2020

Coronavirus: Propolis & Aswaghanda

 

Ashawaghanda & Propolis, two of my favorite probiotics & supplements!

What is Ashwaghanda you may wonder?

Ashawaghanda, withonia somnifera also known as winter cherry or Indian ginseng contains withanolides which are immunomodulating, antimicrobial and antioxidant. They are also hormone regulators and have anti stress effects and are very beneficial to the joints, liver, brain and cardiovascular system.

A healthy immune system is vital to handling stress & assisting the body in combatting bacterial & viral infections.

Aswaghanda is used in Ayurvedic medicine for anti aging, boosting the immune system, regulating the thyroid, enhancing cognitive & sexual health, sports performance, increasing blood oxygenation and reducing metabolic stress. Gives your body a lot of energy too!

I personally like to take a full-spectrum organic Ashwaghanda extract or powder, 600mg/day. This can be blended with raw honey & propolis(1gram+) as a daily supplement or added to a smoothie.

Propolis contains Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE, bioactive ingredient of propolis).

Both of the compounds contained in propolis(CAPE) & ashwahganda(withanolides) show significant promise in binding with specific proteins & inhibiting the activity of coronaviruses.

Below you will find interesting research about the bio active components of Propolis containing Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE) & Aswaghanda containing Withanone (Wi-N) as protein binders with SARS-CoV-2

https://www.tandfonline.com/…/full/10…/07391102.2020.1772108?

Bee healthy and safe, friends!

 

Frederique Keller

Hello BeePharm Fans

With Springtime just around the corner, honeybees about to start flying collecting pollen & nectar,  I want to share the amazing spectrum of products honeybees provide with you all. The term Apitherapy defines & includes all the products of the beehive for medicinal & nutritional purposes. They include raw honey, pollen, bee bread, royal jelly, propolis, beeswax & bee venom. I’ll be covering each of them with interesting & useful facts to help you enjoy & start feeling healthy due to the gifts of the honeybee. Below is a preview. Don’t ask which one is best. They are all my favorites and work synergistically!

  • Raw honey: Totally unheated, straight from the beehive. Antioxidant, antibiotic, antiseptic, wound healing, seasonal allergies, acid reflux, natural humectant in cosmetics. 
  • Pollen: Amazing source of protein, enzymes, trace minerals; desensitization from local allergies, weight management, sports endurance, gives energy! Nature’s superfood.
  • Bee bread: A naturally fermented food made by honeybees of raw honey & pollen. Very bio available & nutritious. Restorative & reparative to human cells. It’s what the bees feed their young larvae for optimal growth. People sensitive to pollen rarely experience a reaction to bee bread.
  • Propolis: Can be brown, red, green, black in color. The incredible “glue” made mostly from tree resins that the honeybees bring back to disinfect and seal their hive from bacteria, viruses and fungus. A powerful antibiotic, antiviral, anti fungal & highly effective with many types of cancer. Topically used for wound healing, cuts, scrapes, scratches, cold sores, hemorrhoids, diaper rash, bug bites, toe fungus, vaginal itching. Available as a tincture or in concentrated capsules.
  • Royal Jelly: The milky like substance worker bees produce to feed only the queen so she can continuously lay eggs for 3-6 years. A typical worker bee lives 4 weeks. Restorative, rejuvenative, recovery from illness, hormone balancing, acts on stem cells to prevent premature aging, strengthens brain function, bones, marrow(blood).  30 day royal jelly “cures” popular in Europe during change of seasons. Luxurious in cosmetics.
  • Beeswax: Ingenious! Honeybees produce every drop of beeswax in glands located on their under bellies to provide structure & build the honeycomb in the hive providing a place to raise the larvae, store honey & bee bread. Used in cosmetics, encaustic artwork, furniture polish to seal & waterproof, sewing, musical instruments and of course to make beautiful non toxic, slow burning, honey scented candles.

Peace, bees & great health

Frederique

 

Stay updated with new posts!

COVID-19 | BeePharm’s Apitherapy Recommendations

Hello Everyone,

As beekeepers & apitherapists we are in a unique position to help ourselves, friends & families while adhering to national guidelines during this difficult time dealing with the Covid-19 crisis. We are certainly far from helpless!  For centuries the products of the hive have helped keep us healthy and our immune systems strong. It is also vital to stay positive, take long walks, breathe fresh air, and soak in the sunshine. Quality sleep is also crucial to the body’s immune system. Words & thoughts have immense power on our immune system as well. Meditate. Dance, Laugh. Sing. See this imposed still time as a retreat for healing & self discovery rather than a “quarantine”. Always bee kind with yourself & each other.

 

My Apitherapy Recommendations:

Pure Raw Apitherapy Honey: unfiltered, uncontaminated, never heated, straight out of the hive: 1-2 TBSP/day

Propolis: Exceptional & Powerful Anti Viral! In capsules minimum 1,000mg +/day, increase if you have cold/flu symptoms. Also antibacterial, anti fungal. Green, brown or red propolis are effective too long as you know the provenance of the product.  Tinctures can be useful too although strength and percentage of propolis is variable and difficult to know exact dosage. Definitely great as an adjunct general probiotic. Most importantly, take the propolis you have on hand

Pollen: 1-3 tsp in water, juice, smoothie, yogurt, oatmeal. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes to soften the protein exterior of each granule for better absorption. This will provide you with all the protein & essential nutrients your body needs and give you lots of stamina! If you are sensitive to pollen, please start off with just a couple of grains and gradually increase over a few weeks. For example 1/8 tsp for 3-5 days, 1/4 tsp 3-5 days, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp., 1 1/2 tsp, 2 tsp and so on. Adult dosage is up to 3 TBSP/day. Pollen is best taken in the morning through mid afternoon.

Royal Jelly: 1,500mg/night, restorative, great for sleep, hormonal balance and recovery from illness

Bee Venom: you are at a distinct advantage if you are a beekeeper or Apitherapist who has attended an American Apitherapy Society’s(AAS) Charles Mraz Apitherapy Course & Conference(CMACC) over the years or one of my Intensive Apitherapy Workshops. Bee venom elevates the body’s immune system to fight free radicals, bacteria, and many viruses. Many of those participants have learned the location of key immune system points to administer bee venom therapy or Apipuncture coming from a Traditional Chinese Medicine point of view. Those points are Stomach 36 (bilateral), Conception Vessel 6, Governing Vessel 14, Bladder 23 (bilateral). ST 36 & CV 6 are located on the front of the body & easily accessible. You will need a partner for the back ones! Give yourselves mini or full stings in all these points or alternate every few days, depending on your experience and tolerance of bee venom. Please make sure to adhere to all safety precautions for BVT and have an Epipen & Benadryl on hand at all times. Now is the time to re visit those conference notes and presentations to re discover the immense wealth of knowledge you all have available. I would also recommend getting an acupuncture point location book or perhaps ask your acupuncturist for help.

Please find joy & empowerment in incorporating these amazing honeybee products into your daily regimen.

Peace, bees & great health,

Frederique