Waggle Dance

Check it out, honeybees really do dance.  The bees perform the waggle dance once they arrive back at the hive after foraging.  They use it as a way to communicate to the others the distance and direction to nectar, honey, pollen, water sources and even new housing.

The direction and duration of the dance correlate to the direction and distance of the flowers, etc.  The farther the target, the longer the dance is.  They also use the sun as their version of a compass to give directions.

Follow the link below to view the waggle dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7ijI-g4jHg&feature=related

Cinnamon & Honey

Here's an interesting report on the benefits of eating honey mixed with cinnamon.  It was published by Canadian magazine Weekly World News on January 17, 1995.  The report doesn't say how these things were proven, but they may still be worth a try and you may want to get your doctors opinion on some of them.


Upset Stomach - Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomachache.

Gas - According to studies, it is revealed that honey is taken with cinnamon the stomach is releaved of gas.

Immune System - Daily use of honey and cinnamon strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks.  Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts.  Constant use of honey strengtens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

Indigeston -  Cinnamon sprinkled on 2T of honey taken before food, relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

Longevity - Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly arests the ravages of old age.  Take 4 spoons of honey, 1 spoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water and boil to make like tea.  Drink 1/4 c, 3-4 times a day.  It keeps the skin fresh and soft.

Pimples -  Three tablespoons of honey and 1t of cinnamon. Apply on pimples before sleeping and wash it the next morning with warm water. 

Skin Infections -  Appling honey and cinnamon in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema and all types of skin infections.

Fatique -  Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body.  Senior sitizens, who take honey and cinnamon in equal parts, are more alert and flexible.

Bad Breath -  People of South America, gargle first thing in the morning with 1t of honey and cinnamon mixed in hot water.  Their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

Colds - Those suffering from comon or severe colds should take 1T of honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon daily for 3 days.  This will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.

Cholesterol -  2T of honey and 3t of cinnamon mixed with 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours. 

Hair Loss - May apply a past of hot olive oil, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon before bath and keep it for approximately 15 minutes and wash hair.  It was found to be effective even if kept on for 5 minutes.

Toothache - Make a paste of 1t cinnamon and 5t honey and apply on the aching tooth.  This may be applied 3 times a day till the tooth stops aching.

Bladder Infections - Take 2 tablespoons of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink.  It destroys the germs in the bladder.

Insect Bites - Take one part honey to two parts of lukewarm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon, make a paste and massage it on the itching part of the body.  It is noticed that the pain recedes withing a minute or two.

Arthritis - Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon.  If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. 

For the complete report, go to http://www.angelfire.com/az/sthurston/honeyandcinnamon.html

To Do List - November

Hives don't really need constant attention, and it would probably annoy the bees if they got it.  It would be like someone taking the roof off your house regularly, pulling you and your furniture out and giving you the once over.  And if that was done when it was cold, rainy or windy, I imagine it would tick anybody off. 

That being said, they do need to be checked periodically to ascertain the overall health of the colony, to make sure they have an adequate food supply, and prepare them for each season.

Now is a good time to reduce the entrances.  As cold weather arrives, the population begins to drop due to the limited food supplies available throughout the winter.  Less total bee population means less bees to guard the entrance against robber bees and potentially mice looking for a warm dry winter home.

Feed the bees occasionally with a 2:1 sugar water solution.  This will help their honey stores last a bit longer.  Check to make sure the bees are not honey bound.  This means that the queen has run out of room to lay eggs because so many of the cells are full of honey. 

It is also a good time to get your honey and wax ready for gifts.  I enjoy using decorative jars in organza bags as a simple yet always welcome gift bags.   Sometimes I also add small beeswax ornaments, soap, dippers and/or a christmas ornament.  Honey lovers are always excited to receive these.

Atlanta Body Retreat

Atlanta Body Retreat in Marietta, Georgia is a new location you can pick up Dancing Bee Farm honey.  It is owned and operated by Sloane Warren, a neuromuscular therapist who has been practicing for 8 years and has 6 certifications.  You can find her practice at 140 Vann Street, Suite 400, Marietta, GA 30066; and can reach her at 404-271-7247.

