Royal jelly is known by several names including Apilak, Gelee Royale, and Queen Bee Jelly. It is a highly nutritious milk-like substance produced by worker bees, and is used to treat several conditions. However, its use is not widely accepted by medical doctors in the United States, because of the lack of clinical trials associated with its benefits. It has a long history of use in traditional medicines, and is available in supplemental forms like pills, as well as in its pure liquid form.
Royal Jelly
Royal jelly is a milky colored secretion that is produced by worker bees. It is used to feed newborn bees, as well as to feed the queen. All bees are fed this jelly after birth to help them grow, but much like nursing humans, they are weaned off of it. However, the queen bee will only eat royal jelly while she lives.
Royal jelly makes the queen bee develop faster and grow larger than other bees. The queen bee lives up to 8 years, while worker bees live for only months. The queen is also able to lay eggs when other bees are sterile. She lays about 2,000 eggs a day.
Chemical Make Up
According to Drugs.com, royal jelly is made up of a combination of protein, sugar, lipids, vitamins, pheromones, free amino acids, and minerals. It also contains a large amount of the B vitamin complex. The proteins found in royal jelly are extremely beneficial, because they contain a high amount of essential amino acids.
Uses
According to PDR Health, royal jelly is used as a supplement for treating arthritis, asthma, liver problems, insomnia, ulcers, kidney conditions, bone fractures, high cholesterol, male baldness, as well as a sexual performance enhancer, and an immunity booster. Royal jelly has been used to treat these conditions by complimentary medical practitioners for years.
Preferences
The preferred method of royal jelly supplementation is unprocessed royal jelly. This form is often sold in either small dark glass bottles in predetermined doses, generally 250 to 500 milligrams, or as the actual individual queen cell from the beehive. However, these supplemental forms are only sold in this variety when bought directly from a bee keeper, or royal jelly producer. Pure unprocessed jelly must be shipped frozen. Royal jelly is only good when refrigerated for about two weeks, but it can be kept frozen for several months.
Toxicity
There are many people who are allergic to bees, pollen, and bee products. People who know they have allergies to these things should avoid the use of royal jelly, or at the very least, use it only under the direct supervision of a doctor until any possible reactions are known. The ingestion of royal jelly is known to have caused acute asthma, anaphylaxis and death, as well as abdominal pain and hemorrhaging.
Immediate reactions may include tightness in the chest or throat, swelling itchy skin, and acute chest pain.
Pregnant and nursing women are encouraged not to take royal jelly in any form.
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