Bee Honey for Acute Bronchial Asthma

Mamdouh Abdul Maksoud Mohamed Abdul Rhman, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University Abbasia, Cairo, Egypt

This is the fifth in a series of abstracts from the 1st International Conference on the Medicinal Uses of Honey (From Hive to Therapy) held by University Sains Malaysia in August of 2006. The abstracts have been published by the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences (Vol.14 No.1, January 2007).

BACKGROUND: Bee honey has been an outstanding household remedy used for the treatment of cough and wheezing associated with bronchitis. The therapeutic use of honey in the form of inhalation dates from very early days. This method is particularly effective in the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

OBJECTIVE: The present work attempted to study the effects of bee honey in the form of nebulization in infants and children with acute asthma.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: After obtaining consent from their parents, 300 infants and children with mild to moderate acute attacks of asthma were included in this study. The mean age of studied patients was 2.49 ± 3.02 years with male to female ratio of 1.2 to 1. All studied patients received Bee Honey Nebulization (BHN) for 30 minutes. Neither corticosteroids nor bronchodilators were given. The response was judged 60 minutes after BHN by changes in respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), O2 saturation at room air (SPO2), dyspnoea, use of accessory respiratory muscles and chest wheezes.

RESULTS: There was a significant increase of SPO2 and decrease of RR and HR 60 minutes after BHN. The dyspnoea improved in 94% of patients. The chest wheezes disappeared in 35% and decreased significantly in 31% of patients. Six (6) patients were admitted because of persistence of symptoms.

During and after BHN increased frequency of productive cough occurred in 78.7% and it was severe and exhausting in 2%. The expectoration of sputum was followed by improvement in nearly all patients. Apart from severe exhausting cough, no side effects occurred during and after BHN.

CONCLUSION: BHN is an effective and safe treatment for mild and moderate acute attacks of asthma in infants and children.

Bee Venom Improve Brain Function

According to a recent story on Discovery News, scientists have proven that bee venom can improve our brain function. According to the study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a peptide toxin extracted from the venom called apamin is a neurotoxin that blocks certain central nervous system channels. Apamin can cause hyperexcitable nerves in the brain, which can cause convulsions and respiratory paralysis, but it can also lead to improved learning and memory.

Scientists have been aware for a while that certain bug venoms were effective in treating brain disorders like MS but now scientists have learned how to identify when the apamin binds to particular channels in the brain. This is important in order to develop medications that can mimic what apamin does in the body.

"Drug design depends on knowing the target," Neil Marrion, a professor in the University of Bristol's Physiology and Pharmacology department, told ScienceDaily. "Our findings have provided a new approach to designing a therapeutic agent that could help with the treatment of a number of conditions."

The venom is found in the Western honey bee. This is one more reason to value bees. We already know that without them the world food supply, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, other plants, and trees, could pretty much dry up by a third. They do much more than just produce honey, they pollinate everything.

Though experts are unsure why honeybee colonies are collapsing, pesticides, climate change, and other man-made impact are among the suspected causes. For now, skip the pesticides and chemicals in your garden and on your lawn and choose all organic and local eats for yourself.

HIV AIDS Treatment

Who does not shudder to hear the word AIDS - of the immune system due to infection with human immunodeficiency virus that triggered the emergence of various diseases? According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), about 2-million people worldwide died from AIDS during 2008. That number may go down if people living with AIDS to know propolis.

Propolis is not yet clinically proven able to cope with HIV. However, based on research in vitro - in the lab - conducted by researchers from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States, propolis has the potential to boost immunity of people living with HIV / AIDS. The research team suspected antiviral substances contained in propolis inhibit viral entry into CD4 + lymphocytes.

Propolis dose of 66.6? G / ml in cell culture of CD4 + - T cells in the immune system that have CD4 receptors capable of inhibiting expression of a maximum of 85% of the HIV virus. Prevalent in people with HIV / AIDS, the deadly virus infects CD4 cells and destroying bereseptor. Hence, her CD4 cell count in patients with HIV / AIDS fall far below normal. In healthy people, numbering around 500 - 1.500/mm3 blood.

Honey Relieve Cough in Children

Research results to researchers from Pennsylvania State University in Hershey, USA: honey proved effective alleviate cough in children and help them sleep soundly at night. Treatment with honey is even better than cough syrup containing dextromethorphan.

"The result is so convincing that we can state clearly that honey is better than dextromethorphan or no treatment at all," said Dr. Ian M. Paul one of the researchers told Reuters Health, on Tuesday (4 / 12).

Federal Medical Advisor has recently warned that the-counter cough medicine or cold medicines should not be used for children aged under six years old. The producers also should attract a number of products for babies off the market.

So far, treatment for cough due to acute respiratory infection or common cold have not been truly effective. While dextromethorphan is widely used, but there is no evidence that these drugs actually work.

Some pediatricians who read the results of this study recommends that honey child can be an alternative in overcoming cough in children. However, they suggest, should not be given honey to children under one year.

In his study, the researchers involved 105 children people with upper respiratory infection at a clinic in Pennsylvania. The parents of this child was given each a bag containing the drug and dosage instructions. Some bags are not equipped with the drug. Some of the bags containing the drug dextromethorphan with the scent of honey, while others contain a similar dose of honey.

The researchers gathered data on symptoms of cough and sleep of children from their parents, both before and after treatment. All children progress, but who ate honey consistently recorded the highest average score in decreasing the frequency and severity of their cough. Children who drink honey also experienced improvement in their sleep quality.

Treating hair with Honey

Dull hair that is very unsightly. Many ways to care for her, ranging from the use of shampoo and a natural way by using oil or plant extracts. One alternative that can be tried is to use honey and olive oil.

Honey is known from ancient times. Honey is known as a drug of various diseases. Honey is rich in anti-oxidants. Likewise with olive oil. The oil is also known by the name of this besides fragrant olive oil also contains anti-oxidants.

For the hair, honey functioning moisturize hair, giving vitamins and nutrients for hair. Olive oil is believed to nourish hair. These two ingredients are mixed to form a cream called the honey mask cream. Here's how to use this cream honey mask:

Wash your hair before washing hair, rinse it first and apply conditioner to the hair with olive oil added for easier hair combed and hair softer. After no more tangled, hair washed with shampoo and rinse with warm water.

Apply the mixture, apply a mixture of honey and olive oil (honey mask cream) until evenly distributed.

Massage lightly, after the cream is applied evenly, do a light massage on your hair to soak up into the scalp.

Rinsing, rinse with warm water because the honey mask cream containing a high oil content, by rinsing with warm water then the oil will become whole and healthy and clean hair