Royal jelly is a honey bee secretion that is used in the nutrition of larvae, as well as adult queens. It is secreted from the glands in the hypopharynx of worker bees, and fed to all larvae in the colony.

When worker bees decide to make a new queen, either because the old one is weakening, or was killed, they choose several small larvae and feed them with copious amounts of royal jelly in specially constructed queen cells. This type of feeding triggers the development of queen morphology, including the fully developed ovaries needed to lay eggs.

An incredibly creamy, opalescent white liquid, worker bees make royal jelly for the exclusive nourishment and cultivation of the queen bee. It is this remarkable substance that transforms a common honeybee into a queen.

Considered the most precious gift of the hive, royal jelly is incomparable in its ability to enhance both physical and mental performance. Consider what it does for the queen bee

  • She measures 17 mm in length and weighs 200 mg.

  • A worker bee measures 12 mm in length and weighs 125 mg.

  • Each day she lays from 2,000 to 2,400 eggs, which weigh a total of 200 times her own body weight. During her lifetime, she will lay more than two million eggs.

  • Even though she is hatched from the same egg as a honeybee, she will live from four to five years compared with one to two months for the honey bee.

Known users of Royal Jelly include...

  • Sarah, Duchess of York has been eating Royal Jelly as an aphrodisiac

  • Princess Diana used it against morning sicknesses in pregnancy with William

  • Queen Elizabeth is eating royal jelly “to stave off fatigue”

  • Prince Philip believes royal jelly cured his arthritis

  • Princess Margaret, once suffered chronic fatigue, regained her optimism, zest and energy

  • In 1988, then-UK PM Margaret Thatcher discussed the qualities of Royal Jelly

  • According to Buckingham Palace sources, the entire royal family takes it for vitality and endurance

A Treasury of Active Compounds
Royal jelly is a complex mixture of compounds that contains roughly 12 percent protein, 5 percent lipids, and 12 to 15 percent carbohydrates. It is remarkably rich in natural hormones and B-vitamins. In addition, royal jelly contains an impressive array of seventeen amino acids, including the eight essential amino acids, and is particularly rich in cystine, lysine, and arginine. Royal jelly contains 16 percent aspartic acids, which are absolutely essential for proper tissue growth and regeneration. Gelatin, another component, is a primary precursor of collagen, a potent antiaging compound that helps keep our skin looking youthful.

Royal jelly contains the health benefits because of components such as B-complex vitamins such as pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) (which has been associated with reversing some of the effects of aging, such as greying hair) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine).

The overall composition of royal jelly is 67% water, 12.5% crude protein, including small amounts of many different amino acids, and 11% simple sugars (monosaccharides), also including a relatively high amount (5%) of fatty acids. It also contains many trace minerals, some enzymes, antibacterial and antibiotic components, and trace amounts of vitamin C, but none of the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K. Royal jelly also contains DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (Ribonucleic acid), the "very stuff of which life is made."

Royal jelly contains vital fatty acids, sugars, sterols, phosphorus compounds, and acetylcholine, which is essential for the transmission of nerve impulses and the proper functioning of the endocrine system. A lack of acetylcholine can contribute to a number of nerve disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and multiple sclerosis.
 

Energy Booster
Who among us doesn't need more energy? It's no secret that most of us live very stressful and hurried lives, eating on the run and sleeping poorly. Consequently, we continually battle fatigue. Dr. Eugene Olive to highly recommends using royal jelly as a supplement for anyone who is experiencing chronic fatigue. "After taking it for about one month, these patients usually report that they feel more energetic," he said.

Some people refer to royal jelly's energy-enhancing properties as the R-factor. Dr. R Decourt believes that the R-factor has an effect similar to synthetic stimulants, but with none of their detrimental side effects. The active compounds in royal jelly work to normalize and regulate body functions, resulting in increased physical and mental vitality. While royal jelly is not technically a stimulant, it does create an increase in energy. Dr. Steve Choi, CN, said that "Royal jelly stimulates the adrenal glands and metabolism, giving more energy, rapid recovery from fatigue, and enhanced sexual capabilities."

