Recent interest in the use of bee pollen to treat certain allergies has been growing and has been partly responsible for fueling the interest in collecting, marketing and selling bee pollen. While the studies that indicate it may be useful for treat the treatment of allergic reactions are preliminary and scant at best, bee pollen may hold promise for those who suffer from allergies.
History
People have been using products from honeybees for medicinal purposes for centuries. This includes bee pollen, which has been used in traditional folk medicine to treat a variety of disorders, including allergies.
Constituents
Bee pollen is actually flower pollen that is gathered by honeybees from plants that grow within two to three miles of the location of the bee hive. Bee pollen is collected as part of the food required for a colony and is nutrient rich, containing proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. It also contains several chemical constituents including bioflavonoids, carotenoids and terpenes that are essential for honeybees to survive and thrive.
Effects
Bioflavonoids, in particular, have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects within the human body and may be useful in diminishing or preventing the symptoms of certain allergies. A recent study reported on in The Journal of Medicinal Foods indicated that certain lipid-soluble components of bee pollen inhibit the activation of mast cells that are responsible for the symptoms of an allergic reaction. The same article stated that bee pollen may also inhibit reactions to leukotrienes, which can trigger allergic reactions.
Skepticism
For most people, bee pollen is a relatively safe product to take internally. However, because the efficacy of bee pollen's use in treating allergic reactions is yet unproven, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration restricts the marketing of bee pollen to that of a food supplement only. It prohibits the mention of any nutritional or therapeutic claims attributed to bee pollen.
Warning
Bee pollen is high in components that may actually trigger an allergic reaction in some individuals. People with sensitivity to bee stings, honey intolerance or severe allergic reactions to plant pollens should avoid using bee pollen.
Certain individuals with hypersensitivity to the constituents within bee pollen may be at risk of anaphylactic shock. This is a severe allergic reaction that can be life threatening. In anaphylactic shock, the airway may constrict to the point where the person has extreme difficulty breathing. If anaphylactic shock is suspected, emergency medical attention should be sought and steps should be taken to relieve the situation immediately.
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