Royal jelly is probably nature's best kept secret. In fact, many a beekeeper will lament that he never gets to see the stuff as it is transferred directly from the worker bee to the queen bee as it is very limited. A huge hive about the size of home refrigerator will yield no more than 2 kg of honey!

What is royal jelly?

It is a thick, creamy, milk-white fluid. In fact, it is sometimes referred to as royal milk. It is produced inside the body of the nurse bee (Apis Millefera L) while it digests the pollen along with the honey.

Thus, it is a complex mixture of honey, bee pollen and substances from the body of the bees. This explains its rich hormone and amino acid make-up. It is not sweet like honey. In fact, it has a pleasant sour taste. Some varieties may even have bitter aftertaste. It might also emit a strong aroma.

Making of the queen

In the course of her life, the queen bee subsists on nothing but royal jelly. This royal milk-like substance is vital in making (not birthing) of the new queens. Eggs selected to be queens are pampered from day one. These eggs are specially laid out in broods that resemble peanut shells. They are then soaked in royal jelly. The eggs are identical to toher destined to become worker bees.

However, the worker bees are given the royal jelly for only three days.

The queen bee which feeds only on royal jelly, grows to 2½ times the size of other members of her colony. She lives up to four years - almost 40 time the lifespan of the other bees. She also seems much more resistant to illness than other members of the hive.

At her peak, the queen bee is capable of producing up to 1,500 eggs per day while worker bees are sterile. No other agent in biology or medicine is known to be capable of this!

Nutrition

It seems that royal jelly alone is responsible for making the ordinary bee turn into the queen bee. Royal jelly is able to make the ordinary bee bigger, heavier, more productive and live much longer than other larvae born at the same time.

Not surprisingly, royal jelly is highly nutritious. In fact, it probably has all the nutrients you will need every day - minerals, vitamins, 18 essential amino acids and three essential fatty acids.

Health Uses

Herbalists have long recommended royal jelly as a 'primer' for their herbs. In studies of human and animal nutrition, royal jelly has been found to be an effective nutrient for general health. Thus, it can be recommended: * as a tonic for the nervous system * to improve general health * to correct under-nutrition and promote growth; * to nourish skin * to cleanse skin (royal jelly has a strong antibacterial component) * building up resistance to infection * during pregnancy and while breastfeeding; * as an aid during menopause as the hormone-like substances it contains are very useful * as an aid in healing (e.g. after surgery) * to retard the aging process (the interest in royal jelly was inspired when researchers noted that bee keepers lived longer and seemed healthier. It seemed that they intended to keep the rare royal jelly for themselves) * to assist in problems associated with old age * to increase fertility in both sexes. Chickens fed with royal jelly produce more eggs. * treatment of alcohol withdrawal (delerium tremens)

Crippled sexuality

In some cultures, royal jelly is viewed as a 'love potion' as it is beleived to increase the libido. The pre-digested sugars are important for glycogen vital for the production of semen.

In an issue of the Journal Of the Egyptian Medical Association (56:381-390, 1973) there appeared a preliminary report about the spermatogenic effects of royal jelly.

A group of 15 men with low sperm counts (below 20,000 per cubic millimeters) took royal jelly for 4½ months. Ten of them experienced higher sperm counts in the semen well above 20,000.

In six months, 13 of the initial 15 experienced sperm counts above that figure. The sperms also seemed to have acquired a greater ability to move about spontaneously.

It is also believed to enhance fertility in women.

Skin tonic

Royal jelly is a rich nutrition for the skin. It feeds the skin. At the same time, it is able to remove substances from the skin, given its strong content of sugars. It is ideal when incorporated in skin care products. Additionally, it is antifungal, antibacterial and antiseptic. It also has a slight acidic profile that is close to that of the skin. Thus, royal jelly has been incorporated into many cosmetic formulas. Purity

Unlike honey which the bees make to keep for "a rainy day", royal jelly is made for the queen with the same zeal as a palace cook preparing a meal for the king! It is of the highest quality.

Sometimes, the royal milk passes directly from the worker bee to the queen bee. Thus royal jelly is difficult to cultivate unlike honey which can be produced by feeding the bees sugar water.

However, the trick is to use the jelly as fresh as possible. While the jelly, like honey, will store very well, any form of processing - like making it into a paste or capsule - would significantly reduce its much touted nutritional value.

Royal jelly could also be tested for purity by using it to cook a raw egg yolk as discussed last week. As it is richer in enzymes, the "cooking process" is even faster.

Allergies

Some people can be allegic to bee products especially royal jelly which is richer in proteins that might provoke allergies. The easiest way to test is to apply a small amount on mucous membrances like your lips and watch for about 15 minutes. If there is no suspicious reactionss, you are not allergic.

On the other hand, royal jelly has been known to help individuals with allergy driven diseases like asthma and sinus problems.


-by Rajen. M (a pharmacist a and is pursuing a doctorate in holistic medicine from the United States. He can be reached at e-mail: health@po.jaring.my http://www.healthconcept.com

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