Royal jelly
Apis mellifera (secretion)
Bee Medicine. Modern nutrition and Folk & home remedies.
Also called Bee milk, Queen bee food
Pinyin: Fēng Wáng Jiāng
Spanish: Jalea real
Allergy risk, especially with asthmaA creamy, sharp-tasting secretion that worker bees make to feed the queen and young larvae.
Did you know? Queen and worker bees start life as identical larvae. Royal jelly is a major part of what turns one of them into a queen.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Women's health. Some small trials report better menopause symptoms. Results are mixed and the studies are small.Traditional proof
- Cholesterol. A few small trials report lower cholesterol. The evidence is weak.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Royal jelly has been used in European and Chinese folk traditions as a tonic for energy and vitality. Today it is sold fresh, freeze-dried or in capsules.
How it is classified
How people take it
Taken fresh by the spoonful or as capsules. Studies used different amounts.
Food and capsule.
Where to get it
Collected by beekeepers from hives where queen cells are raised. Sold fresh, freeze-dried, in capsules and in honey-based blends.
Be careful
Allergy is the main concern, especially for people with asthma or bee allergies. Rare severe reactions have been reported. Not recommended for children with asthma unless a doctor advises it.
Avoid if: bee product allergy; asthma; pregnancy.
Mixing with other things
No specific mixing notes on file. That doesn't prove it's safe with everything; ask a pharmacist about your full list.
The honest take
Royal jelly is a costly bee product with few good human studies. Its menopause and cholesterol claims come from small, mixed trials. Allergic reactions, including severe ones, are the main real risk.