Flower Pollen - Properties And Uses Of Flower Pollen

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

pollen

Properties and uses of pollen

What is pollen?

Pollen is the male element of plant propagation. It is a natural, high quality, nutritious, concentrated, and most importantly, biologically active food product. The miraculous substance, which flowers produce under the influence of the sun, comes to our table with the help of hardworking bees. Therefore, we can say that pollen is a useful food product for both bees and people.

Pollen composition

Pollen contains proteins, sugars, fats, mineral salts and almost all possible vitamins, enzymes, phytohormones and phytoncides - natural antibiotics. Thanks to numerous studies, it became known that pollen contains 27 metals and non-metals:

• Sodium, potassium, titanium, nickel, vanadium, zirconium, beryllium, zinc, lead, silver, tin, gallium, strontium, barium, magnesium, molybdenum, copper, calcium, iron, manganese, uranium and aluminum;
• Silicon, boron, chromium, phosphorus and arsenic.

Their ratio is carefully balanced by nature, so pollen can be used in the treatment of many different diseases. The beneficial properties of pollen can be explained by the fact that the content of nutrients in it significantly exceeds their content in honey. The protein content in pollen ranges from 7 to 30%, and it is worth noting that this is several times more than in any other food product.

Pollen contains 10 amino acids, which the human body does not produce itself, but they must be taken with food. At its core, pollen is a natural concentrate of amino acids, which makes it possible to correct the inaccuracies of the current human diet, and allows to increase the rate of tissue protein recovery when the content of animal proteins in the diet decreases. Nowadays, many food products are refined, and after heat treatment they are devoid of most of the important substances, including amino acids. Replenishing this deficit is especially important for the elderly.

Pollen contains many natural carbohydrates, combined with a wide range of minerals and trace elements, so it is an ideal source of energy for the body, and does not do any harm, unlike the use of refined sugars.

Pollen also contains vitamin P, which, due to its properties, helps to strengthen the walls of capillaries, and also increases the resistance of the immune system to various infections.

It is known that pollen contains rare biologically active substances:

• Phospholipids (lecithin);
• Ethanolamine phosphoglycerides (cephalin);
• Inositol phosphoglycerides;
• Phosphatidylserines

All of the above components are part of the semipermeable membranes of the cells of the human body, they quite selectively regulate the flow of ions, at the same time they take an active part in the metabolism.

The content of phytosterols in pollen is very high: about 0.6-1.6%; among them, one of the most prominent places is occupied by 3-phytosterol, which acts as an anti-atherosclerotic agent, and is also a cholesterol antagonist in the human body (How to lower cholesterol at home without drugs?).

Pollen contains lipids and paraffinic carbohydrates such as:

• Heptacosan;
• Nonocosan;
• Tricosan;
• Pentacosan

Scientists have noted that the pollen of all plant species contains carotenoids (approximately 0.66 to 212.5 mg per 100 g of dry matter), which are converted in the human body into vitamin A and vitamin C.

Useful properties of pollen

Flower pollen is able to greatly strengthen the human body, as well as stimulate the process of cellular regeneration. Pollen helps very well during recovery after a serious illness, surgery, or simply for elderly and weak people. Flower pollen can also significantly enhance the healing effect of a large number of drugs.

People who are studying or working in creative professions really need pollen, as it contains a large amount of amino acids, as well as a complex of nutrients that contribute to better mental performance. Those useful components that make up the pollen have an effect on the human brain, increasing its capabilities, acuity and power of perception.

Also, pollen contains a wide range of hormones. This fact makes pollen especially necessary for people with age-related hormonal declines, which are associated with the aging period of the body, as well as for those who have pathological disorders of the endocrine glands. There are also estrogenic substances that act as an anti-inflammatory agent for pathological changes in the prostate gland.

Pollen contains growth stimulants, and also contains an antibiotic that helps to curb the development of various tumors. In anemia, pollen increases the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin. For these purposes, pollen must be consumed 3 times a day, before meals, 1 teaspoon with water, it can also be mixed in a 1: 1 or 1: 2 ratio with honey.

Pollen, as a rule, is taken as a food product to enrich the diet with those substances that are not contained in the usual products that we eat, but they are extremely necessary for the body.

The beneficial properties of pollen are used for the following purposes:

• Improved appetite,
• Normalizing the state of the body during weight loss, diets and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• Restoration of stable functioning of the nervous system and removal of psychological stress;
• General improvement in the state of the body and the successful growth of weakened children.
• Treatment and prevention of a wide range of diseases.

