Veterinary apitherapy in Egypt

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Ahmed G Hegazi

National Research Center, Egypt

: J Vet Sci Med Diagn

Abstract

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Medicine, like all other fields, is subject to trends. In recent years, trends towards alternative healing have emerged on top. Perhaps the reason for this trend is that medicine has failed to provide cures for so many afflictions without having unbearable side effects, or perhaps the reason is that medicine has advanced so much that attempts to create medicines that are less harmful than synthesized medicines have resulted in this natural trend. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that vitamin supplements, herbal foods, and natural drugs claiming to do what modern medicine has found difficult to accomplish. One type of alternative healing is called apitherapy. Apitherapy is defined as the healing use of the products of the honeybee hive. Much of apitherapy is based on the properties of bee venom, though there are other byproducts (propolis, royal jelly, wax, honey and pollen) which have claimed to be beneficial. The major reason this therapy has come to light is because bee venom is an anti-inflammatory affect, as well as other agents which stimulate the body’s immune system. Pure bee venom (Apitox) has been tested and found to be safe in humans and animals by the International Pain Institute. The byproducts of honeybees seem to have a lot of potential for effective treatment of many medical conditions. One example would be propolis. Propolis seems to have antibiotic properties. It is much better antibiotic than chemical antibiotics because it only kills the harmful bacteria in the body, whereas chemical antibiotics kill all bacteria in the body. There are even claims that it has been proven that propolis can even kill bacteria that have become resistant to other antibiotics. Royal jelly is another compound that is supposed to have beneficial effects and have boosting energy to treating kidney disease, even boosting sex drive. Veterinary apitherapy as complementary and alternative veterinary medicine is an inclusive term that describes treatments, therapies, and modalities that are not accepted as components of main-stream veterinary education or practice, but that are performed on animals by some practitioners. Bee products contain a vast spread of pharmacologically-active ingredients and each one has its own unique combination and properties. Recognized actions include anthelmintic, anti-catarrhal, anti-emetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-spasmodic, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, sedative, stimulant and tonic. In our research and clinical background, we have used bee products to solve some animal pathologic problems such as mastitis in dairy herds, dermatology in carnivores, surgery, burn and wound management, etc.

Biography

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Ahmed G Hegazi is currently a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the National Research Center, Egypt. He has received his Master’s degree and his PhD in 1981. His research work has been focused lately on Bee Products and their Therapeutic Effects. He has organized and contributed to national and international research projects since 1977 to till date; he has been the Principal Investigator on multiple research projects within the National Research Center. He has published 211 scientific papers and articles in national and international journals. He also served on the board of multiple national and international scientific journals. He is also the President of the Egyptian Environmental Society for Uses and Production of Bee Products, Secretary of the Egyptian Society of Apitherapy, Secretary General of the African Federation of Apiculture Associations, and a member of the International Apitherapy Commission (APIMONDIA).

Email: ahmedhegazi128@gmail.com