Products from Bees
Bees are not only important pollinators for the ecosystem, they also provide several beneficial items for human use. From sweet honey to medicinal propolis, each of the products from bees contributes to human health, food, and industry. In this article, you will learn about some of the most common things bees give us and perhaps some that you are not familiar with yet.
Beekeeping has given me a first-hand look in to the world of honey bees. Yet, even I continue to be surprised by the benefits we reap from bees. And, the more honey bee facts you know – the more impressive the list becomes.
Products from the Hive:
- Honey
- Beeswax
- Bee Pollen
- Propolis
- Bee Venom
- Royal Jelly
- Beehive Air Therapy
Honey
Honey is the most well-known and useful products that we get from bees. Raw honey is stored in the comb and used during Winter – when foraging is not possible. In fact, they do such a great job that beekeepers can harvest honey without causing harm to the colony.
What is Honey?
Bees make honey from plant nectar that they gather from flowers. Nectar undergoes a startling change during the honey making process. The process results in a nutrient rich substance that contains natural sugars, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants.
You can enjoy many different types of honey that vary in color and taste – according to the nectar sources used to make it. For a special experience, eat honey in the comb – it is the most natural way to enjoy it.
Benefits of Honey
In addition to use as a sweetener, honey is a bee product valued by many for health, wellness and skin care. It has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties and is often used as a soothing agent for sore throats.
Personally, I enjoy making this honey, lemon and ginger-infused tea to soothe a nagging scratch throat or cough.
The low pH of honey and the presence of hydrogen peroxide has made it a known natural remedy for wound healing – dating back centuries. You will find several mentions of honey and bees in the bible.
I enjoy making a homemade honey and aloe burn salve to keep on hand for minor burns and scratches. Being rich in antioxidants, honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help fight off infections.
Culinary and Other Uses
The uses of honey numbers in the thousands. It would be very difficult to name them all. Of course, you will find many honey recipes that take advantage of the sweetness and flavor that this natural sweetener offers.
Some people enjoy making mead. This honey wine is made using honey, water and yeast. It is an alcoholic drink that varies in potency. Today, there are many new mead makers who are trying their hand at making the perfect cup.
Honey is also frequently used in skincare and beauty products due to its hydrating and antibacterial qualities.
Beeswax
Beeswax is made by worker honey bees using special glands on the underside of their body. It is used to create the honeycombs in the hive that are needed for food storage and rearing young. New beeswax comb is a beautiful work of architecture and a bright white.
As it ages, the color of beeswax darkens due to thousands of tiny bee feet and honey and pollen stored inside the cells.
How it is Made
Young adults are the best wax makers in the colony. Honey bees make beeswax by engorging on food – until their special glands begin to exude small flakes or scales of clear wax.
Using their mouths and legs, wax scales are shaped into sheets of comb – containing thousands of individual cells. Why do bees make hexagonal shaped cells? They do so because it is a space-saving design.
Uses for Wax from Bees
A natural non-toxic wax, beeswax can be used in many applications. It has antibacterial and moisturizing properties and is often used in cosmetics.
Beeswax is considered to be a low-irritant. This is why beeswax skin care products are so popular.
It is good for other things too. Perhaps you would like to learn how to make beeswax candles, it is very easy. They are one of the brightest and clean burning candle options around.
I enjoy making beeswax furniture polish, the homemade version mixes wax with some soft oils. You can’t buy anything better.
Should you eat beeswax? Well, beeswax is edible. People who love to eat comb honey (chunk) feel the wax comb is the main event.
In fact, beeswax is such a valuable product from honey bees, that beekeepers can often sell it for more money than honey.
Bee Pollen
Bee pollen is a natural substance collected by bees from the male part of flowers. Pollen grains are mixed with nectar and bee saliva and packed on their hind legs for the trip back to the hive.
Pollen is stored inside the hive as bee bread – a valuable protein source needed to rear young or bee brood.
Considered by some to be one of nature’s most complete foods, bee pollen is packed with a wide variety of nutrients- proteins, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants.
The actual chemical composition of bee pollen varies depending on the plant source.
Common Uses
Some sources believe that there are nutritional benefits of humans consuming bee pollen – including the potential of supporting heart health and immune function.
