Often times, the perceived effectiveness of a medication isn’t based on its healing properties, but rather, on its name.
Research shows that the more technical sounding the name, such as “collagen, silicon, chitosan, and hyaluronic acid”, the more confident users are in its ability to treat their ailments.
But…this isn’t always the case.
According to a new study published in Scientific Reports, the silly-sounding “royal jelly” is also pretty remarkable at healing wounds too.
Royal jelly is a honey bee secretion made in the heads of worker bees and used to feed the queen bee and her larvae. When a new queen is required – because the old one is dying or has abdicated – worker bees load up a few larvae on royal jelly in specially constructed cells in order to force them into generating queen-like physiologies.
Given its magical properties in bees, it has long been hypothesized that royal jelly might have the same healing properties on the human body.
Now, results of a new study have confirmed at least one serious benefit in humans: the ability to heal cellular damage.
The study conducted by a research team at the Slovak Academy of Sciences found concluded royal jelly has, “multiple effects, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities, in various cell types.” However, “no component(s) (other than antibacterial) have been identified in RJ-accelerated wound healing.”
For the study, the team was able to see how effective RJ was in repairing mechanical cellular damage by separating out the royal jelly into its individual compounds. They found that a small protein, defensin-1, was the molecule responsible for successfully repairing cellular damage.
Researchers confirmed this finding by manufacturing their own concentrated version of the defensin-1 gene and testing its effectiveness in healing wounds in lab rats. They found it was effective in healing wounds.
While this isn’t the first time RJ has been used for its healing properties, this is the first study to confirm the scientific basis behind its application.
Though more research is needed to determine methods of use, it is likely you’ll see defensin-1 used in the field in various forms in the not so distant future.
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