Organic Bee Pollen

More and more people looking at organic bee pollen and are turning away from chemical pharmaceuticals and trying all-natural supplements and remedies. Natural remedies are frequently much less expensive than prescription or over-the-counter medication, and supplements are a way to help prevent sickness in the first place.

The use and benefits of bee pollen is an example of this practice. In fact, bee pollen is used both as a treatment and a preventative supplement.

Bee pollen is actually pollen collected by bees from plants. It is then processed by the bees and brought to the hive as food for the colony. It is no surprise then that one common use of bee pollen is as a natural energy supplement that can be sprinkled on food, added to drinks, or ingested by itself. Organic bee pollen is generally preferred because it is considered more pure and therefore more effective.

The difference between the inorganic and organic forms of bee pollen has to do with the environment from which the bees (and subsequently the beekeepers) harvest the pollen. In organic pollen may be harvested from areas where farmers or public pest control agencies use pesticides or other chemicals on the plants. In this situation, the bees are likely to pick up the chemicals as they collect and deposit pollen. The potentially contaminated pollen is then likely to find its way back to the hive and into supplements.

Conversely, organic bee pollen is free from pesticides or other contaminates because the bees are kept in hives far away from plants where such chemicals are used. The beekeepers then collect the pollen carefully and in such a way that the pollen is kept as pure as possible. Because many pesticides and other chemicals used on plants are cancer causing carcinogens, it is easy to see why health conscious people supplementing their diet with bee pollen would prefer the organic form.

In addition to using organic pollen, users are also encouraged to use pollen collected from areas as local to them as possible. Local bee pollen is considered better because it is believed to help desensitize its users from allergies. Local bees pick up allergens from the plants in the area, and the allergens find their way in small doses into the users diet. Many users swear by bee pollen as a way to reduce the effects of seasonal allergies.

Bee pollen is also commonly used as a homeopathic treatment for a variety of ailments. It is thought to be an effective treatment for certain types of female infertility, digestive problems, and acne. Bee pollen is even said to be effective as a pain reducer in some cases.

Studies on the benefits of using bee pollen are fairly scarce. In fact, existing studies often conflict because of the variability of pollen collected in different areas. Even organic bee pollen collected from the same hives in multiple years may have a different composition because of the natural year-to-year changes that occur in climate, foliage, plant and animal species, and an infinite number of other environmental factors. As with any supplement, it is important for individuals to consult a doctor, dietitian, or nutritionist before adding bee pollen to their regimen.