What is bee brood? What is Apilarnil? Do we eat bees? Yes. Can you picture a skewer full of bees on a barbecue? 🙂 No, not like that. Though, some natives in Africa do this.
Bee brood is like “bee children”. Brood is a generic term that refers to eggs, larvae and pupae, which are the stages of a bee before it becomes an adult.
Apilarnil is a product made of male bee brood, used in apitherapy with a very broad spectrum and incredible good results.
So, yes, we use the bees to make a remedy. Not all bees, only the males. (seems that we have found a way to take advantage of their existence, too!). They are gathered only on the 10th day after laying the egg, in other words, on the 7th day of their larval stage.
Why are the baby bees gathered at this age?
- At this 7th day, the male bee (also called “drone“) has a weight of 250-300 mg, its body contains the elements of the main organs and all its body’s “programs” are completed.
- At this stage their bodies contain a HUGE number of SEX CELLS. In one male larvae there are over 10 million sperms. It appears that this high number of sex cells are most important for the final product.
- The larvae’s reserves of nutritive material are at highest level at this age: highly concentrated nutritive elements containing fat body protein, accumulation of lipids and carbohydrates, particularly glycogen, carbohydrates which play an important role in the metabolic process.
- It has a significant amount of haemolymph, far more rich in nutrients and energy compared to other insect or animal, including human blood. For example: bee larvae has 9 times more magnesium than human blood; greater phosphorus, carbohydrates are more from fructose while in human blood it’s more glucose.
- The chemical composition of the extract of the drone larvae is complex and consists of mineral salts (calcium, magnesium, Phosphorus, Iron, copper, manganese, zinc, sodium, potassium), vitamins (vitamin A, beta-carotene,provitamin A, xanthophyll, vitamin B6, vitamin PP, choline, vitamin B1), amino acids (lysine, histidine, arginine, spargic acid, Tronina serine, glycine, alanine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine), a total of 11.4 g% amino acids.
What does Apilarnil treat?
It can be given at all ages, from infants to really old people. It has a higher efficiency in combination with other nutritional supplement, such as royal jelly, honey, pollen, flax seed oil or spirulina by enhancing each other’s properties. Of course the searches are still continuing.
For children:
- poor growing in infants
- anemia
- loss of appetite, states of de-nutrition
- delayed puberty
- physical and intellectual fatigue in premature ages
- nutritional supplement for children who play sports for performance, leads to a marked improvement in exercise capacity and concentration. In an experiment done in healthy volunteers receiving apilarnil (a mixture of bee brood, honey and pollen) for a period of overload, the conclusions were categorical. There have been favorable metabolic effects, physical and intellectual improvement, with strong, lasting manifestations. There were no toxic side effect. There was no over-exhaustion after the supra-effort.
- Treats nocturnal enuresis in children of various ages. Studies have shown that this therapy improves the control on sphincter and treats urinary infections associated. Administration was done only at bedtime, to achieve a more superficial stage of the very deep sleep of these children. As alternatives, a very rapid effect in cases of enuresis plays auricular acupressure stimulation on renal point. The effects can be very prompt, if associated with Bach flower remedies.
- Treats epilepsy. In 1985 Dr. Virgil Enătescu made a research on 14 young epileptic volunteers. After a continuous consumption of the product there were no seizures. 5 months after stopping the treatment, the seizures reappeared but had a lower intensity. When the treatment was resumed, the seizures disappeared again.
- Improves concentration and memory; increases cognitive performance during periods of intense intellectual effort (at any age).
- Really helpful for children with oncological and hematological problems, during and after the cytostatic treatment. Also, as an adjunct in the treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related symptoms and clinical manifestations “para-AIDS”.
For adults:
- severe fatigue in workaholic people.
- Corrects deficiencies that occur with age (over 30 – 35 years), especially those related to the immune system, hormonal balance and emotional self-adjustment.
- Antiviral properties: for viral diseases like viral respiratory infections, measles, rubella, chickenpox, mumps etc, the product is useful in the acute phase as well as in convalescence. It fights the germ, sustains immunity and the recovery is faster.
- Treats hepatic diseases like: liver insufficiency, acute or chronic viral hepatitis, cirrhosis
- Speeds recovery in post-traumatic recovery, in acute post-injuries, sprains, fractures and burns
- postoperative convalescence
- Optimizes sexual function and enhances fertility, especially in men. The drones are well-known as genuine “sex-machines”
- Stimulates the pituitary and supra-renal gland due to the relatively high content in (pre)hormone.
- Asthenia
- Increase muscle mass in men as any other natural anabolic stimulant, though is doesn’t contain testosterone (which makes it safe for children as well).
- Very effective for intense physical strain, stress, removes fatigue. Recommended in all sports.
- States that require tonic and general wellness.
