Apitherapy and Gynaecology –To What Extent
Can Methods from This Area Be Alternatives to
Conventional Ones?

Aktas Bahriye

Research Article

Apitherapy and Gynaecology –To What Extent Can Methods from This Area Be Alternatives to Conventional Ones?

Karsten Münstedt* MD, Ph.D¹, Jutta Hübner MD, Ph.D² and Heidrun Männle MD¹

¹Ortenau Klinikum Offenburg-Kehl, Ebertplatz 12, Germany

²Department Haematology and Internal Oncology, University of Jena, Germany

Corresponding Author

Received Date:July 20, 2021; Published Date: August 06, 2021

Summary

Background: Some holistic apitherapists claim that conventional medicine can be replaced by apitherapy. This claim has never been substantiated or falsified.

Methods/Design: Since holistic apitherapy is mainly promoted in books, we analyzed 135 books on apitherapy written in either German, English or French. We also compared the recommendations with findings from preclinical and clinical studies on the various bee products.

Results: A maximum of 6 topics were discussed in apitherapy books in relation to the top 20 gynaecological diagnoses. However, the mean was only 1.6 topics. We also found that the important topics like endometriosis, ovarian cysts, pelvic pain and vulvodynia were not discussed in any of books. Furthermore, we found that there was significant variation in the treatment recommendations for most of the top 20 gynaecological problems.

Conclusion: The claim that conventional medicine can be replaced by apitherapy is not supported by our analysis. The comparison between apitherapists’ recommendations and preclinical and clinical studies reveals that most recommendations are not supported by scientific evidence.

Keywords: Apitherapy; Gynaecology; Health claim; Bee product; Honey; Propolis; Royal jelly

Article Details

Citation

Karsten Münstedt MD, Ph.D, Jutta Hübner MD, Ph.D, Heidrun Männle MD. Apitherapy and Gynaecology –To What Extent Can Methods from This Area Be Alternatives to Conventional Ones?. 5(1): 2021. WJGWH.MS.ID.000605.