We have had our Apiary established for over two years now, set in our woodlands at The Good Life Wales. Currently with eight hives featuring both National and Flow hives. I have been running courses for Introductory Training as a new Beekeeper, as well as Meet the Bees sessions for anybody curious about bees and giving the opportunity to look inside their fascinating world. But now something quite exciting is coming from my own adventure and interaction with these wonderful creatures _ Apitherapy products and treatments. What is this yoiu ask? Read on….
What Is Apitherapy? Nature’s Medicine From the Hive
In the quiet valleys of the Brecon Beacons, surrounded by wildflowers, forests, and the constant hum of honeybees, a natural healing tradition is making a powerful return. Apitherapy – the therapeutic use of bee products – is not new, but in a world craving sustainable, natural remedies, it’s never been more relevant.
At Brecon Beecombs, nestled in the heart of The Good Life Wales, we practise and teach apitherapy not as a trend, but as a reconnection with the wisdom of nature and the profound intelligence of the hive.
A Short History of Apitherapy
Apitherapy (from the Latin “api,” meaning bee) has roots that trace back over 4,000 years. The Egyptians used honey and propolis in wound healing and embalming. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, prescribed honey and bee venom for arthritis. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, royal jelly and pollen were cherished as elixirs of vitality.
Fast forward to today, and modern science is catching up. Clinical studies have demonstrated antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and even anticancer properties in various bee products. Across Europe, South Korea, South America, and now increasingly in the UK, apitherapy is gaining recognition for its preventative and restorative benefits.
What Exactly Is Apitherapy?
Apitherapy is the use of bee-derived substances to promote health, treat illness, and restore balance to the body and mind. It draws on the entire arsenal of the hive:
- Honey – a powerful antimicrobial wound healer, rich in enzymes and antioxidants
- Bee Pollen – a complete protein with B vitamins, minerals and flavonoids
- Bee Bread – fermented pollen, pre-digested by the bees, making it more bioavailable
- Royal Jelly – the exclusive diet of the queen bee, known for its hormonal and regenerative properties
- Propolis – the hive’s natural antibiotic, made from tree resins and used to seal and sterilise
- Beeswax – used in topical creams and ointments for its soothing and protective qualities
- Bee Venom – used in small doses for anti-inflammatory, immune-modulating effects
- Apilarnil – a lesser-known product made from drone brood, rich in male hormones and amino acids
- Bee Air – Harbouring the medicinal air from a beehive colony to aid with respitory and anxiety health issues
Each product can be used internally or externally, depending on the therapeutic goal. Apitherapy addresses a wide range of conditions: from skin issues and seasonal allergies, to arthritis, infertility, and chronic fatigue. It is used both as a stand-alone therapy and as a powerful complement to traditional medicine.
Why Apitherapy Matters More Than Ever
In a time when antibiotic resistance, chemical overuse, and stress-related illness are on the rise, apitherapy offers a return to something ancient, effective and profoundly sustainable. Bee products are not synthetically engineered – they are produced by nature’s finest chemists, inside a hive that has evolved perfect balance over 50 million years.
And it’s not just about the healing substances. The very act of working with bees, harvesting with respect, and engaging with the rhythms of the natural world is a therapy in itself. This is the essence of what we call “Nurture with Nature.”
Experience Apitherapy in the Brecon Beacons
At Brecon Beecombs, we invite guests to experience the magic and medicine of the hive through guided workshops, courses, and one-to-one therapy sessions. Our apitherapy programme includes:
- Hands-on beekeeping and hive connection
- Honey tasting and bee product workshops
- Apitherapy consultations using propolis, pollen, honeyand more
- Courses in bee air therapy and therapeutic hive experiences
Clients can stay in one of our on site cottages or visit just for the treatment/ course, each of the cottages has private outdoor space and wood-fired hot tubs overlooking the valley. It’s the perfect retreat for those seeking healing, education, or simply a deeper connection with the natural world.
The Bees Know Best
The more we study bees, the more we realise they hold ancient solutions to modern problems. Apitherapy is not just about taking substances from the hive – it’s about learning from the bees themselves. Their social structure, their efficiency, their ability to create order, medicine, and nourishment from nature – all of it is worthy of reverence.
As the Welsh saying goes, “Bydd y gwenyn yn addysgu’r doethion” – The bees teach the wise.
Contact us to find out more about the upcoming courses and treatments. Our first treatments will be with Bee Air Therapy – harbouring the medicinal qualities of the hive air. Read our next post explaining how this healing works.