Beekeepers as guardians of apitherapeutic knowledge in Estonia, SW Ukraine, and NE Italy.

Abstract

Background: Bees have been important to people in Europe in many ways. Honey was the only sweetener available for a long time. The introduction of frame hives allowed for the collection of various hive products and better production of honey and wax. Only a few ethnomedicinal studies on apitherapy have been published in Europe, highlighting hive products that are collected, sold, or used by beekeepers. The aim of this article is to provide a general overview of apitherapy practiced by beekeepers in different corners of Europe, namely Estonia, Ukraine, and Italy.

Methods: We analyzed material from field studies conducted in three selected countries. From 2020 to 2024, we interviewed 17 beekeepers in each country. The average beekeeper interviewed was 55 years old, had approximately 45 beehives and approximately 22 years of experience, and did beekeeping as a part-time job. We also made observations at regional fairs and markets, as well as noted products originating from beekeeping in shops and pharmacies.

Results: The most well-known and popular apitherapy products in all three countries were honey, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly. Due to the increasing market demand for health-promoting products, beekeepers have started to enhance their products by mixing beekeeping products into honey, making tinctures, performing bee sting treatments, etc. However, strict regulations prohibit beekeepers from labeling their products with health-promoting information. In addition, a completely new trend has emerged: apitherapy tourism. However, Italian beekeepers did not collect or use specific products made in Ukraine and Estonia, such as dead bee tincture, honeycomb moth larva tincture, and drone brood homogenates, and did not make honey moonshine.

Conclusions: The development of apitherapy in Europe has depended on the development of beehive types, the advancement of beekeeping technology, and new knowledge about the health-giving properties of beekeeping products (promoted in the literature and by institutions). As beekeeping is closely related to market demand, apitherapy tourism has emerged as a completely new economic branch and apitherapy is becoming increasingly important in providing relief from mental health issues. However, this requires an entirely new approach from beekeepers and clients using apitherapy.