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Royal Jelly - Health Benefits, Uses And Side Effects

Royal jelly, also known as gelee royale and RJ, is the milky-white gelatinous substance secreted from the cephalic glands of nurse worker bees (Apis mellifera) for apparently the sole purpose of stimulating the growth and development of the queen bee. Royal jelly contains a mix of vitamins, minerals, proteins and fatty acids. Some people believe royal jelly slows the human aging process, based on the observation that queen bees are twice the size of worker bees, live 5 to 8 years longer and, unlike worker bees, are fertile. Other claims for royal jelly center on its purported value in treating male pattern baldness, easing menopause symptoms, and enhancing sexual performance.

About 11% of royal jelly is made up of sugars, such as fructose and glucose, similar to those found in honey. Lipids comprise about 5% of the substance and consist mainly of medium-chain hydroxy fatty acids, such as trans-10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, which is also thought to possess antimicrobial properties.

Common doses of Royal Jelly

Royal jelly comes as:

• ampules (100 milligrams)
• capsules (100 milligrams)
• topical cream
• ointment
• lotion
• soap

• To lower cholesterol, 50 to 100 milligrams taken orally daily.
• For cosmetic use, royal jelly applied to the skin two or three times daily.

Uses of Royal Jelly

Royal jelly may have hypolipidemic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities. Specifically, royal jelly may help to :-

• Male-pattern baldness
• Skin wrinkles and blemishes
• To enhance sexual performance
• To reduce blood cholesterol
• To slow the aging process

Side effects of Royal Jelly

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of royal jelly:

• allergic reaction (which can be severe)
• worsening of asthma.

• increased blood sugar.
• life-threatening closure of lower airway muscles in people with asthma. At least one person has died.

Interactions

Combining royal jelly with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Tell your health care practitioner about any prescription or nonprescription drugs you're taking, especially drugs that lower blood sugar.

Important points to remember

• Avoid royal jelly if you're pregnant or breast-feeding. Tell your health care practitioner if you suspect you're pregnant or are planning a pregnancy.
• Don't take royal jelly if you've had an allergic reaction to royal jelly preparations. Sudden contraction of the lower airway muscles may occur.
• Don't take royal jelly if you have diabetes.

What the research shows

Despite claims that royal jelly reduces the effects of aging, rejuvenates the skin, treats baldness, and improves sexual performance, the substance lacks hormonal components that promote fertility, growth, or longevity. Studies haven't completely substantiated its effectiveness in reducing wrinkles and blemishes.

Other names for Royal Jelly

Another name for royal jelly is queen bee jelly.