Hive air characteristics
Apitherapy, which comes from the Latin word Apis, meaning honey bee, is a completely natural method of healing using various bee products such as honey, propolis, pollen, royal jelly and even the air from the hive. The method of inhaling air from the hive, known as hive air inhalation or ApiAir therapy, is increasingly gaining ground as a natural alternative to alleviate various health problems. Hive air, its composition and its benefits are an innovation in the profession and in apitherapy. Only the first few studies have been carried out and published, one of which is the German study by Prof. Dr. Karl Speer and Franziska Kuhn from the Technical University of Dresden on the characteristics of hive air. Here is a summary of the key points of the research presented by Dr Kristin Recklies at the 7th International Conference on Health and Social Policy. Apitherapy Symposium in Berlin in 2017. The original presentation can be found at the bottom of this article.
As we at Medikoel are experts in apitherapy equipment, we have added useful links to our products for hive air therapy in this article. We want to provide as many beekeepers and apitherapists as possible, who are fascinated by the exceptional properties of hive air, with the right equipment to easily and qualitatively perform aerosol inhalation from the hive.
Hive air characteristics
The hive is an environment with high humidity (70-75%) and a constant temperature of around 35 °C. The bees use their wings to create ventilation, which helps to spread vapours, water vapour and aerosols containing active substances throughout the hive. These hive characteristics are key to the therapeutic effects of inhaling hive air.
You can read about the characteristics of hive air, its composition and its usefulness for therapeutic purposes in the expert article “Air particles in the hive” by Ana Janžekovič, MSc. Ing. preh., consultant at the Slovenian Beekeeping Association.
Therapeutic effects and use of hive air inhalation
Hive air inhalation is recommended for a wide range of health problems such as bronchitis, asthma, headaches, migraines, hay fever, allergies, neurodermatitis, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), sinus infections, depression and sleep disorders. Users report a significant improvement in symptoms after regular treatments, which has stimulated interest in this method in scientific circles.
History of ApiAir therapy
The origins of ApiAir therapy date back to 1920, when a Russian beekeeper noticed the positive effects of hive air during the travelling beekeeping season. The Hüttner family discovered this and built the first spa in 1989, where they promoted the therapy with the slogan “Heal yourself by breathing the air from the beehive”.
Hive inhalation technology
Special devices have been developed to inhale the hive air, pumping the air from the hive through a hose to the inhalation mask without disturbing the bees. Such devices allow the safe and effective use of hive air for therapeutic purposes. These devices include filters to remove pollen and other particles, air flow control and a valve to prevent air from being blown back into the hive. Hive treatments are carried out during the high bee season, i.e. May to September, when the outside temperature is above 18 °C.
Hive air inhalation devices have also been developed by Medikoel: the Api Aerosol II is the most advanced and sophisticated model, its predecessors being the Api Aerosol I and the Api Aerosol I Plus.
Scientific research and influencing factors
Studies show that the air content of the hive consists mainly of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from propolis and wax, with the presence of compounds from honey. Quantifying the content of certain compounds such as α-pinene, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, methylbenzoate, nonanal and benzoic acid is a first step towards understanding the therapeutic effects of hive air.
Investigation of a measurement system for VOCs in apiaries
Measurement system design
The research involves setting up a measurement system for the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in apiaries. The system design includes:
- Hive with comb and honey room: the hive is Langstroth-size with a cold-built honeycomb.
- Measurements on the therapeutic cover: use of a self-made therapeutic cover for sample collection.
- Additional holes: additional holes are made in the litter and the perineum and sealed with Teflon plugs.
The experiments focus on the closed nature of the system to prevent loss of target components and contamination with odour by-products. All parts of the system, including pipes and housings, are made of odourless Teflon or copper. The control sample uses the air outside the hive.
Survey locations and measurement system
- Technical University of Dresden
- Tharandt Forest Botanical Garden
The measurement system includes:
- Air sampling and collection of VOCs.
- Analysis of VOCs by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
- Processing the data from the analysis.
Methods of collection of VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
VOCs are organic compounds that can evaporate quickly. There are more than 600 known aromatic components in honey. The research focuses on the analysis of VOCs in hive air
- Mobile SPME needle: allows easy and fast sampling of VOCs directly from the air without the use of solvents.
- Needletrap (NT): allows accurate collection of gaseous samples from the hive without the use of solvents.
- Thermal desorption tubes (TD): use of thermal desorption tubes to collect VOCs.
For an accurate analysis, the following parameters need to be optimised
- Gas chromatography Analytical technique used to separate, identify and quantify volatile compounds in a gas sample.
- VOC sampling: the process of collecting and preparing samples of volatile organic compounds for analysis.
Hive air constituents and quantification and effects on humans
The air from the hive contains mainly VOCs from propolis and wax, but honey components are also detectable.
The first quantification of the VOC content is carried out four times in the hive. The measured concentrations of individual VOCs are:
- α-Pinene: 4,57 ± 1,05 ng/L
- Benzaldehyde: 0,90 ± 0,29 ng/L
- Benzyl alcohol: 0,30 ± 0,09 ng/L
- Methyl benzoate: 0,50 ± 0,09 ng/L
- Nonanal: 0,88 ± 0,37 ng/L
- Benzoic acid: 1,47 ± 0,20 ng/L
This study provides a better understanding of the presence and quantity of VOCs in beehives and their potential effects on humans.
Conclusion
Research shows that inhalation of hive air rich in volatile organic compounds from propolis, wax and honey has great therapeutic potential. Measuring systems for analysis in apiaries allow accurate quantification of these compounds, which is crucial for understanding their impact on human health. Hive air inhalation is already used to relieve symptoms of many health problems, but its recognition as an official health therapy remains a challenge. With further research and optimisation of measurement methods, ApiAir therapy could become an important part of natural healing, supported by the healthcare system. The magic of beehive air thus represents a new opportunity to heal and improve the quality of life of many people.
Source:
- Recklies, K., Kuhn, F., & Speer, K. (2017). Characterisation of the hive’s air content. Lecture at 7. Symposium on Apitherapy, Berlin, 18. November 2017.