Romanians still practice ancient tradition of healing with bees

(MENAFN- Arab News) Bee venom to combat multiple sclerosis pollen for indigestion honey to heal wounds — the humble bee has been a key source of alternative medicines since ancient times and romania is working to keep the tradition of 'apitherapy" alive

The tradition goes back to ancient greece when hippocrates applied honey to treat wounds and the romans saw pollen as 'life-giving.

In the past of india china and egypt a resinous substance collected by bees from the buds of certain trees known as 'propolis" was popular as an antiseptic

'the hive is the oldest and healthiest natural pharmacy" said cristina mateescu director general of the institute for apicultural research and development in bucharest

Today in the wilderness of romania's carpathian mountains honey bee products are still a familiar part of traditional medicine

'in my village my great-grandmother was a healer and used products from beehives. she inspired me" dr. mariana stan told afp. having spent years as a conventional doctor stan now practises in bucharest as a 'apitherapist" — using bee products 'which give slower but longer lasting and more profound results.

In a country still infused with folk culture several families continue to use propolis against sore throats as well as honey and pollen to boost the immune system

Every town in romania has its 'plafar" — natural pharmacies selling products made from plants honey beeswax and propolis

'romania is a pioneer of apitherapy which it recognized very early as a component of scientific medicine" said us professor theodor charbuliez head of the apimondia commission of apitherapy a group that brings together thousands of practitioners from around the world

Modules on apitherapy have started to work their way into more conventional medical classes and extracts from propolis developed by the apicultural institute into recognized medicines

Founded in 1974 the institute employs 105 people who look after local bee colonies and sell around 30 approved products

A new range even seeks to treat cats and dogs with bee-related products

Bucharest also boasts an apitherapy medical center the world's first which opened in 1984

Scepticism remains among the regular medical community in the absence of scientific studies about the effects of bee venom but many users are full of praise and welcome the cheap costs and environmentally friendly approach

Doina postolachi comes twice a week to the medical center to receive injections of bee venom or 'apitoxin." the 34-year-old poet says the injections have allowed her to 'rediscover hope" in her fight against multiple sclerosis

'for a year i could no longer walk or get into my bath. my feet were stuck to the ground. but today the venom treatment has given me back strength in my legs. i walk i can take baths" she said. she said she has never wanted any regular pharmaceutical treatments 'which come with numerous side effects." there has been mounting interest across the world in apitherapy

In 2013 washington university in the us city of st. louis published a study on the efficacy of milittine a toxin contained in bee venom in countering the aids virus

In france thousands of patients have benefited from bandages treated with honey at the abdominal surgery department of limoges hospital

Bee products are also infiltrating the cosmetics industry used in skin-toning and anti-wrinkle creams

Part of the appeal rests with the natural and organic image of bee products

'in romania we have the chance to maintain an unspoiled nature" said cornelia dostetan a member of the national apitherapy society

Under communism poverty meant that pesticides were rarely used and the country has never shifted to large-scale monoculture forms of agriculture. the result is that romania retains a great diversity of flora said dostetan

Certified organic the romanian brand apiland a specialist in raw pollen has launched its products in france and italy

According to the last agricultural census in 2010 romania counted 42000 beekeepers and more than 1.3 million colonies of bees

Postolachi says she looks on the bees with 'immense gratitude.

'these minuscule beings do wonders."