A CONVENTIONAL APPROACH TO AN UNCONVENTIONAL METHOD
As Dr. Miroslaw Szczepanski explains, bee-derived products show medicinal effects and this is supported by scientific research. However, apitherapy is often practiced by people who do not have the appropriate scientific and medical skills, which does not facilitate building trust in this method. Among other things, this was the reason why it was decided to establish the Polish Apitherapy Society.
- We want to weld the entire beekeeping, pharmaceutical, medical and scientific community together so that we can finally work out standards and later appropriate legislation. The goal is for bee preparations to be able to function like medicines," the PTA president points out.
- Apitherapy is a rather heterogeneous method of treatment. Hence the idea to make some clarifications and clarify some issues, especially since it is popular in many countries, including Austria, Romania, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Hungary or China. Apitherapy societies are being established in these countries, bringing together doctors, pharmacists, but also beekeepers. We decided that the same is also needed in Poland," adds Dr. Anna Kurek Górecka.
NOT JUST HONEY
The best-known and best-loved product of bee origin is, of course, honey. As Dr. Anna Kurek-Górecka explains, its medicinal properties are confirmed by its presence in both the European Pharmacopoeia and the Polish Pharmacopoeia.
- Another product is beeswax. It too has its monograph in the Pharmacopoeia. On the other hand, many products, such as propolis, bee pollen, feather, or royal jelly also have medicinal properties, and they too can be used in supporting the treatment of many diseases, he points out.
In 2021, a breakthrough was made in the approach to one of the methods included in apitherapy. A group of scientists from Egypt, China, Saudi Arabia and Sweden, among others, published the results of a study on the chemical composition of hive air. It turned out to have strong medicinal effects. The first scientific conference on hive air was held in 2022.
- In Germany or Austria, this method is already very popular, and also in our country it has more and more supporters. It brings patients improvement in diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, circulatory diseases, as well as in depression, treatment of insomnia or with weakened immunity. It is even recommended for patients with multiple sclerosis," points out Dr. Anna Kurek-Górecka of the Faculty of Medicine at the Silesian Medical University.
SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS
Hive air therapy is carried out in special houses, known as apidomes. Special devices that are applied to the hive have also been developed and registered as a medical product, allowing the hive air to be inhaled safely.
- They are equipped with a safety net to prevent the bee from entering the patient's respiratory tract area. Clinical studies conducted in Germany show that ulotherapy is effective and safe even in the youngest patients. We also know that just being surrounded by bees, through the acoustic effect and electromagnetic waves, has a beneficial effect on the work of our brain and allows us to achieve relaxation," stresses Dr. Anna Kurek-Górecka.
The Polish Apitherapy Society stresses that safety is very important in treatment with bee products. Dr. Miroslaw Szczepanski also points out that the goal of the apitherapy community is not to steer patients away from conventional treatments.
- We want the procedure to support classical treatment. I think it's a matter of convincing the medical community. If we connect the three dots: medics, pharmacists and beekeepers, there is a chance that apitherapy will finally become a standard," quips Dr. Miroslaw Szczepanski.
source: press release
