Bees are one of Nature’s most important pollinators. Have you considered what supermarket shelves might look like if bees weren’t around? Not only would we be missing honey and fruits like apples, avocados, mangoes, lemons, limes, cantaloupe and honeydew. We’d also be at a loss for onions, carrots, squash varietals, eggplant, cucumbers, broccoli, and cauliflower, among others. Many foods that grace our tables are thanks to the hardworking efforts of buzzing bees.

Bee pollen is small balls of pollen collected by young honeybees. When a honeybee lands on a flower, pollen grains collect on its body. The bee uses little hairs to push the pollen into tiny “pockets” on the sides of its hind legs. It uses its saliva and either nectar or honey to help the pollen grains stick together. The pollen serves as food for the colony, namely nursing bees. Bee pollen has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for many years to increase energy, reduce cravings and improve digestion. It’s also a restorative tonic to help the body repair and recover from long term stress or illness. The nourishing property of bee pollen works to harmonize the Liver/Gallbladder, the organ system “in charge” in Spring.

So how is the connection between bee pollen and the Liver made? Everything in the body is a reflection of Nature itself. Think about what happens in Nature in Spring: everything comes to life! Flowers bloom, insects buzz, and animals scamper around looking for food and mates. Spring is the life-giving season where Nature “wakes up”! Spring is also the season when insets, like bees, begin pollinating flowers so that our vegetable and flower gardens can be overflowing with healthy food and beautiful blooms.

Nature Knows

Bee pollen is considered one of Nature’s most perfect foods. It contains nearly all nutrients required by humans—and bees! However, TCM doesn’t focus on the nutritional aspects of a given food. Instead, it looks at its energetic properties.

Have you ever seen a bee pollinate a sick or dying flower? Of course not! Bees only travel to the healthiest, freshest flowers. That’s why in-season raw honey is considered a natural antibiotic. It’s the same reason why bee pollen is such an excellent supplement.

From an energetic viewpoint, when you eat bee pollen, you take in the healthy essence that the bees collect from fresh flowers. It takes a bee eight hours to gather one teaspoon of pollen. Imagine how much amazing essence exists in that one teaspoon!

You can find granulated bee pollen in the refrigerated vitamin/supplement section of many healthfood stores. Start with 1/2 teaspoon bee pollen mixed into juice and gradually increase the amount until you are consuming at least 2 teaspoons per day. For an added health bonus, mix bee pollen into a glass of fresh watermelon juice!

Dragon’s Way Qigong®

In our Dragon’s Way Qigong program, you’ll learn to view foods—like honey and bee pollen—as healing tools. Paired with 10 powerful yet simple Qigong movements, Dragon’s Way Qigong provides you with a complete framework to understand your body and your health from a new perspective. Learn more and join an upcoming class today!