However, individuals should always consult a medical professional before consuming bee pollen. Allergies can and do happen.
Bee pollen can be consumed in a variety of forms including: granules, powder and capsules. Beekeepers may collect bee pollen for their own use or to sell to locals.
Propolis from the Beehive
One of the things that bees collect for their hive is plant resin (sap) from needle leafed trees and conifers. This resin is mixed with salivary enzymes to create a substance called propolis or “bee glue”.
Bees use propolis to sanitize the interior of the hive and seal every crack and seam to keep out wind and cold.
Beekeepers collect and sell propolis from their hives to people interested in its health benefits. It is considered one of the most valuable products from bees.
Bee propolis has antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. It contains polyphenols (flavonoids) that are a type of antioxidant.
Using Propolis
Propolis has been used for centuries because of possible health benefits. It is often mixed with other ingredients to create various tinctures.
Propolis is used in oral care products: toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. It is also used in wound care and some take it internally to promote good health.
Royal Jelly from the Hive
Royal jelly (bee jelly) is a white, pasty liquid used to feed developing baby bees. This nutritional substance is produced by nurse bees.
All honey bee larvae consume royal jelly for the first few days. After that, they composition of food changes.
At one time, people believed that royal jelly was the sole substance responsible for producing a new queen, but in recent years, researchers have discovered that queen making involves more than just royal jelly
Benefits of Royal Jelly
Some people consume royal jelly from the hive as a dietary supplement. There is some evidence that royal jelly make have therapeutic benefits for certain conditions.
It may help boost immunity, increase stamina, and maintain cholesterol levels. However, studies firmly supporting the claims are not yet available. This seems to be a highly debatable topic.
Honey Bee Venom
Bee venom is a clear liquid produced by worker honey bees. This venom is more responsible for the pain we experience during a sting – than the actual stinger.
When defending the hive against a threat (or perceived threat), the stinger is used to inject venom into the predator. Honey bees only sting for defense. In most cases, they die as a result.
Bee venom contains a complex mixture of proteins, enzymes, peptides, and other bioactive compounds. When injected into the body, an immediate sharp burning pain is experienced. Hopefully enough (from the bee’s perspective) to make someone back off.
Uses of Bee Venom
It may seem strange to consider bee venom a valuable honey bee product – but it is.
Under the supervision of a physician, some people use bee venom to therapeutically desensitize themselves to bee stings. Over time, this may result in them having a less severe reaction to a sting.
Other uses for bee venom include a remedy for soothing arthritis pain. Proponents of the practice swear that regular venom therapy helps ease some of the painful symptoms.
Sustainable Harvesting Practices
Is it a bad thing to harvest these honey bee products? No, I don’t think it is when done responsibly. For instance, taking honey from bees is not harmful when only the excess is taken and not honey the bees need for Winter.
Responsible beekeepers take only the excess and leave their bees with everything they need to thrive. If you ever consider getting started in beekeeping – I hope you will learn how to be a responsible keeper, we need more of those.
Even though humans have been using bee products for centuries – there is always a risk involved when using natural products.
Anyone can have allergic reactions to any substance-some people are even allergic to honey! Taking any of these products for healthcare purposes should be discussed with your doctor.
FAQs
Bee products such as honey, propolis, royal jelly, bee pollen, and bee venom have been used in traditional medicine and home remedies for various health conditions. They can be incorporated into teas, tinctures, balms, and other natural remedies to support immune function, soothe ailments, and promote overall well-being
Supporting honey bee products, such as honey and beeswax, can have positive environmental impacts by promoting beekeeping practices that help sustain bee populations.
Ethical considerations in beekeeping include ensuring the welfare of bees, minimizing environmental impacts, and supporting sustainable practices. It’s important to choose honey bee products from sources that prioritize bee health, habitat preservation, and responsible beekeeping practices.
Final Thoughts
From a jar of sweet honey to homeopathic medicine – the beehive provides many beneficial substances. By taking advantage of all possible honey bee products from the hive, beekeepers can expand their income. This helps offset some of the costs associated with keeping bees– trust me this is not a cheap hobby but the rewards are very sweet – pun intended.