Pollen application

Hypertonic disease. For people suffering from hypertension, to reduce pressure, pollen should be taken on an empty stomach (for the best effect), 1 teaspoon, 3 times a day. The course of treatment lasts 3 weeks, after which it is necessary to take a break for 2-3 weeks, after which the course can be repeated if necessary.

Hypotonic state. In case of hypotension, pollen is recommended to be consumed in exactly the same proportions as in hypertension, mixed with honey, but only after a meal, and not before, as in hypertension.

Children with anemia. With anemia in children, no matter what its origin, honey, pollen and milk are used for treatment. More precisely, honey (100 g), pollen (20 g) and fresh milk (200 g) are taken, and everything is thoroughly ground together. You need to take this mixture 3 times a day before meals, 1 teaspoon. It is necessary to store the mixture in a well-closed glass container in a cool, dark place.

With gastritis. The pollen is very useful for gastritis with low acidity of the stomach, as well as for chronic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. To treat these ailments, 20 grams of pollen, 75 grams of freshly squeezed aloe juice and 500 grams of honey are taken, all the ingredients are mixed in the following sequence: the crushed pollen must be mixed with honey, and then fresh aloe juice is added. You need to consume the mixture 2-3 times a day, about 25-30 minutes before meals, 1 teaspoon each.

With neuroses. Pollen, as mentioned earlier, is able to have a stimulating effect in case of general weakness, as well as during the recovery period of the body after serious illness. In order to obtain this effect, you need royal jelly (2 g), flower pollen (20 g) and honey (500 g). The preparation is simple: the pollen (crushed) must be thoroughly mixed with royal jelly and honey. The mixture should be consumed 2-3 times a day, before meals, 1 teaspoon each. It is better to store the medicine in a dark glass container with a tightly closed lid in a cool place.

How to take pollen?

Pollen, which was separated for intake (about 1 teaspoon), must first be thoroughly chewed so that it is well moistened with saliva, and only after that swallow. To facilitate the intake process, pollen can be poured into a glass, filled with boiled water (50 ml), and left to infuse for about 2-3 hours, shaking occasionally. It is necessary to consume such a solution about 30 minutes before a meal. You can also prepare the following mixture: mix honey with pollen in a 1: 1 ratio. It can be consumed in 1 teaspoon, 2-3 times a day.

It is worth recalling that pollen is not completely balanced in composition with the needs of the human body. Therefore, it is better to use it in specially prescribed doses, no more than 50-100 g per day. When pollen is consumed in excess of these doses, the nutrients simply will not be absorbed. It should also be reminded to store pollen at home in a cool, dry place.

For adults, the standard dose of pollen per day is 1-2 teaspoons without top (this is for an average weight of women), and 2-3 teaspoons for men. If there is increased physical activity, or there is a period of treatment, the dose of pollen can be doubled, or even tripled.

Pollen can only be given to children from the age of 6 months, the dose for such babies is a quarter of a coffee spoon, and it is better to mix it with food. Children 12 years of age and older can be given half of 1 teaspoon of pollen per day.

Pollen contraindications

When pollen is ingested, allergic reactions are very rare. As a rule, such reactions are associated with the fact that pollen is contaminated with the remnants of the chitinous membrane of insects. This is almost the same as an allergic reaction to fake honey mixed with sugar. Allergic reactions to pollen are detected in only 1-5% of people, and pollen is contraindicated only for them.

It should be noted that hypersensitivity is less often manifested to pollen and bee pollen fermented by bees than to pollen collected from the plants themselves. There is an opinion that the addition of nectar and bee gland secretions destroys pollen allergens well.

If you take pollen mixed with honey, allergic reactions are possible, which manifest themselves in the form of severe itching of the skin, headache, runny nose, lacrimation and other things. Before you start using pollen for medicinal purposes (just like any other beekeeping product), you must conduct at least 1 test for allergic reactions of the body.

Despite the fact that pollen is an excellent medicine, due to its unique composition, the dosage must be observed. It must be remembered that excessive consumption of pollen can cause various negative reactions, the consequences of which are unpredictable.

You can not take pollen later than 19-20 hours, due to the fact that it has a tonic property and can disrupt a person's normal sleep. In severe forms of diabetes, pollen should not be mixed with honey.

The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist

Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).