Prof Avshalom Mizrahi, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Medicine in Israel gives an authoritative and comprehensive account of the health benefits of a range of bee products. He describes the history, chemistry, uses and properties of honey, beeswax, bee venom, propolis, pollen, and royal jelly.

Honey

Used as a sweetener, causing less diabetes than when people use sugar as sweetener.

Used in cosmetics. Has antimicrobial properties - used for healing wounds, serious skin burns and treatment of gastric ulcers.

Beeswax

Used in cosmetics, to coat and preserve cheeses and in inhalations, to treat upper respiratory tract diseases.

Bee venom

In apitherapy, successful in treating auto-immune diseases, immunotherapy of bee sting allergic patients, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and multiple sclerosis.

Propolis

The plant resin collected by bees for use in and around the hive. Because of its antimicrobial activity, it's been called the "optimal and natural antibiotic". Also has anti-inflammatory properties and tumour cytotoxicity.

Pollen

The most nutritious food available, pollen is rich in protein, low in fat and contains most of the minerals and vitamins we need. Can be used to treat benign prostatitis, and for oral desensitisation of pollen allergy.

Royal jelly

Has antimicrobial activity, making it good for use in cosmetics and skin care products. It is highly nutritious but fairly expensive.