Survey of reasons why women utilize honey therapeutically, and reasons for not utilizing honey.

There are various situations when honey can be reasonably used in cases of disease, for example radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis. We investigated the underlying reasons why women eat honey and why some would refuse to use honey even if it was reasonable to do so. In order to answer these questions, we asked 201 women to answer various questions related to the consumption of honey. We found that the preferred routes of administration change when honey is used as a remedy. Most importantly, we identified "organic beekeeping" and a second factor related to the perception of honey regarding price, handling and health by principal component analysis as relevant regarding the refusal of the use of honey even when scientifically reasonable. If honey is to become an acceptable treatment option, it seems important to address all aspects of ethical beekeeping in the production of medicinal bee products.

Patients' decisions regarding the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea.

OBJECTIVES: To assess earlier experiences and likelihood for use of methods used for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea, a very common problem in women. DESIGN: A consecutive group of patients (n = 205) visiting a private gynaecological practice in Weilburg, Germany, received an assessment form on which they were asked to provide earlier experiences with various methods for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea. They were also asked to rate the likelihood for use of various methods from conventional medicine as well as from complementary and alternative medicine. Half of them received information on efficacy, safety and costs based on the American Cancer Society Working Group grading system. RESULTS: Only 5.5% reported no experience with contraceptives or pain relievers and 26.7% had no experience with complementary and alternative medicine. The remaining patients had experience with a median of two (mean = 3.7, SD = 4.8) methods. Diet and homeopathy were the most frequently used methods from complementary and alternative medicine. In spite of the provision of information on efficacy, safety and costs, patients chose the methods based on earlier experience. Patients familiar with complementary and alternative medicine also did not see which areas belong together, e.g. homeopathy, Schüssler's salts and anthroposophy. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the provision of information, patients preferred to use those methods they were already acquainted with. In order to allow patients to make better decisions, different ways should be gone in order to help patients make better decisions.

Acceptance of apitherapeutic methods in patients consulting general physicians or gynaecologists.

BACKGROUND: and purpose: Apitherapists promote the medical use of products from the beehive (bee venom, propolis, pollen, honey, royal jelly, dead bees, apilarnil, wax, wax moths), the use of beehive air or therapeutic sleep on a beehive. However, little is known about how far such treatment options are perceived as acceptable by patients. METHODS: Patients visiting either a family doctor in Kehl or a gynecologist in Weilburg (both in Germany) were asked to rate their knowledge of apitherapy as well as their readiness to use apitherapeutic measures. RESULTS: Honey and propolis represent the best-known bee products whereas beehive air and apilarnil are greatly unknown to the patients. Only honey seems to be an acceptable treatment option whereas propolis, pollen and royal jelly seem to be less acceptable. Bee venom was not considered an interesting treatment possibility and, in particular, live bee stings were considered less desirable. This study found that gender and acquaintance with a beekeeper influenced the patients' ratings but age, education and current medical condition did not. CONCLUSION: Live bee stings, apilarnil or the inhalation of beehive air are not appealing to the majority of patients. Before apitherapeutic methods are promoted, it seems to be important to know about patients' willingness to tolerate such treatments. Perhaps therapy modifications can be offered which seem more acceptable.