Apitherapy as an Alternative medicine: Article review

Abstract

Honey bees are the "Golden insects" that produce honey and other vital honeybee products. However, the best known primary products of honey bees are honey and bee wax, but pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, queen bees and their larvae are also marketable primary bee products. Worldwide the usage of such primary products as propolis, royal jelly and bee venom have increased mostly due to inclusion in cosmetics preparation. Medicinal use will increase once better and more detailed studies are completed, which however may not yet be in the very near future. Honey has medicinal uses like antiseptics and wound healing properties, while propolis is used to treat diabetes patients. Additionally, pollen has antioxidant property and anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties of bee venom serve to treat arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Around the world, the most widely used hive products are honey and bees wax serving many functions, ranging from local beverage to different medicinal uses. Thus, this article review will summaries in brief life of honey bee, most important products especially bee venom and its uses as therapeutic agents.