As more people explore the wonders of nature's own healing substances, parents are eager to find applications that can be used to help their children, too. Bee pollen is one of many such naturally occurring elements that is promoted for its restorative and preventive properties. Like virtually any other medicinal ingredient, the things nature provides might need to be scaled back or constituted differently for smaller bodies that are still developing.
Bee Pollen Forms
Bee keepers use a screen over their hives to harvest pollen from bees. The pollen is sold in tablet form ranging from 200 mg to 500 mg in strength and is available at health food stores and specialty pharmacies. Dosages for human consumption vary and are so far not standardized. Drugs.com describes bee pollen as nutritionally "rich," including vitamins, minerals, trace elements, enzymes and amino acids, in addition to protein, fats and carbohydrates.
Health Claims
Bee pollen, which is the primary form of food for male drones in a hive, has been used for thousands of years by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners -- where it's called pu huang -- and is only recently becoming popular in the United States. Naturopathic physician, Dr. Janet McKenzie, says "Claims for health benefits from bee pollen cover everything from PMS to radiation sickness, but scientific support for these benefits is limited." Traditional uses for bee pollen include relief of gastrointestinal disorders, increasing appetite, boosting strength and stamina, and even preventing cancer. Unfortunately, as the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center says, there are far more warnings than there are studies demonstrating significant clinical efficacy from bee pollen's use.
Health Concerns
Dr. Michael Wald says the biggest concern with bee pollen is the relatively high potential for severe allergic reactions among individuals, especially children. He explains, "If you don't know whether or not your child is allergic to bees, then you should not use bee pollen; it might contain antigenic, or allergic, components causing an anaphylactic response." Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction. Dr. McKenzie says she worries about the high risk for allergic reaction and the possibility for pollen tablets to be contaminated with pesticide residues. For these reasons, she doesn't recommend bee pollen supplementation for anyone, and particularly not for children.
Use with Caution
Joan Boccino, M.S., L.Ac., a licensed Chinese medicine specialist, echoes the need for caution, but suggests that some children may indeed be able to take bee pollen -- with expert professional oversight. She says, "Children over the age of 2 years can usually take bee pollen, but you have to be careful to observe for allergic reactions. It's best to test a very small amount: less than 1/8th teaspoon, and increase slowly. Dosage should be calculated according to age and body weight." Consult a qualified health-care practitioner for a dosing recommendation before using bee pollen.
Then, There's Propolis
A mixture of pollen and beeswax shows more promise than simple bee pollen. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center says it has been demonstrated clinically to be effective for asthma and the treatment of certain kinds of warts, and for the reduction in number of acute ear infections in children. Allergy concerns also exist for propolis, so you should still consult a health-care practitioner before administering it to your child.
References
- Janet McKenzie; Naturopathic Physician, Perfect Balance Natural Health Care; Hamilton, Ontario
- Dr. Michael B. Wald; Director of Nutritional Services, Integrated Medicine & Nutrition; New York
- Joan Boccino; Herbs and Healing; New York City
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