Written by Ashima Seth
If you have ever carefully perused the label on your face cream, you may have noticed an ingredient known as royal jelly. This substance is found in beehives, and is considered “royal” due to its primary purpose: providing nutrition to the queen bee during her early stages of development. Royal jelly is a completely natural product (although current variations in the market have different levels of dilution, and some additional compounds), and has shown itself to be an effective cure for skin conditions, asthma, high cholesterol, PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome), infertility, and various other medical problems [1].
While royal jelly is most widely known for its use in the cosmetics industry, it has also been shown to aid in conception. The queen bee is the only fertile female in a single bee colony, and lays thousands of eggs during her lifetime. Worker bees, on the other hand, make up the rest of the female population in a colony, and are all sterile. The only notable difference between the queen bee and the worker bees is the duration during which they are fed the royal jelly. While worker bees are weaned off after approximately three days, the queen bee receives royal jelly for nearly the entire duration of her larval stage, which results in increased fertility. This effect of the jelly in increasing fertility has even been observed in humans, and many medical practitioners recommend products with royal jelly to help with conception, as it has effects similar to that of oestrogen, a hormone which decreases the chance of conception if there is a deficiency [2].
With increasing concerns over commercially-manufactured drugs, many private-sector companies are now turning to royal jelly, which has been used extensively in cosmetic products and dietary supplements, as well as in alternative medicines such as Ayurveda (an old healing system based on indigenous medicine and natural herbs). Royal jelly is effective in counteracting bacterial infections, mild allergic reactions, and inflammation, due to highly active biochemical compounds that aid in many bodily processes [3].
While royal jelly has been promoted as a miracle product, capable of curing many medical problems, one has to be somewhat skeptical in believing all experimental results that are reported by commercial drug companies and journalistic platforms.
If you are considering, or have ever considered using products with royal jelly, it is recommended that you check for allergic reactions to any bee products or other compounds, and consult your physician before use .
References:
1. “ROYAL JELLY: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings.” WebMD, WebMD,
2. Richards, Dr. Susan. “Royal Jelly” Dr. Susan’s Healthy Living,
3. “Bioactive Compounds and Health-Promoting Properties of Royal Jelly: A Review.” Journal of Functional Foods, Elsevier, 14 Jan. 2012,