Air particles in the hive
In apitherapy, bee products are used to promote and maintain human health. For modern apitherapy principles, it is also interesting to know the composition of the hive air. The gas mixture in the hive is complex and unique. It contains many volatile compounds produced by bees, such as pheromones, parasite repellents and gases produced during metabolism. Among the volatile compounds in hive air, substances originating from bee products (honey, pollen, propolis and wax) can also be identified. The composition of the hive air is also influenced by the materials used to build the hive, as wood and various coatings also emit volatile substances. Lastly, substances from the external environment, such as soil particles or exhaust fumes, also enter the hive and carry volatile components.
The air in the hive has a special smell that allows identification of individuals from the same hive. The chemical composition of the hive air also reflects the health status of the colony. Hive air therapy is useful for relieving symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis, hay fever and respiratory tract infections. Inhaling hive air has a beneficial effect on the whole organism, boosting the immune system . The therapy is based on inhaling the hive air, which is saturated with volatiles and essential oils derived from bee products. The therapy is carried out on sunny days during the beekeeping season, when the bees bring nectar or honeydew into the hive. It is also recommended to use a strong bee colony for the therapy. Specific microclimatic conditions are created in the hive. Hive air has a humidity of between 70 and 75% and a temperature of between 35 and 37 °C, which is ideal for the transport of volatiles. It is essential to consult your personal doctor before undergoing any therapy. However, a doctor or apitherapist must be present during the treatment itself. Podrobne smernice za pravilno in varno apiterapijo s panjskim zrakom, priporočeno trajanje in pogostost inhalacij, pripravo uporabnika ter spremljanje njegovega počutja najdete v strokovnem apiterapevtskem priročniku.
Volatile compounds from hive air can be analysed by a combination of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. This analysis detected 56 volatiles in the hive air, which can be classified as fatty acids, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ethers, hydrocarbons, phenols, ketones, terpenes and nitrogen compounds.
Inhalation of hive air can take place in two ways. The first is a passage of air into the therapy room where the person can rest, read or perform other physically undemanding activities. The second method is intensive therapy using an inhalation mask. This method is more intensive and is carried out over a shorter period of time.
Particular attention should be paid to people with pollen allergies. People with allergies should only take part in hive air therapy during periods when the allergenic flowers are not in bloom. It is also necessary to control the growth of allergenic plants in the vicinity of the apitherapy facility. This type of therapy is not recommended for people allergic to bee products.
The use of hive air had no direct effect on the activity of the micro-organisms. Za odkrivanje protimikrobnega delovanja so na agarne plošče nacepili različne bakterije in jih tretirali s panjskim zrakom. Protimikrobno učinkovitost panjskega zraka so zaznali proti bakteriji Staphyiococcus aureus in MRSA, ne pa tudi proti Klebsiella pneumoniae in Acinetobacter baumannii. S. aureus je bakterija iz rodu stafilokokov, kar pomeni, da jo prepoznamo po okrogli obliki. It causes various diseases such as skin infections, pneumonia, meningitis and toxic shock syndrome. MRSA is also an infection with S. aureus, which is resistant to the antibiotic methicillin and some other antibiotic drugs. It is considered a common hospital-acquired infection.
A German study by Münstedt et al (2019) found that people have little knowledge of the use of hive air for apitherapeutic purposes and are sceptical about the use of hive air inhalation therapy for health purposes. Women are more likely than men to use alternative treatments, including apitherapy and, with it, inhalation of hive air. Beekeepers, or individuals who have beekeepers in their family or close circle of friends, are also more likely to trust this type of therapy.
Inhaling hive air has positive effects on well-being and is immunostimulating. The volatile substances in hive air have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Further investigation should be carried out into the efficacy of volatile compounds from hive air and their actual role in the implementation of hive air therapies. So far, beneficial effects of the therapy for the patient have been reported, but the scientific mechanisms of action are not yet known.
About the article
Ana Janžekovič, Food Safety Advisor, JSSČ
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