Bee Pie: A Source of Health and Therapeutic Applications
Honeycomb is considered a living medicine because it contains in a pure state all the beneficial nutrients found in the products of the hive: honey, propolis, pollen, royal jelly and beeswax.
Honeycomb is a natural product that bees build to store honey and pollen.
It is made of wax and is arranged in hexagonal cells.
Raw, unprocessed honey is found in these cells.
What are the benefits of honeycomb?
Raw honey contains water, sugars, vitamins, minerals, proteins and enzymes with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
Unfortunately, these enzymes are destroyed by the filtering and heating processes used in commercial honey.
Honey in honeycombs contains 4.3 times more antioxidants than processed honey, especially polyphenols.
They are associated with a lower risk of heart disease, dementia and cancer.
Honey combs also contain small amounts of pollen, propolis, and royal jelly, each of which adds its own benefits.
Honeycomb beeswax contains long-chain fatty acids and alcohols.
These compounds help lower cholesterol and support heart health.
Honeycomb heals
Honeycomb can be eaten whole. Chew well and suck out all the honey until only the wax remains in the mouth.
Periodontitis, gum disease
The wax cells that remain after we absorb all the honey in the honeycomb are eventually chewed like gum.
This wax is said to have a protective effect on the teeth and gums.
A study conducted by Indian researchers showed that honeycomb has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and can prevent erosion (breakdown) of periodontal tissue.
Bronchitis
Chewing honeycomb with honey is considered a useful remedy for respiratory diseases – cold, flu, viral infections.
Wax esters and propolis have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects.
One study claims that honeycomb can help reduce bronchial inflammation in acute bronchitis.
Antioxidant and immune protection
Honeycomb has an antioxidant and immunostimulating effect.
A study shows that unprocessed honeycomb honey fights free radicals that damage body tissues and cause chronic disease.
Diarrhea
Raw honey contains prebiotics, probiotics and zinc – substances that fight the strains of bacteria associated with diarrhea.
Sleep disorders
Honeycomb honey helps improve sleep by stimulating the production of sleep-related hormones. It is also useful against neuroses.
Energy boost
The natural sugars, vitamins, minerals, proteins and pollen in honeycomb boost energy levels and increase physical performance.
Liver diseases
Honey is useful in chronic hepatitis, in which case 120 g per day, divided into several doses, is recommended.
The esters in beeswax reduce insulin resistance and increase the body’s antioxidant capacity.
This is why honeycomb can also be useful in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Infections
Last but not least, honeycombs help the body fight more effectively against harmful pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Candida albicanis and Salmonella enterica.
Because of its antimicrobial effects, raw honey can fight infections with giardia lamblia and other intestinal parasites.
Honeycomb – precautions and contraindications
It is not recommended to consume honeycombs in large quantities or for a long period of time, as intestinal blockages may occur.
One report shows that a woman who ate honeycomb for 2 months developed a mass of wax in her intestines and needed surgery to remove it.
Honeycomb is not recommended for children under 1-2 years of age, as well as for people with diabetes.