Atlanta Body Retreat offers several types of massages and treatments including Deep Tissue, Neuromuscular Therapy, and Myofascial Release. You can also try the Aromatic Hot Stone Treatment or the Prenatal Massage specifically for expectant mothers.

These treatments release toxins and stress from your body and can improve your overall health and well being.  They can transform your spirit, promote a state of calm tranquility, and even decrease recovery time from surgery.

If you aren't able to make it to Sloane, she can come to you.  Call her to book an in-home Spa Party or Special Event.  It will be an occasion you'll never forget.

I've had one of Sloane's massages, and it felt like I was going to melt right off the table.

Retreat Yourself at http://www.atlantabodyretreat.com/

You, the Beekeeper

• Do you like trying new things? 
• Are you adventurous?
• Did you know that you can do something to help our environment?
• Want to create your own cool fun?

Seriously, instead of just reading about keeping bees, why not actually try it for yourself?  Do you have a backyard and a little spare time?  Why not give it a try?

Even if you don't know the first thing about keeping bees, and yes I know that may seem intimidating, there are many great resources to help you get started.  There are videos for beginners and an unlimited supply of books available.  Local beekeeping associations are a great place to start, some even offer short courses so you can get some hands on training.  You can also

meet some local bee keepers there that are an invaluable source of information.  Some local county extension offices also can be a good place to start, they may also be able to put you in contact with local bee keepers that can answer your questions. The internet is also a huge resource. 

If you need some help finding information, videos, books, local beekeeping associations, let me know and I will help you out all I can.  Just google 'beekeeping basics' to start with lots of free info.

So what do you need to know first?  Most communities allow residents to keep bees in their yards, but not all do or they may have restrictions on it.  It's a good idea to check your local ordinances to make sure. Decide if you have the right type of location in your yard.  A spot with full sun or as much sun as possible is best, avoid shade as it can attract pests.  The entrance can face any direction but since daylight directly effects the length of a bees daily work schedule, most keepers face the hive southeast to take advantage of the early morning light. 

Keeping your hive off of the ground will keep it dry, also avoiding problems.  There are several methods for making a hive stand, a common one is using 4 cinder blocks, making two stacks of two each.  Another benefit of a hive stand is the added height so you don't have to bend over as much when you're working the bees.  Placing the hive away from high traffic areas is a must. 

While it's generally true that honey bees wont bother you if you don't bother them, you certainly don't want it next to the patio or kids play area.  Also not recommended is near your property line, you don't want to make the neighbor's nervous if they are not bee people.

Before you buy your bees, learn something about how to manage them.  Brushy Mountain Bee Farm has a great video for beginners, taking a bee keepers short course is also a good idea, then there are all the books that are available.  After you've done your research and you still don't feel like everything's clicked with you or if the information overload feels overwhelming, don't worry about it.  All that's actually normal.  The best way to learn beekeeping is doing. 

Yes, I can tell you that keeping bees is rewarding, challenging, educational, and loads of fun; but telling you simply doesn't compare to you experiencing it yourself.  We think that honey bees are unbelievably intelligent and have loved learning so much about them.  Most people have some questions about bees once they learn that we keep them and we love sharing as much information with them as we can.  Because we keep bees and sell honey, we have met many new people and made a lot of friends over the years.  Sometimes I like to open a hive and just watch them for a while just because they are neat to watch.  And yes, keeping bees is one of the coolest things we've ever done.

Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream

Have you ever put ice cream and honey bee in the same sentence?  Haagen-Dazs has because they understand the importance of bees.  I'm talking about all the fruit and nuts that go into it, they even have a honey flavored ice cream.  Bee pollination is essential for for the fruit and nuts that go into over 50% of their products. 

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Here are some of their 'bee-built flavors':  Macadamia Nut, Pear, Coconut, Cherries, Strawberries, Peanuts, Mango, and even Peppermint.  And in honor of the honey bee, they have created a new flavor called Vanilla Honey Bee.  This one combines their signature vanilla from Madagascar and rich honey from the clover fields of North and South Dakota.  What could be better?