Natural Antidepressant
Because royal jelly can mimic the stimulatory effect of amphetamines with no harmful side effects, Albert Saenz said that "effectiveness has been demonstrated specifically in the aged, as well as in cases of senility in general.... Cases of anxiety, depression, shock, and senility all benefit from royal jelly treatment." Depression can be a serious illness. While royal jelly can be helpful in treating cases of mild depression, anyone experiencing anything other than mild, transitory depression should consult with a physician experienced in treating depression.

Weight Control
Because it gives a metabolic boost, royal jelly can also be used as an effective thermogenic (fat burning) supplement. In his book To Your Best Health, Naturally, James A. Devlin, PhD, writes: "In the mid-1960s, a Polish researcher discovered that royal jelly can normalize metabolic function. What this means is that royal jelly can prevent the regular user from becoming too fat or too skinny because of a metabolism that is out of whack."

Cholesterol Control
At a time when many people are concerned with cholesterol and lipid counts, royal jelly offers us another helpful benefit. Clinical tests have demonstrated that serum lipids in mammals were significantly decreased after royal jelly was administered. What this means is that taking a royal jelly supplement every day at recommended dosages can help to prevent atherosclerosis, which can cause heart attack and stroke. Scientists found that taking at least 100 mg of royal jelly daily decreased total serum cholesterol levels by 14 percent and total serum lipids by 10 percent. Because serum lipids increase as we age, taking a royal jelly supplement before coronary heart disease has a chance to develop is one way of maintaining good health.

The Great Recovery Aid
Royal jelly is capable of strengthening a body weakened by disease, malnutrition, trauma, or surgery. Anyone who wants to get back on their feet as quickly as possible should make royal jelly part of their nutrition regimen.

Substances that Complement Royal Jelly
As mentioned earlier, taking royal jelly in a honey base or in combination with bee pollen or propolis can potentiate its action. Another, natural substance that makes an excellent partner with royal jelly is Panax ginseng. The combination of royal jelly and ginseng creates a potent blend of body rejuvenators and energizers. Panax ginsenghas been the subject of considerable scientific study around the world. It can help to stimulate the central nervous system, thereby providing mental alertness, increased energy, and improved cardiovascular health. Like royal jelly, it also works to lower blood cholesterol and protects cells from radiation damage.

Forms
Royal jelly may be purchased in a pure jelly-like material that should be kept frozen or refrigerated. It is also available in capsules, tablets, soft gels, and in honey chewables.

Dosage & Storage of Fresh (Frozen) Royal Jelly
For general health, take ? tsp. (approx. 2 grams) per day with food. Fresh royal jelly is quite bitter and has a strong taste so it is suggested you mix it with some honey or jam or into a smoothie. If the royal jelly you have doesn't taste bitter, you don't have real royal jelly. Fresh royal jelly should remain frozen or cooled long term and should be stored below 4°C (39°F).

 

 

Further Reading

  1. Balch, Phyllis A.; Balch, James F. (2000). Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Third Edition. New York: Avery. ISBN 1-58333-077-1.

  2. Ammon, R. and Zoch, E. (1957) Zur Biochemie des Futtersaftes der Bienenkoenigin. Arzneimittel Forschung 7: 699-702

  3. Blum, M.S., Novak A.F. and Taber III, 5. (1959). 10-Hydroxy-decenoic acid, an antibiotic found in royal jelly. Science, 130 : 452-453

  4. Bonomi, A. (1983) Acquisizioni in tema di composizione chimica e di attivita' biologica della pappa reale. Apitalia, 10 (15): 7-13.

  5. Braines, L.N. (1959). Royal jelly I. Inform. Bull. Inst. Pchelovodstva, 31 pp (with various articles)

  6. Braines, L.N. (1960). Royal jelly II. Inform. Bull. Inst. Pchelovodstva, 40 pp.

  7. Braines, L.N. (1962). Royal jelly III. Inform. Bull. Inst. Pchelovodstva, 40

  8. Chauvin, R. and Louveaux, 1. (1956) Etdue macroscopique et microscopique de lagelee royale. L'apiculteur.

  9. Cho, Y.T. (1977). Studies on royal jelly and abnormal cholesterol and triglycerides. Amer. Bee 1., 117 : 36-38

  10. De Belfever, B. (1958) La gelee royale des abeilles. Maloine, Paris.

  11. Destrem, H. (1956) Experimentation de la gelee royale d'abeille en pratique geriatrique (134 cas). Rev. Franc. Geront, 3.

