen
B2 Riboflavin 18.5
B3 Niacinimide 200
B5 Pantothenic acid 30-50
B6 Pyridoxine 5
B9 Folic acid 3-7
A 0.5-0.9
Hydrooxycinnamic acid (HCA) amides: involved with flowering but have anti-viral and antibiotic activities
Flavinoids: antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, pigments (red, yellow, purple)
Carotinoids: antioxidants, pigments (yellow and orange),
Gonadotropins: stimulate the testes and ovaries
Estrogenic compounds: compete with and substitute for estrogens at different times
Rutin: anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, decreased platelet aggregation
Phytosterols: decrease cholesterol, help the heart
Lecithin: phospholipid, part of all cell walls, decrease cholesterol
Approximately 35 grams (28g=1oz) of pollen each day will supply all the body's protein requirements. However, only 25 grams of pollen-ingested daily will sustain a person in terms of providing sufficient amounts of each of the essential amino acids.
4 Tablespoons Pollen = 3 cooked meals
Phenolic Content: a measure of antioxidant activity which supports immunity, helps to detox the liver and reduces the risk of cancer
• Red Grape 0.34
• Red Delicious Apple 0.42
• Mango 0.47
• Granny Smith Apple 0.64
• Black Plum 1.01
• Raspberry 2.09
• Blackberry 2.53
• Raisin 3.675
• Cranberries 5.575
• High Desert Bee Pollen 15.05
General Uses
Increase energy & endurance
Help with weight loss or gain depending on need
Multivitamin (especially in pregnancy)
Allergies and Asthma
Anemia
Improves overall immunity
Aids in health conditions such as: Crohn’s
disease, seizures, cancer, radiation treatments,
hepatitis, prostate diseases, ulcers
Antibiotic
Allergies
One of the most common uses of pollen for health is in the treatment of allergies. Seasonal allergies are characterized by runny nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, skin rashes, headaches and fatigue. Physiologically, allergies are caused by the bodies hyper-reaction to what it believes to be a foreign substance mounting a biological attack. In this case, the attacker or antigen is plant pollen. When the antigen enters the body, our system responds by creating specific antibodies, referred to as immunoglobulin E, or IgE which then perfectly lock onto the invading antigen.
This molecular couple then adheres to the surface of mast cells which line the nose, skin, lungs and digestive system. In Chinese medicine, we see patterns of pathology affecting the lungs, skin and colon simultaneously which may in fact be due to this sharing of the mast white blood cells. Mast cells release histamine and kinins which are the causes for many of these uncomfortable symptoms. The histamine itself causes permeability in the skin tissue allowing for an increase of allergens ushered to each of the mast cells thus generating even more symptoms. In addition, increases in the actual number of mast cells in allergy sufferers have also been noted which may explain why an increase in responsiveness to lower exposure levels may occur over time.
Anti-histamines can be very effective however they tend to have very uncomfortable side effects such as heavy fatigue.
What are the natural alternatives?
Bee Pollen of course!
Journal of Allergy
• 73% of patients with hay fever averaged a 75% improvement in their symptoms when given bee pollen orally
• 78% of asthma patients averaged a 75% improvement after taking bee pollen
• 17.8% of hay fever sufferers and 33.3% of asthmatics experienced a complete improvement on oral bee pollen supplements
• the earlier bee pollen supplementation was begun prior to allergy season, the greater the rate of its success
A supplement of quercitin/bromelain can be helpful too. Take more Vitamin C and Quercetin, about 3000 mg per day during allergy season.
Other Health Conditions Supported by Pollen Supplementation
Prostate Diseases
The phytochemicals lycopene, beta-sitosterol,other phytosterols and numerous flavonoids contained in bee pollen have been shown to inhibit the growth of prostate tissue and to reduce pain, inflammation and the risk of prostate cancer.
Treatment for Difficulty in Urination
At the end of six months, using Nocturia- Pollen 60% better or none, Placebo 30% better, Bladder emptying Pollen 57% better, Placebo 10% better
Reproductive and Sexual Function
In a study of 120 girls between 15 and 20 years of age with symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome more than 90% had resolution of all symptoms within two months. In the control group less than 5% improved.