Haagen-Dazs has put together a group of leading bee keepers and  entimologists (those who study bees) to provide them with insights into the honey bee's plight.  In the last three years, the United States had lost one-third of our domesticated honey bees and no one knows why.

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You can help too.  Visit their special website to find more facts about the bees and their disappearance.  They also provide information on planting a honey bee garden in your own backyard so you can provide them with resources for food and pollen.
Check out the videos of dancers dressed in bee costumes promoting the cause, and be sure to download the bee screen saver.

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www.helpthehoneybees.com

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Hooray for Haagen-Dazs for being a responsible  and proactive corporate citizen !

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GA Beekeepers Associaton

This weekend we attended the Ga Beekeepers Association Fall Meeting in Rock Spring, Ga.  It was fun to visit with other bee keepers that we only get to see at these meetings that are from other parts of the state.  The main reason to go tho is all the things we learn from the classes with the great speakers.  One of our favorites is Dr. Jamie Ellis from the University of Florida and formerly of the the University of Georgia. 

We got to attend classes on nutrition, nectar bearing trees and plants of Georgia, biology of bees, branding and promotion, and nutrition.  The neatest class was Structural Anatomy of a Honey Bee in 3D given by Dr. Fred Hossler from East Tennesee State University.  He had photographed bees from all angles at a magnification of 10,000 times.  It showed that honey bees have what looks like hair over practically every part of their body, but instead of hair, they are receptors with nerves in them.  The bee's two large compound eyes are made up of over 400 smaller ones that were clearly visible.  A cross section of the stinger clearly showed the hollow inside that Dr. Hossler referred to as a hypodermic needle.  He even showed a picture of an 'antenna cleaner' located on a leg that looked exactly like a teeny tiny comb.  If the bee gets pollen on her antenna, she can 'comb' it off and then place it in the pollen basket on another leg.

Friday was topped off with a low country boil with fresh shrimp brought up from Savannah and prepared deliciously.  There was also a silent auction, a live auction, and door prizes.  Danny won a queen as a door prize which we gave a new home today.  There were competitions for honey, candles, photography, block wax, comb honey and a few more things.  I entered my first photo contest here and was excited to win a red ribbon for second place.  It is the picture at the top of this post, it's a close up of freshly deposited pollen.  Next year we are planning on entering our honey, wax and another photograph.  And congratulations to our friends Mr. and Mrs. Williams who were awarded lifetime memberships to the Beekeepers Association, it was well deserved.  Also, Mrs. Webb of Clarkesville, Ga returned from a worldwide honey competition in France last week where her Sourwood Honey
won 'Best in the World'.  She beat out entries from 32 other countries.  It's great that the best comes from Georgia. 

Cooking Tips & Substitution

For best results, select recipes specifically developed for using honey. When you do use honey as a substitute for granulated sugar, begin by subbing honey for up to half of the sugar called for in the recipe. With experimentation, honey can be substituted for all the sugar in some recipes. When using honey as a substitute for sugar in baked goods:

1) Reduce the liquid in the recipe by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey used.

2) Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda for each cup of honey used.

3) Reduce oven temperature by 25 degrees to prevent over-browning.

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Strawberry Chocolate Tart

1&2/3 c slivered almonds, toasted

1/4 c margarine or butter, cut into pieces

3 Tbs sugar

1 egg yolk

1/2 c honey

1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp grated orange peel

2 tsp warm water

1 pint strawberries, sliced

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Place toasted almonds in food processor, process until finely ground. Add margarine, sugar and egg yolk; process until dough forms a ball. Chill 1 hour. Spray 9" tart pan (with removable bottom) generously with nonstick cooking spray. Press dough into bottom and up sides of tart pan. Dough will be sticky. Bake at 350* for 12 to 15 minutes, until shell is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool.

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In small bowl, whisk together honey, cocoa powder, orange peel and warm water. To assemble tart, spread chocolate filling into cooled tart shell. Arrange sliced strawberries in overlapping rings to cover. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Makes 8 serving.

