44 : Letters to the Editor Cyclops Bee
The photo is of a cyclops bee that I took in the 1960s. It is the first and only time I have ever seen one. Have any other readers come across a bee like this? I am 87 years old and have kept bees for 76 years. I was a trustee of the Mole Apiary in Surrey for over 50 years. This no longer exists, the assets being transferred to Twickenham and Thames Valley Beekeepers’ Association some five years ago. Ian W Chick, Langport, Somerset [Ed. If anyone has a similar experience, let me know. Contact details are on page 3.]
Honey, Pollen and Hay Fever
You published a letter
regarding the link between honey and pollen (February, page 7) and whether it has been scientifically proven that it is effective as a remedy for hay fever. A simple search on Google reveals there are a number of studies, with differing opinions. Birch Pollen Honey for Birch Pollen Allergy – A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study (
http://www.karger.com/Article/ Abstract/319821). This study ‘assessed the effects of the pre-seasonal use of birch pollen honey (birch pollen added to honey) or regular honey on symptoms and medication
Pollen for Hay Fever Letters TO THE EDITOR A selection of your personal views and comments
A cyclops bee (left) where the compound eyes have fused into one across the top of its head. Compare the normal worker (right)
during birch pollen season and found it positive’.
A separate study on the wider topic of all pollens found no evidence honey was effective: Effect of ingestion of honey on
symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis (
http://tinyurl.com/aydnlbs). There has also been a short
report on the subject, Honey and Hay Fever: A Report on the Treatment of Hay Fever with Honey by LR Croft. This was published in 1990 by CAB Direct (ISBN: 0-9515499-0-1;
http://tinyurl.com/nqg94sc), which reports that the majority who took part in their small trial did see a benefit. In reality, more research is needed and also to ascertain if it works well on particular pollen types or can be broadly effective across all pollens. David Parker, Polymath Consulting
www.bee-craft.com
I felt compelled to answer the query from John Mosedale (February, page 7). I have kept bees for some 18 years now and my sole reason for getting into beekeeping was for the relief of hay fever. And yes, it does work. I am not aware of anything scientific, but I and a number of others who have tried it are more than satisfied that it works. I originally heard of the suggestion that local honey could ease hay fever back in the early 1990s and the only comb honey I could obtain at the time was large square boxes of New Zealand honey from health food shops. I tried this for a year to see if there was any possibility of improvement to my suffering and, despite being honey from the other side of the world, there was a definite improvement. So, having found that no local beekeeper could supply me with a year’s supply of comb for my own needs, I decided that keeping my own bees was the answer and hence why I am still a beekeeper. Eating my own honey in comb form has reduced my suffering to the two weeks of Wimbledon which is grass pollen season for me. Honey has solved the main hay fever problem completely. I am living proof and so are a number of other people I know who have taken on the information about my success. This is not just with comb honey but also liquid honey, as long as it has not been strained too much. The honey of most beekeepers I know may not be suitable as they strain it and I do but very little! My only question is this. Is
there any way of collecting and consuming grass pollen to do the same?
David Richards, Gloucester (by e-mail)
April 2015 Vol 97 No 4
Ian Chick
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