The Treatment Menstral Pain and Menopausal Symptoms
Gastrointestinal system
A 1971 study done in Moscow found that 250 milligrams of bee pollen administered twice per day remarkably improved the symptoms of bleeding gastric ulcer patients.
Helps Oxygen Flow in Blood
Chinese studies on humans and animals have demonstrated that consuming bee pollen for several days prior to moving to high altitude reduces the incidence of altitude sickness, and apparently improves the ability to adapt to lower levels of oxygen in the air.
Fat Digestion
Normalize cholesterol and triglyceride levels in forty patients. HDL cholesterol increased, LDL decreased
Ophthalmology
Improvement of coreoretinal circulation, herpetic keratitis, corneo conjunctival burns, trophic cornean ulcers,
ophthalmic surgery, improvement of visual capacity
Weight Loss
Can help in both weight gain and weight loss
It has phenylalanine which suppresses appetite
BEE POLLEN SUPPLEMENTATION
Routine 1-2 tablespoons a day
Store in a cold dark place. Sunlight exposure is bad for pollen
Assess freshness: appearance, texture, smell, taste
Start slow and slowly increase the amount.
Mix with honey. Do not heat it.
visit my sister websites at www.TheBeeHealer.com and www.LadyBeeBotanicals.com
About one-third of the human diet is derived from insect-pollinated plants, and honeybees are responsible for 80 percent of this pollination. Cornell University estimated the direct value of honeybee pollination in U. S. agriculture in the year 2000 at $14.6 billion.
Worker bees will make 12 or more trips a day to gather pollen and nectar. The bees mix the pollen grains with a sticky substance that is secreted from their stomachs, which allows the pollen to adhere to their rear legs in "pollen baskets" in order to safely transport it to their hives. The honeybee will visit thousands of flowers in a day. Usually they collect from only one species per trip thus creating a pollen pellet that contains mostly a single type of pollen.
Pollen has an extraordinary range of colors which is mainly due to the varying pigments of the antioxidant flavonoids and carotenoids found in the plant. In the hive, pollen is used as a protein source necessary during brood rearing. One teaspoonful of bee pollen contains approximately 1,200 bee-collected pellets or 2.5 billion grains of pollen. Pollen is an excellent nutrition supplement. It contains all the nutrients necessary for human health. Bee pollen is richer in proteins than any animal source. It contains more amino acids than beef, eggs, or cheese of equal weight. Some believe that bee pollen is particularly concentrated in all elements necessary for life.
Nutritional Breakdown
250 calories per 100 grams
7-35% protein
22 amino acids (2 tablespoons has 100% daily requirements)
15-50% sugar
200 enzymes, coenzymes, and hormones
unsaturated fatty acids, lecithin
Minerals
Elements: Mn, Fe, P, Zn, Cu, Mg, Ca, K, Na, Ni, Bo, Cr, Mo, I, F, Se
Vitamins
B1 Thiamin 9.2mcg/gram of Pollen
B2 Riboflavin 18.5
B3 Niacinimide 200
B5 Pantothenic acid 30-50
B6 Pyridoxine 5
B9 Folic acid 3-7
A 0.5-0.9
Hydrooxycinnamic acid (HCA) amides: involved with flowering but have anti-viral and antibiotic activities
Flavinoids: antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, pigments (red, yellow, purple)
Carotinoids: antioxidants, pigments (yellow and orange),
Gonadotropins: stimulate the testes and ovaries
Estrogenic compounds: compete with and substitute for estrogens at different times
Rutin: anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, decreased platelet aggregation
Phytosterols: decrease cholesterol, help the heart
Lecithin: phospholipid, part of all cell walls, decrease cholesterol
Approximately 35 grams (28g=1oz) of pollen each day will supply all the body's protein requirements. However, only 25 grams of pollen-ingested daily will sustain a person in terms of providing sufficient amounts of each of the essential amino acids.