  12. Giordani, G. (1961). [Effect of royal jelly on chickens.] Avicoltura 30 (6): 114-120

  13. Hattori N, Nomoto H, Fukumitsu H, Mishima S, Furukawa S. [Royal jelly and its unique fatty acid, 10-hydroxy-trans-2-decenoic acid, promote neurogenesis by neural stem/progenitor cells in vitro.] Biomed Res. 2007 Oct;28(5):261-6.

  14. Hashimoto M, Kanda M, Ikeno K, Hayashi Y, Nakamura T, Ogawa Y, Fukumitsu H, Nomoto H, Furukawa S. (2005) Oral administration of royal jelly facilitates mRNA expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and neurofilament H in the hippocampus of the adult mouse brain. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2005 Apr;69(4):800-5.

  15. Inoue, T. (1986). The use and utilization of royal jelly and the evaluation of the medical efficacy of royal jelly in Japan. Proceeding sof the XXXth International Congress of Apiculture, Nagoya, 1985, Apimondia, 444-447

  16. Jean, E. (1956). A process of royal jelly absorption for its incorporation into assimilable substances. Fr. Pat., 1,118,123

  17. Jacoli, G. (1956) Ricerche sperimentali su alcune proprieta' biologiche della gelatina reale. Apicoltore d'Italia, 23 (9-10): 211-214.

  18. Jung-Hoffmann L: Die Determination von K?nigin und Arbeiterin der Honigbiene. Z Bienenforsch 1966, 8:296-322.

  19. Karaali, A., Meydanoglu, F. and Eke, D. (1988) Studies on composition, freeze drying and storage of Turkish royal jelly. J. Apic. Res., 27 (3): 182-185.

  20. Kucharski R, Maleszka, J, Foret, S, Maleszka, R, Nutritional Control of Reproductive Status in Honeybees via DNA Methylation. Science. 2008 Mar 28;319(5871):1827-3

  21. Lercker, G., Capella, P., Conte, L.S., Ruini, F. and Giordani, G. (1982) Components of royal jelly: II. The lipid fraction, hydrocarbons and sterolds. J. Apic. Res. 21(3):178-184.

  22. Lercker, G., Vecchi, M.A., Sabatini, A.G. and Nanetti, A. 1984. Controllo chimicoanalitico della gelatina reale. Riv. Merceol. 23 (1): 83-94.

  23. Lercker, G., Savioli, S., Vecchi, M.A., Sabatini, A.G., Nanetti, A. and Piana, L. (1986) Carbohydrate Determination of Royal Jelly by High Resolution Gas Chromatography (HRGC). Food Chemistry, 19: 255-264.

  24. Lercker, G., Caboni, M.F., Vecchi, M.A., Sabatini, A.G. and Nanetti, A. (1992) Caratterizzazione dei principali costituenti della gelatina reale. Apicoltura 8:11-21.

  25. Maleszka, R, Epigenetic integration of environmental and genomic signals in honey bees: the critical interplay of nutritional, brain and reproductive networks. Epigenetics. 2008, 3, 188-192.

  26. Nakamura, T. (1986) Quality standards of royal jelly for medical use. proceedings of the XXXth International Congress of Apiculture, Nagoya, 1985 Apimondia (1986) 462-464.

  27. Rembold, H. (1965) Biological active sustance in royal jelly. Vitamins and hormones 23:359-382.

  28. Salama, A., Mogawer, H.H. and El-Tohamy, M. 1977 Royal jelly a revelation or a fable. Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Science 14 (2): 95-102.

  29. Takenaka, T. Nitrogen components and carboxylic acids of royal jelly. In Chemistry and biology of social insects (edited by Eder, J., Rembold, H.). Munich, German Federal Republic, Verlag J. Papemy (1987): 162-163.

  30. Wagner, H., Dobler, I., Thiem, I. Effect of royal jelly on the peirpheral blood and survival rate of mice after irradiation of the entire body with X-rays. Radiobiologia Radiotherapia (1970) 11(3): 323-328.

  31. Winston, M, The Biology of the Honey Bee, 1987, Harvard University Press

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