- In oncology: It has hepato-protective effect by maintaining liver regeneration, through protection against organic degradation. Noteworthy is that it supports hematopoiesis, a process responsible for the quality of the blood, which is severely affected in all people undergoing chemo or radiotherapy. It is well known that “cyto-static” actually means “cyto-toxic”. Under the action of these substances, chaotic cell division slows down, in tumors, as well as in normal cells. The result is that these severe toxins, with chemical formulas that often resemble those of herbicides, administered as chemotherapy, cause a real disaster, not only to the tumor but also to all other organs of the human body. Basically, there is an early and rapid aging, artificially induced, that lowers the vital capacity of the body to resist, defense and fight the disease. Radio-therapy treatment is even more severe, with varied and complicated tracks in time. In this context, it is understood that an adjuvant therapy, that allows the body to withstand these conditions and to maintain an active immune system is absolutely necessary.
- In gynecology: It can be used in premenstrual syndrome, breast, and breast nodules, and many other diseases with names we cannot pronounce. Generally, it calms all phenomena of hyper-secretions of the female hormone estrogen type. In obstetric pathology it can be used in miscarriages, placental insufficiency and others. Very useful in treating cancers related to feminine hormonal sources, breast or genital.
- Supports healthy tissues, positively influences the processes of tissue regeneration, stimulates and normalizes the exchange of substances at the cellular level. Restores and balances the metabolic functions of tissues and organs, or dysfunctions caused by various inflammatory conditions.
- Chronic gastric ulcers
In older people:
- Brings back the vigor and a higher resistance to diseases. It is well-known that older people have digestive system with a lower capacity to digest and absorb. For them, the combination between bee brood, acacia honey and pollen makes wonders: increase immunity and resistance to illnesses, shortens the time of recovery from certain diseases associated to age.
- Physical debility; mental and emotional depression in the elderly
Limits
– There are cases when the organism is so weakened that it is incapable of absorbing and assimilating anything.
– The targeted organs (such as endocrines) have major structural and genetic problems
– Spasms, tumors, excessive mucus in the digestive tract, a large amount of parasites etc.
Remember that there is no such thing as a panacea, so neither is Apilarnil.
Allergy:
According to a study made in Russia, the incidence of allergy towards bee brood is of 2.4%.
How to make Apilarnil?
It was invented in Romania, a country with tradition in beekeeping, by Nicolae V. Ilieşiu, in 1980. With time other products have been made, combining Apilarnil with honey, pollen, royal jelly or flax seed oil and spirulina.
Apilarnil is obtained from bee larvae, that are chopped and lyophilized. (lyophilize = the conversion of water from a frozen state to a gaseous state without going through a liquid state. The freeze-dry process removes moisture from the cells of specimens while the specimens remain frozen. (according to microbiologics.com)
Where can we find Apilarnil?
Though it is a well-known international product among the scientists in apitherapy or in beekeeping, it is not that popular on the market. There have been made a lot of studies by different scienties all over the world: Budnikova (2009, Russia), Pan Jian-Guo (1995, China), Bonomi (2000, Italy) Osintzeva (2009), Krell (1996, Italy), Burimistrova, Belyaev, Sofonkaya (Rusia). So, the product is more likely to be found in these countries.
You can find this product in other combinations, with royal jelly, propolis, pollen, or even other super-herbs. I have used a combination of apilarnil, propolis and pollen called Apiproppolen, with very good results. Greeks sell them very well here. Or you can even find it in the manufacturer’s shop..
Here is what I have found: A Romanian producer thought of mixing it in honey, for a better storage and ingestion. Acacia honey and APILARNIL. Here is the store. Unfortunately the page doesn’t have an English version.
Further reading:
Finke, MD (2005) Nutrient composition of bee brood and its potential as human food – Ecology of Food and Nutrition
Narumi, S (2004) Honeybee brood as nutritional food – Honeybee science
Krell, R (1996) Value -added products from beekeeping
Info references:
Nicolae Iliesu – Health, Power and Long Life (1990);
Dr. Ştefan Stângaciu – Apitherapy Course, www.apitherapy.com;
http://www.naturalhistorymag.com;
http://www.revistahofigal.ro;
http://www.proapicultura.ro;
http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apilarnil;
http://www.melidava.ro/;
http://www.bee-hexagon.net/
Featured picture courtesy of stupinacrainiceanu.ro
How can I get this product in USA?
I have found Apilarnil Potent here, but I’m not sure if they ship internationally. However, you can give it a try.
Laura
I am living Orlando I have small bee farm and I produce Apilarnil,honey, Royal jelly and pollen. My instagram account is Chrisumit
I would lake to buy apilaril.
