![]() The upside from all this research is that we’ve learned a helluva lot about bee biology in the past decade. and Europe began to become more difficult in the early 2000’s. Bee research has enjoyed a heyday as beekeeping in the U.S. There’s been a great deal of scientific interest in honey bees since we began to feel the impact of the evolving varroa/virus complex, the invasion of Nosema ceranae, and changes in agricultural practices and even more so after Dave Hackenberg brought Colony Collapse Disorder to worldwide attention in 2007 (Fig. His findings put the lie to a popular myth-that bees need to ferment pollen into beebread in order to digest it. So I was surprised by the lack of buzz when a little-known ARS bee researcher recently toppled one of our most cherished tenets. Science, on the other hand, is all about skepticism, requiring impeachable evidence, and continual reevaluation of what we “know.” Those who have been following my writing already know that I’m not afraid to bust some common myths about the honey bee or its situation. We then get “proof by repeated assertion,” with one authority after the next retelling it without question-in bee books, scientific papers, and media articles (it’s the rare reporter these days who actually goes to the trouble to deeply check his facts). Unfortunately, the original sources of some “facts” about the bee come from someone who explained something so compellingly in human terms, that it immediately resonated with beekeepers, who accepted it uncritically and without supporting evidence. ![]() What “makes complete sense” to a human may have absolutely no relevance to the honey bee. The fact is, that honey bees are far from human, and see and experience the world very differently than do we. People tend to anthropomorphize the honey bee, meaning that they liken its biology and behavior to that of humans. And not even scientists are immune to a beguiling story that appears to elegantly explain some aspect of bee biology. Historically, beekeepers embraced fanciful myths to explain what they saw frankly, the situation in today’s “age of reason” is often little different. ![]() People feel compelled to come up with explanations for what they observe and beekeepers are no different. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.īee pollen may also be used for purposes not listed in this product guide.Reevaluating Beebread: Part 1 The “Story”ĭoubting Thomases (Skeptical Questioning) There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Bee pollen should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.īee pollen is often sold as an herbal supplement. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA. It is not certain whether bee pollen is effective in treating any medical condition. Other uses not proven with research have included premenstrual syndrome, premature aging, hay fever, nosebleeds, joint pain, painful urination, prostate problems, stomach problems, and other conditions. However, research has shown that bee pollen may not be effective in increasing athletic performance. Bee pollen is also known as Buckwheat Pollen, Extrait de Pollen d'Abeille, Maize Pollen, Pine Pollen, Polen de Abeja, Pollen d'Abeille, Pollen de Sarrasin, and other names.īee pollen should not be confused with apitherapy, bee venom, or royal jelly.īee pollen has been used in alternative medicine as an aid to increase stamina and improve athletic ability. Bee pollen is made from bee saliva, and plant pollens and nectar collected by worker bees.
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