Bee pollen

Follow your healthcare provider's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Do not take bee pollen without medical advice if you are using any of the following medications:

• warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with bee pollen, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Bee pollen is made from bee saliva, and plant pollens and nectar collected by worker bees. Bee pollen is also known as Buckwheat Pollen, Extrait de Pollen d'Abeille, Maize Pollen, Pine Pollen, Polen de Abeja, Pollen d'Abeille, Pollen de Sarrasin, and other names.

Bee pollen should not be confused with apitherapy, bee venom, or royal jelly.

Bee pollen has been used in alternative medicine as an aid to increase stamina and improve athletic ability. However, research has shown that bee pollen may not be effective in increasing athletic performance.

Other uses not proven with research have included premenstrual syndrome, premature aging, hay fever, nosebleeds, joint pain, painful urination, prostate problems, stomach problems, and other conditions.

It is not certain whether bee pollen is effective in treating any medical condition. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA. Bee pollen should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.

Bee pollen is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Bee pollen may also be used for purposes not listed in this product guide.

Follow all directions on the product label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

You should not use bee pollen if you are allergic to it.

Ask a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to use this product if you have allergies (especially to bee stings or other bee products).

It is not known whether bee pollen will harm an unborn baby. However, there has been some concern that bee pollen may stimulate uterine contractions. Do not use this product if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether bee pollen passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this product if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without medical advice.

When considering the use of herbal supplements, seek the advice of your doctor. You may also consider consulting a practitioner who is trained in the use of herbal/health supplements.

If you choose to use bee pollen, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. Do not use more of this product than is recommended on the label.

Do not use different forms (tablets, liquid, tincture, teas, etc) of bee pollen at the same time without medical advice. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose of bee pollen.

Do not take topical (for the skin) bee pollen by mouth. Topical forms of this product are for use only on the skin.

Call your doctor if the condition you are treating with bee pollen does not improve, or if it gets worse while using this product.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra bee pollen to make up the missed dose.

The best recommended dose of bee pollen is unknown. Doses vary among products because tablets contain differing amounts of bee pollen. Manufacturers' recommendations may provide more guidance.

None well documented.

None well documented.

Bee pollen is a nutritional source for drone bees. It has been described as “nature's perfect food” and is a highly concentrated food source containing a complex supply of quality nutrients. A number of traditional Chinese herbal formulas contain bee pollen. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, trace elements, enzymes, and amino acids, and contains approximately 30% protein, 55% carbohydrate, 1% to 2% fat, and 3% minerals and trace vitamins. 2 Vitamin C concentrations of 3.6% to 5.9% have also been found in some samples. 3 Promotional literature lists up to 100 vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, antioxidants, and other identified compounds. However, the physiologic importance of many of these components is poorly understood. Bee pollen preparations often contain mixtures of pollens from diverse types of plants that vary with geographic origin.