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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 6 No. 3 September-December 2008 Û˘

lis into drugs and health foods. Experiments have allergic to bee venon, they will suffer philoneure,
proved that propolis also has the following effects: hemolysis and the other toxic symptoms upon re-
anti-fatigue, prevention of hyperlipidemia, anti-inflam- ceiving approximately 200 - 300 bees stings. A per-
mation, anti-oxygenation, prevention of ulcers, anti- son will usually die of paralysis of the respiratory cen-

tumor, local anesthsia, pain relief, liver maintenance ter if stung by 700 - 1,000 bees. In order to treat
strengthening the brain, wit benefit, relief of consti- diseases, people are administered several stings or
pation with laxatives, blood sugar regulation, relief of preparations of bee venom after assuring that they
itching and promotion of tissues healing in injuries. do not have an adverse reaction. Experiences shows
It has a surprising effect on many stubborn diseases. that the liquid secreted from the bee stings produces
The above three products are made of ingredi- a good medical effect in the treatment of rheuma-
ents collected from plants. At the beginning, people tism, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, trigeminal neu-

only paid attention to honey and used that product. ralgia, facial paralysis, cerebrovascular sequela, hy-
Honey and pollen powder are the food of bees. People pertension, close-thrombus angeitis, bronchial asthma,
took honey and pollen for nutritional health care and allergic rhinitis, annexitis, iridocyclitis, erythema
some other medical and pharmalogical purposes; the nodosum and psoriasis.
research into and exploration of propolis occured later, Bee keepers attending hives frequently suffer
but bees also collect propolis to protect the bee colo- stings; most of them will develop immunity against
nies and defend against pests, so propolis is called bee venom sooner or later. They will be not have
the medicine of the bee colony. Therefore, propolis serious reactions if they are stung by up to hundreds
has a bright future as it has the largest potential for of bees at a time, although some of them may be

use in medical care. sensitive to the venom. Persons who are allergic will
The secretions of bees, namely stings, royal jelly, have strong localized responses or a general reaction
beeswax and bee venom, are fragrant and clear. They even though they are stung by only one bee; they
are secreted from the acid and alkali glands of the may even suffer an allergic reaction and go into shock.
sting organs of bees, and flow out of the vesicle The pure medicament of bee venom can be used to
through stingers when the bees are stinging. treat allergies and make diagnostic skin tests and for
The method for applying bee stings to treat dis- the purpose of desensitization.

eases has a long history in China; it is called çevil With the application of the technology of ex-
must be driven out by evil.é Since the 1960s, the tracting bee venom electrically, loyphile powder in-
combination of biochemical analysis and pharmaco- jection, ointment and cream of purified bee venom
logical study has gradually revealed the functions and have efficiently come into the market one by one at
active constituents of the liquid secreted from the stable prices. The chemical constituents of bee venom
stingers. More than 10 active peptides have been iden- have been deeply researched; although three kinds
tified in this fluid, of which melittin accounts for more of bioactive peptides can be synthesized in the lab,
than 50 percent by dry weight. Enzymes, e.g. phos- prepared natural bee venom still provides the best
pholipase A2 and hyaluronidase, some biogenic medical medicament.

amines, e.g. histamine and catecholamine are also Royal jelly is used to feed the queen bee and
active constituents, and they have medical activities larvae of worker bees in the colony. Oosperm grows
as well. more quickly after taking royal jelly in a three-day
The liquid is a kind of self-defensive toxin of period and its weight can increase by as much as 250
bees to defend against enemies. If people are not times. The larva in the queen comb is fed with royal