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Published by the National Honey Board

Calcium

It is estimated that by the year 2020, half of all Americans over the age of 50 will be at risk for fractures from osteoporosis (low bone mass). One of the key strategies for reducing the likelihood of developing low bone mass is to consume adequate calcium. Of course, it is also very important that the calcium consumed is absorbed. Researchers at Purdue University showed that honey enhanced calcium uptake in laboratory animals. In fact, they found that the absorption of calcium was increased as the amount of honey increased. Although this data would need to be confirmed using human subjects, the preliminary findings are very compelling. Maybe you'd like to get your calcium through a fruit smoothie made with milk rather than by taking a calcuim pill. The following recipe is easy to make and of course, delicious!


Fruit Honey Smoothie
1 c frozen strawberries
1 banana
1/3 c honey
1 c skim or nonfat milk
1/2 c plain or vanilla low-fat yogurt

In a blender, combine all ingredients; process until smooth. Makes 2 large servings.
Calories 332, Protein 9, carbs 76, fat 2, calcium 281, sodium, 110, potassium

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BEE  FACTS

Because of the multitude of floral sources from which honey originates, no two honeys are exactly alike in flavor, color and nutritional content. Honey is produced in every state. Leading honey producing states are California, Florida, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Honey bees must visit about 2 million flowers to make just one pound of honey. Common honey varieties in the United States include alfalfa, buckwheat, clover, orange blossom and sage. In her lifetime, a worker bee will make just 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey.

The 'Good Bacteria'

BACTERIA

The gastrointestinal tract (GI) is full of bacteria. These bacteria are essential for life and good health. One group of bacteria that have been shown to be particualarly important to the health and proper function of the GI tract are called Bifidobacteria. One way to increase the Bifidobacteria populations in the gut is by consuming foods containing prebiotics, substances that increase the growth on activity of good bacteria. Prebiotics help these "friendly bacteria" and "be happy."

Honey contains a variety of substances that can function as prebiotics. Research conducted at Michigan State University has shown that adding honey to dairy products such as yogurt can enhance the growth, activity, and viability of Bifidobacteria.

Our grandson, Landon decided he wanted to try comb honey.  I think he liked it, if that messy face is any evidence.

Cookies & Beeswax

Peanut Butter & Honey Cookies

1 stick butter
1/4 c brown sugar
6 oz honey
1 egg at room temperature
1 c peanut butter (crunchy or regular)
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
Optional: Sprinkle with sugar before baking


Preheat oven to 350*

In a large bowl, cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Slowly pour in the honey, beating continuously. Beat in the egg and peanut butter and mix well. Using a large metal spoon, fold in the flour.

Spoon onto baking sheet, spaced well apart, and press flat.  Bake 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool until firm and crunchy, then serve.


Beeswax is the purest of all natural waxes. Only honey bees make beeswax, and once it is molded cakes, it is practically indestructible. No insects or animals will feed on it, so it may be stored for long periods of time.

Some common uses are lining baking pans with it to prevent certain pastries from sticking and to create a crunchy crust. It is used to waterproof wooden kegs and buckets, and season cast iron. It can stop squeaky door hinges, smooth rough spots on braces or dentures, and also help preserve flowers. Beeswax is also used in quilting, furniture polish, leather conditioners, marble repair, ointments and balms. Some people use it for finishing iron work, bronze preservation, mustache wax, etching glass, tack cloths, brick floor sealers, soap making, fruit coating, and lubricants for zippers, windows and drawer slides. And these are only some of their uses.

Beeswax candles have been highly prized since ancient times. Honey bees, long regarded as models of industry and purity, make their wax from the nectar of flowers. Pure beeswax candles with their delightful sweet fragrance burn longer, more cleanly, and give off more light than other wax candles.

Pure beeswax may develop a white film called bloom which can easily be removed by buffing with a soft cloth.

Class Structure

Here is a queen excluder. The queen is twice the size of worker bees and is not able to fit thru. The excluder sits on top of the hive body and prevents her from moving up any higher and laying eggs in the areas used just for honey storage that the bee keeper will rob. Nobody wants honey with bee larva in it.

In early spring, a hive will begin increasing it's population in anticipation of the 'honey flow', which starts around here when the tulip poplars begin to bloom. A hive only has one queen, but during this peak season, a healthy hive may maintain about 30,000 to 40,000 worker bees (females) and 500 to 1000 drones (males). In winter, with less food sources available, the population will be reduced to about 500 to 12,000 workers.

