The ability of royal jelly to increase size, fertility and longevity of the queen honeybee has led many to believe that royal jelly may do the same for humans. However, the University of Michigan says evidence of these benefits is insufficient. In some people, use of royal jelly can be deadly, according to the University of Michigan. It's important that you consult a physician before using royal jelly. Allergic reactions can be severe, especially if you are allergic to bees or other bee products.
Description
Worker honeybees secrete royal jelly from their throat glands as a food for the queen honeybee. Contents of the royal jelly cause the queen bee to grow twice the size of other honeybees and gives the queen the ability to lay around 2,000 eggs a day. Drugs.com also says the queen honeybee lives 40 times longer than the other honeybees.
Uses
Royal jelly has been used to treat high cholesterol; however, the University of Michigan says evidence for this is insufficient. Many of the uses for royal jelly are based on traditional uses. Drugs.com says it has been used for longevity in traditional medicine throughout Asia and Europe. Naturopathic hair growth stimulants and skin tonics have also contained royal jelly. There is limited scientific data to show royal jelly has antibacterial and antioxidant activity, according to Drugs.com. However, royal jelly is credited with activity in the brain suggesting improved cognitive ability in mice.
Safety
According to the University of Michigan, allergies are the most common side effect of royal jelly. The effects may be mild and include gastrointestinal problems, or more serious. Severe allergic reactions include shock, intestinal bleeding, asthma and death, says the University of Michigan. Allergic reactions are especially common in people who are allergic to honey, bee pollen, poplar trees or conifers. It can also cause allergic reaction on the skin when used topically. According to Drugs.com, there have been some cases of royal jelly interacting with the drug warfarin and causing blood to appear in the urine. It is also possible that royal jelly can affect hormones. Therefore, it should be avoided by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Ingredients
A mixture of proteins, sugars, nectar and glandular secretions make up the ingredients of royal jelly. Water makes up approximately half of the content of royal jelly, says Drugs.com. Bee pheromones are also present in royal jelly. Pheromones are scented chemicals that attract sexual partners when secreted. Proteins make up about 15 percent of royal jelly.
Research
A study published in the Clinical and Experimental Allergy journal researched the prevalence of allergic reactions to royal jelly. The study reports that 14 out of 461 subjects reported adverse reactions to royal jelly. In addition, 13 out of 176 respondents to a questionnaire and 23 out of 300 people who took a clinical skin test had positive results to allergies.
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