4 Tablespoons Pollen = 3 cooked meals
Phenolic Content: a measure of antioxidant activity which supports immunity, helps to detox the liver and reduces the risk of cancer
• Red Grape 0.34
• Red Delicious Apple 0.42
• Mango 0.47
• Granny Smith Apple 0.64
• Black Plum 1.01
• Raspberry 2.09
• Blackberry 2.53
• Raisin 3.675
• Cranberries 5.575
• High Desert Bee Pollen 15.05
General Uses
Increase energy & endurance
Help with weight loss or gain depending on need
Multivitamin (especially in pregnancy)
Allergies and Asthma
Anemia
Improves overall immunity
Aids in health conditions such as: Crohn’s
disease, seizures, cancer, radiation treatments,
hepatitis, prostate diseases, ulcers
Antibiotic
Allergies
One of the most common uses of pollen for health is in the treatment of allergies. Seasonal allergies are characterized by runny nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, skin rashes, headaches and fatigue. Physiologically, allergies are caused by the bodies hyper-reaction to what it believes to be a foreign substance mounting a biological attack. In this case, the attacker or antigen is plant pollen. When the antigen enters the body, our system responds by creating specific antibodies, referred to as immunoglobulin E, or IgE which then perfectly lock onto the invading antigen.
This molecular couple then adheres to the surface of mast cells which line the nose, skin, lungs and digestive system. In Chinese medicine, we see patterns of pathology affecting the lungs, skin and colon simultaneously which may in fact be due to this sharing of the mast white blood cells. Mast cells release histamine and kinins which are the causes for many of these uncomfortable symptoms. The histamine itself causes permeability in the skin tissue allowing for an increase of allergens ushered to each of the mast cells thus generating even more symptoms. In addition, increases in the actual number of mast cells in allergy sufferers have also been noted which may explain why an increase in responsiveness to lower exposure levels may occur over time.
Anti-histamines can be very effective however they tend to have very uncomfortable side effects such as heavy fatigue.
What are the natural alternatives?
Bee Pollen of course!
Journal of Allergy
• 73% of patients with hay fever averaged a 75% improvement in their symptoms when given bee pollen orally
• 78% of asthma patients averaged a 75% improvement after taking bee pollen
• 17.8% of hay fever sufferers and 33.3% of asthmatics experienced a complete improvement on oral bee pollen supplements
• the earlier bee pollen supplementation was begun prior to allergy season, the greater the rate of its success
A supplement of quercitin/bromelain can be helpful too. Take more Vitamin C and Quercetin, about 3000 mg per day during allergy season.
Other Health Conditions Supported by Pollen Supplementation
Prostate Diseases
The phytochemicals lycopene, beta-sitosterol,other phytosterols and numerous flavonoids contained in bee pollen have been shown to inhibit the growth of prostate tissue and to reduce pain, inflammation and the risk of prostate cancer.
Treatment for Difficulty in Urination
At the end of six months, using Nocturia- Pollen 60% better or none, Placebo 30% better, Bladder emptying Pollen 57% better, Placebo 10% better
Reproductive and Sexual Function
In a study of 120 girls between 15 and 20 years of age with symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome more than 90% had resolution of all symptoms within two months. In the control group less than 5% improved.
The Treatment Menstral Pain and Menopausal Symptoms
Gastrointestinal system
A 1971 study done in Moscow found that 250 milligrams of bee pollen administered twice per day remarkably improved the symptoms of bleeding gastric ulcer patients.
Helps Oxygen Flow in Blood
Chinese studies on humans and animals have demonstrated that consuming bee pollen for several days prior to moving to high altitude reduces the incidence of altitude sickness, and apparently improves the ability to adapt to lower levels of oxygen in the air.
Fat Digestion
Normalize cholesterol and triglyceride levels in forty patients. HDL cholesterol increased, LDL decreased
Ophthalmology
Improvement of coreoretinal circulation, herpetic keratitis, corneo conjunctival burns, trophic cornean ulcers,
ophthalmic surgery, improvement of visual capacity
Weight Loss
Can help in both weight gain and weight loss
It has phenylalanine which suppresses appetite
BEE POLLEN SUPPLEMENTATION
Routine 1-2 tablespoons a day
Store in a cold dark place. Sunlight exposure is bad for pollen
Assess freshness: appearance, texture, smell, taste
Start slow and slowly increase the amount.
Mix with honey. Do not heat it.
visit my sister websites at www.TheBeeHealer.com and www.LadyBeeBotanicals.com