A strong, healthy and well cared for queen may live for 2-4 years, and can lay 1200 or so eggs a day. When a current queen is on the decline and begins producing less eggs, leaves the hive with a swarm (more on that later), or is in general no longer healthy enough to maintain her superiority, worker bees prepare a new queen ahead of time. Royal jelly is fed to several larvae, this is the only way they can potentially become the queen. Normally, the first bee to emerge from her queen cell will sting the other bees to death before they have a chance to emerge. If more than one potential queen breaks free of her cell at a time, they will literally fight to the death as a hive can only have one queen.

The sole purpose of a drone is to mate with the queen. It is believed that only a few drones will mate with the queen. After mating, the 'lucky' fella dies, he has served his purpose. At the end of summer, as the honey flow comes to an end, most of the drones are chased away from the hive. There will be a limited amount of food to get the hive through the winter and they can't waste it on bees that don't contribute. Since drones are unable to forage for themselves, they quickly die.

The worker is the backbone of the hive. Every bee has a specific duty and performs it without fail. After bees are born, certain workers must clean out the cell to make ready for the new eggs to be laid. Larvae must be feed and tended to. Others attend the queen as she doesn't leave the hive. These will feed and groom her and even carry her waste outside. Some even pull guard duty at the entrance of the hive to make sure bees from other hives won't sneak in and try to steal honey.

A worker literally works herself to death and her life span is only about 30 days. She may fly up to 3 miles a day away from the hive foraging for nectar and pollen. Once she's loaded up, she will take the straightest and quickest route back to the hive, virtually 'making a beeline for' it.

Athletic Performance

Did you know.......
* Honey bees never sleep.
* They are the only insect that produces food for human consumption.
* Honey can absorb moisture, if you leave a jar of it open for several days, it may absorb enough to cause it to ferment.
* Honey bees can regulate the temperature of their hive. They will keep it between 90 and 95 degrees.
* Pollination just from honey bees in the US is valued at $15 billion.

It is well known that carbohydrate consumption prior to, during and after exercise improves performance and speeds the recovery of muscles. Honey is a natural source of readily available carbohydrates, providing 17 grams of carbs per tablespoon. Preliminary data from the University of Memphis Exercise and Sports Nutrition Laboratory suggest that honey is as effective as glucose for carbohydrate replacement during endurance exercise.

Honey Hydrator

1/2 cup honey

1/2 tsp lite salt

2 cups orange juice

5 1/2 cups water

Combine ingredients. Using lukewarm water will aid in disolving honey. Then cool.

Makes 8 servings, 8 oz each. Calories 75, carbs 21, potassium 85, sodium

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Danny and I spent last weekend in Anniston, Alabama attenting a class for work. We enjoyed getting to see you folks that we don't get to see regularly. A number of people purchased honey while we where there, and I'd like to say thanks to all our new customers and hope you enjoy the honey. We were also able to answer a lot of questions about honey and raising bees, something we are always glad to do.

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Long ago, it was customary for newlyweds to drink mead (honey wine) for the first month after marriage. Hence the term 'honeymoon.'

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When you get a bee sting and the site itches, that's normal. If you itch all over, you are likely having an allergic reaction.

Beekeeping 101

This is me and my cousin Jason. He and my Aunt Maxine came for a visit and for his first lesson on beekeeping. We're suited up, just need to put our veils on and we'll be ready to go.

This picture was taken shortly before harvest time. I've just pulled out a frame that is completely capped (the cells full of honey have a thin layer of wax covering them).

Notice the flat piece of metal Jason is holding, this is a 'hive tool'. Bees produce a thick tacky substance called propolis that they use to glue everything together. It's good for plugging holes in the hive, insulating any cracks and is an excellent water proofer. The hive tool is just a mini pry bar used to separate things.