Hi Chris—
I live in Tampa and am interested in purchasing apilarnil from you. Could you please let me know costs and do you ship or is it best to drive to your bee farm to purchase it? Thank you.
#chrisumit #kiris_bee if you need apilarnil in USA
Hi Chris,
It would help if you gave us a phone number, a more specific location, and some shipping details. The exposure would be wider.
Congrats on producing Apilarnil, beekeepers don’t usually produce it.
Keep up the good job!
Laura
#Kiris_bee INSTAGRAM
Hi i’m italian, sorry for my english. I need to buy apilarnil pollen pollen that I see in your store. In italy this product it doesn’t exist. Is possible buy online in your store?
Best regards
Simone Lozza
Hi Simone,
Apiproppolen is a good product made in Romania from apilarnil, propolis and polen. I used it, too. You can buy it from here: http://www.pronaturastore.ro/apiproppolen-x-150-capsule
Larvalbina is a product made of apilarnil, seabuckthorn oil (Hippophae oleum), flax seed oil (Lini oleum)and spirulina (Spirulina platensis). Recommended to improve sexual life and for both partners. It also has great effects on menstrual and menopausal periods. It can be found here: http://www.hofigal.eu/produse.php?id_prod=845, but the page cannot be translated in other language (it’s in Romanian) so you’ll have to order it by email, and on this page you’ll see what to do. Scroll down this page: http://hofigalonline.ro/i/comenzi-externe/108/
Apilarnil is generally sold mixed in honey. Here is another store where you can find some: http://www.apilife.ro/en/cos/add-honey-with-drone-larvae-apilarnil-grams-109/
I hope you find what suits you better. 🙂
Laura
Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this blog. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s very difficult to get that “perfect balance” between superb usability and appearance. I must say that you’ve done a superb job with this. Also, the blog loads extremely fast for me on Chrome. Exceptional Blog!|
Exceptional big thanks! 🙂
wow I only know about honey consumption, didn’t know that we can actually eat the bee brood! and to think it’s been a tradition since ancient times. But I’ve never seen anyone selling it though, where can one find this product Laura? Love your article by the way, really well researched!
Hi Riaz, those products are not very popular. Yet, you can find them probably in every country, in China and Japan they are part of their traditional therapies. Researching them I found out that beekeepers even use bee pupa (from 8 to 14 days old bees) to make a different product, and today there are even products using only queen pupa.
My article here has pictures with Romanian products, as this Apilarnil was invented by a Romanian. If you are interested in trying some, please let me know and I would search for a trustful online shop in Romania. But you can Google it in your country or maybe ask a local beekeepers. Just let me know.
Laura
What an article! I had no idea bees were ever eaten, let alone the medical benefits that could possibly come from consumption. Your article is in-depth without being too overwhelming. Thank you for the great read. I am off to Google to my heart’s content. 🙂
Thank you, Kay. We make Apilarnil from bee larvae, but at a small scale. The product is not popularized, I wonder why…. Perhaps because of the same old reason: we are more valuable if we are sick. 🙁
Thanks for dropping by,
laura
Hello Laura,
I couldn’t agree more with the comments above.
You actually got me googling around for a probable buyout of the product.
Well done.
Keep at it.
Thank you Marios,
Yes, google it in your country, or ask the local beekeepers. They know what I’m talking about.
laura
Very informative-I love learning new things. I will have to revisit your site and read more.
Thank you. I promise to always write about new, interesting stuff.
laura
I would have never thought of buying bee brood as I did not know that it had benefits for everyone. This makes me want to get it.
True. It is a product that is good for the sick, but also really good for the healthy people. To boost their performance in almost every field.
Thanks for visiting healthywithhoney.com
laura
This was a very interesting read. I had no idea. I love learning something new. And I thought bees just made honey.
Hi Wendy,
And not only honey. Propolis, pollen, bee bread, wax, venom. We take everything from them. Including their lives, as you can see…
laura
Wow, not only do we benefit from the honey, but the bee’s offspring. This was a really well researched article, thanks. I’d be interested in more research results on epilepsy as those test results sound promising. Have there been any other studies of the affect of bee brood on epilepsy? Fascinating subject and thanks again.
Hi Sandi,
I could find the study they made in Romania, the one I wrote in the article. The study was done at a hospital of mental diseases in Targu Mures, in 1985. I’m sure there were others that studied it, but if they are publicized, is must be in their native language, not English.
The good news is that the American Apitherapy Society had a conference in early may, this year, about Apilarnil. Maybe they will publish some studies about it soon.
Anyway, considering that Apilarnil has no toxic effects, I would give it a try, with or without studies.
I let you know if I find something else on this subject.
laura
Wow, this is a really well researched and informative article. Never knew eating bees could actually have so many medicinal benefits as well!
Thanks Terence. Bees are are gift from gods, indeed.
laura