Apitherapy is the use of bee products for health purposes. It is an old practice with a wide range of claims, and the evidence behind those claims varies greatly.

This page sets out the principles a producer and a user should share.

Levels of evidence

Claims about bee products fall into three groups:

• Reasonably supported: Medical-grade honey in wound care; honey for night-time cough in children
• Under investigation: Various effects of propolis and royal jelly; laboratory findings that have not yet translated into clinical use
• Unsupported: Claims of curing serious disease

Being honest about which group a claim belongs to is the foundation of the field.

The rule that admits no exception

Bee products do not replace medical treatment.

Abandoning treatment for a serious illness in favour of an alternative is the most harmful outcome apitherapy can produce. A producer who suggests it, however indirectly, causes real harm.

Safety

• Allergy: Bee venom, propolis and pollen can all cause reactions. Severe reaction is possible and requires emergency treatment
• Venom applications must never be carried out without medical supervision and emergency provision
• Not for infants under one year: Honey, absolutely
• Pregnancy, chronic illness and regular medication: Consult a doctor
• Interactions: Some products may affect medication

The problem of standardisation

The composition of bee products varies with source plants, region and season. Propolis in particular differs markedly from one place to another.

This means a study carried out on one propolis does not necessarily apply to another. Careful interpretation is required.

Product quality

Whatever the intended use, quality is decisive:

• Free of residues; not collected during treatment periods
• Cold chain maintained where required
• Source and harvest date recorded
• Food hygiene rules observed

Legal position

In most countries it is prohibited to claim that a food treats disease. Regulations on labelling and marketing differ; check the current rules in your own country.

An honest position

Explaining what the product is, how it was produced and what is and is not known about it builds more durable trust than making claims. A claim that cannot be substantiated damages the reputation of the whole field.