Bee pollen, produced by honeybees, is marketed as a health food. Some promoters claim it can increase stamina and treat a variety of conditions, including both high and low blood pressure. Most bee pollen claims are unsubstantiated by clinical evidence, although experts agree that bee pollen is nutritionally rich. A rare but serious allergic reaction to bee pollen can cause drastic blood pressure changes, along with life-threatening complications. Consult your doctor before using bee pollen.
Constituents and Effects
Honeybees – scientifically known as Apis mellifera – mix plant nectar, pollen and saliva into pellets used to nourish male drone bees. The pollen is about 30 percent protein, 55 percent carbohydrates, 1 to 2 percent fat, and 3 percent minerals, including zinc, manganese, copper and potassium. Vitamin C and B-complex vitamins are present, too, along with amino acids and antioxidants. Drugs.com – which provides peer-reviewed medical information to consumers – notes that analysis is complicated by the different geographic origins of bee pollen. The website credits bee pollen with possible anticarcinogenic, antioxidant and cholesterol-lowering effects, but reports that clinical studies on bee pollen's effects have yielded inconclusive results. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center concurs that clinical evidence does not support the various claims for bee pollen. Bee pollen is not likely to be an effective treatment for high or low blood pressure.
Anaphylaxis
Ingestion of even small amounts of bee pollen can cause anaphylaxis, a rare but life-threatening allergic reaction that causes shock, narrowing of the airways and plunging blood pressure. Symptoms – which can develop within minutes of ingestion – include swelling of your tongue or throat, hives, itching, weak and rapid pulse, a feeling of impending doom, confusion, nausea, dizziness and fainting. If you experience signs of anaphylaxis, MayoClinic.com advises seeking emergency medical treatment. Doctors treat anaphylaxis with epinephrine. Sometimes, they also use corticosteroids and antihistamines. Bee pollen can also cause less serious allergic symptoms such as itching and indigestion.
Research
An abstract published in 2001 in "Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology" details the case of a patient who experienced a sudden anaphylactic allergic reaction after ingesting a small amount of bee pollen. The bee pollen contained fungi and pollens from a variety of plants, including honeysuckle, privet shrub and vetch. The authors noted that the patient had known allergies to ragweed and rye grass, and that previous immunotherapy for hay fever symptoms had produced no adverse effects.
Usage and Considerations
Mothernature.com advises starting with three granules of bee pollen and doubling the dose until you reach a teaspoon. Stop immediately if you notice adverse effects. Do not take bee pollen if you have a history of anaphylactic reactions, or if you are allergic to mugwort, grasses or olives; an allergy to these can make a reaction more likely. If you are allergic to bee stings, Drugs.com warns that you should never attempt the dangerous practice of attempting to desensitize yourself with bee pollen. In a 1997 article on Quackwatch.com, Dr. Stephen Barrett notes that 5 percent of Americans are allergic to ragweed pollen – which is often in bee pollen – along with other cross-reactive plants such as dandelions, sunflowers and chrysanthemums. Consult your doctor before using bee pollen, and don't use it if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
References
- Drugs.com: Complete Bee Pollen Information
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Bee Pollen
- MayoClinic.com: Anaphylaxis Symptoms
- "Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology"; Bee Pollen-Induced Anaphylactic Reaction in an Unknowingly Sensitized Subject; P.A. Greenberger and M.J. Flais; Vol. 86, 2001
- MotherNature.com: Nature's Medicines, Bee Pollen
- Medline Plus: Anaphylaxis
