Royal jelly is a secretion created by worker honeybees that causes optimum growth for the queen bee. This secretion is obtained and sold as a dietary supplement and used to prevent and treat many conditions. Royal jelly has not been evaluated by the FDA for potency or effectiveness. Before using royal jelly for medical purposes, talk with your doctor. The substance has been used as an antitumor, antimicrobial and antihypertensive supplement. Heart palpitations that develop from taking royal jelly are most likely a sign of a severe allergic reaction.
Caution
Royal jelly should be used with caution if you have other known allergies, such as hay fever, food allergies or insect bite allergies. Drugs.com states that many people have been tested positive in allergy tests for royal jelly. The most common side effects include asthma, general allergic reactions and even death. Heart palpitations are a sign of anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening allergy condition. If you develop heart palpitations after taking royal jelly, discontinue use of the product and call your doctor immediately. If you suspect that you're experiencing anaphylaxis, call 911.
Cause
An allergic reaction to royal jelly is the result of a hypersensitivity to one or more of the substances in royal jelly. If your immune system does not recognize a certain component of royal jelly, your immune system will attack the allergen within a few minutes of ingesting it. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that allergies are common and can result in reactions that are mild to severe. During an allergic reaction, your body creates immunoglobulin E antibodies that protect your body from any harm. IgE antibodies cause histamine levels in your soft tissues to increase, causing inflammation and constriction.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that occurs suddenly and could cause life-threatening symptoms. During anaphylaxis, excessive amounts of chemicals are produced in tissues throughout your body, affecting your cardiovascular system, skin, respiratory system and digestive tract. An increased heart rate with a faint pulse is a sign of anaphylactic shock. It's common that if your body experiences anaphylaxis, it will enter a state of shock. Along with an increased heart rate, you may also expereince the inability to breathe, a sudden drop in blood pressure, stomach pain, throat swelling and nasal congestion, according to PubMed Health.
Emergency Treatment
You will need an injection of epinephrine to treat your symptoms. Epinephrine is injected into your body to restore normal functionality temporarily. If you have an epinephrine pen and you use it to treat your symptoms, you still need to call your doctor and go to the emergency room for evaluation. Avoid all use of royal jelly in the future and you may need to be tested for allergies to honey and pollen.
Member Comments