Now I'm looking for the queen to show Jason and I know she's in the bottom.
The queen can only move around in the bottom box known as the hive body. A queen excluder prevents her from getting any higher in the other boxes. She should never get up in the areas that the honey will be harvested from because you don't want to harvest honey with eggs or larvae in it. A queen excluder looks alot like a cake cooling rack and sits directly on top of the hive body, between it and the next box up. The worker bees have no problem getting through this to do their work, but the queen is so much larger and the cross pieces are so close together that she wont fit.

Jason is holding a frame with probably a few hundred bees on it. They continue to be so focused on their chores that they don't pay us much attention.

Afterwards, Jason wanted to try out the John Deere. Bush hog to your heart's content. Danny and I are glad you and Maxine were able to come visit. Come on back anytime.

Cucumber Honey Eye Nourisher

1/2 tsp chamomile tea
2 tsp cucumber, peeled with seeds removed
1 tbs aloe vera gel
1/2 tsp honey

Steep chamomile tea in boiling water. Set aside to cool. In food processor or blender, combine cucumber, aloe vera and honey. Blend on low setting. Add tea. Blend until smooth.

Apply gently under eyes using finger. Store in glass dish covered with plastic wrap in refrigerator for up to one week. Best applied chilled. Makes 4 treatments.

Benefits: Reduces puffiness, cools and refreshes contours under eyes.

Published by the National Honey Board

Feeding

It's time to start feeding the bees. We harvested the honey two weeks ago. When we 'pull' the honey, we try to leave enough for them to make it thru the winter as it's their major food source. With no flowers blooming during the winter, they can't forage for food.

If it doesn't look like they have enough honey, we feed them sugar water to help them out. Sometimes pollen patties, since they have protein in them.

There are different types of feeders, today we tried the ziplock bag method we'd heard about from another beekeeper. After mixing two parts sugar to one part water in a 5 gallon bucket, we filled a dozen gallon sized ziplocks. We laid them inside the hives and cut a small slit in the side so the bees can gradually suck the sugar water out.

We'll check them in a week to see who needs more.

This is hive #16. It's a swarm from last year and has been the most successful one we've caught. The population is high and the queen appears to be healthy, producing the appropriate amount of brood.

Recipe

Tailgate Tenderloin
1 6-7lb whole beef tenderloin
1/4 c olive oil
2 Tb broiled steak seasoning or seasoned salt
1 Tb black pepper
1/2 c honey
1 c ketchup
1/4 c Worcestershire sauce
1/4 c soy sauce

Trim fat from beef tenderloin. Slice meat into 1/8 to 1/4 inch slices and place in large mixing bowl, coat slices with olive oil. Sprinkle with steak seasoning and black pepper to cover all slices. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. In separate bowl, mix together honey, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce. Add the mix to tenderloin slices and refrigerate overnight. Place slices on hot grill and cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side to achieve desire doneness. If desired, serve on rolls as a pit beef sandwich. Makes 20 servings.

Recipe published by the National Honey Board

Did you know ......

just how healthy honey is? It can be used on cuts, scratches and burns (do not use on open wounds). It takes the moisture out of everything and promotes faster healing, reduces scarring and reduces the chance of infection since it is sterile. For allergies, 2 teaspoons daily is recommended.

In addition to honey, a hive also produces pollen, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom. Pollen is the bee's protein source and cannot be made in a lab. It contains enzymes, vitamins, omega 3's, 22 amino acids, and is 35-40% protein. It is used as a dietary supplement to increase energy, aid in digestion, improve circulation, help allergies, and bolster the immune system.

Beeswax contains vitamin A and serotonin. It gives off positive ions when burning which is good for the air. Propolis contains antioxidants, antibiotics, antimicrobials, is antiviral and antifungal. It strengthens the immune system, heals burns, and helps skin disorders, fights colds and flues. Royal Jelly is produced in the heads of nurse bees for larval food. It contains B1, B2, B5, & B6. It reduces stress, increases resistance to disease, and combats aging and growth problems. It is used in cosmetics to improve skin. It also heals cuts, scrapes and burns. Bee Venom contains enzymes, proteins, and amino acids. It stimulates the release of cortisone, is hemorrhagic in action and applied directly or by intramuscular injection.

This information was obtained from the Georgia Beekeeping Association and the University of Georgia Entomology Department.