Medical Miracles
Researchers have demonstrated that there is a substance
in bee pollen that inhibits the development of numerous harmful
bacteria. Experiments have shown bee pollen contains an antibiotic
factor effective against salmonella and some strains of bacteria. On
the clinical level, studies have shown that a regulatory effect on
intestinal function can be attributed to bee pollen. The presence of
a high proportion of cellulose and fiber in pollen, as well as the
existence of antibiotic factors, all contribute to an explanation for
this efficacious effect.
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Working with lab animals has demonstrated that the
ingestion of bee pollen has a good effect on the composition of
blood. A considerable and simultaneous increase of both white and red
blood cells is observed. When bee pollen is given to anemic patients,
their levels of hemoglobin (oxygen-carrying red blood cells) increase
considerably.
It is reported that bee pollen in the diet acts to
normalize cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood: upon the
regular ingestion of bee pollen, a reduction of cholesterol and
triglycerides was observed. High-density lipoproteins (HDL)
increased, while low-density lipoproteins (LDL) decreased. A
normalization of blood serum cholesterol levels is also seen.
One of the most important articles ever published on bee
pollen comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
This article, titled "Delay in the Appearance of Palpable
Mammary Tumors in C3H Mice Following the Ingestion of PolIenized
Food," is the work of William Robinson of the Bureau of
Entomology, Agriculture Research Administration. It was published in
the Journal of the National Cancer Institute way back in
October 1948, five decades ago. According to the article, Dr.
Robinson started with mice that had been specially bred to develop
and subsequently die from tumors. He explains, "The age at which
mice developed tumors ranged from 18 to 57 weeks, with
an average appearance at 33 weeks. Tumor incidence was 100 percent."
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The pollen used in this study was supplied by the
Division of Bee Culture and, according to the report, "was the
bee-gathered type." One group of mice was fed mice chow only;
another group was fed mice chow with the addition of bee pollen at a
ratio of 1 part bee pollen to 10,000 parts food. Dr. Robinson's
article states:
"Particular
attention was given to the weight of the treated animals, since
underweight can in itself bring about a delay in tumor development.
No decrease in weight occurred in the animals receiving the
pollenized food. Instead, a slight but fairly uniform increase was
noted, possibly due to a nutritional factor in pollen."
In his summary, Dr. Robinson reveals the dramatic
results:
"In
the untreated mice [the mice not given bee pollen], mammary tumors
appeared as expected at an average of 31.3 weeks. Tumor incidence was
100 percent. In the postponement series, [the mice given bee pollen],
the average [onset of tumors] was 41.1 weeks, a delay of 9.8 weeks
being obtained. Seven mice in this series were still tumor-free at 56
to 62 weeks of age, when the tests were terminated. I would like to
emphasize that these mice were especially bred to die from cancerous
tumors. Without the protection of bee pollen in their food, the mice
developed tumors and died right on schedule.”
Given the fact that cancer is the number-two killer in
the United States (heart
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disease is number one), we can all certainly
agree that this is an electrifying article. What happened from it?
Nothing. Even the National Cancer Institute, which published it,
failed to follow up on this very promising line of research. It was
dropped with no explanation.
More good news comes from the University of Vienna, where
Dr. Peter Hernuss and colleagues conducted a study of 25 women
suffering from inoperable uterine cancer. Because surgery was
impossible, the women were treated with chemotherapy. The lucky women
given bee pollen with their food quickly exhibited a higher
concentration of cancer-fighting immune-system cells, increased
antibody production, and a markedly improved level of
infection-fighting and oxygen carrying red blood cells (hemoglobin).
These women suffered less from the awful side effects of chemotherapy
as well. Bee pollen lessened the terrible nausea that commonly
accompanies the treatment and helped keep hair loss to a minimum. The
women also slept better at night. The control group receiving a
placebo did not experience comparable relief.
A report from the Agronomic Institute, Faculty of
Zootechnics, Romania, showed the immune-strengthening effects of bee
pollen. According to the report"Comparative Studies Concerning
Biochemical Characteristics of Beebread as Related to the Pollen
Preserved in Honey" by Drs. E. Palos, Z. Voiculescu, and C.
Andrei:
"An
increase has been recorded in the level of blood lymphocytes, gamma
globulins, and proteins in those subjects given pollen in comparison
with control groups. The most significant difference occurred in
lymphocytes. These results thus signify a strengthening in the
resistance of the organic system."
Lymphocytes are the white blood cells that are the
"soldiers" of the immune system. They are responsible for
ridding the body of injurious and harmful substances, including
infected or diseased cells, mutant and cancerous cells, viruses,
metabolic trash, and so on. Gamma globulin is a protein formed in the
blood, and our ability to resist infection is closely related to this
protein's activity.
