The Effects of Royal Jelly on Graves Disease

Graves' disease is not curable, but can typically be managed through traditional venues with medical guidance and treatment. However, alternative treatment options are available. Royal jelly has a long history of being used for medical treatment. There has been little extensive medical research conducted on the efficacy of royal jelly in treating autoimmune diseases, however a small number of studies indicate royal jelly may be a useful tool in managing Graves' disease.

Graves' Disease

• Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease: it causes the body to stimulate the thyroid gland by producing unnecessary quantities of antibodies. The thyroid then over-produces a hormone known as thyroxine. An overabundance of thyroxine (which controls the body's metabolic rates) can have a variety of effects, ranging from physical to emotional health. Common symptoms of Graves' disease include anxiety, irregular heartbeat, weight loss and goiter.

Traditional Treatment

• Graves' disease cannot be cured, but can be managed. The two most common treatments are the use of beta-blockers (which limit thyroid function) and anti-thyroid medications (which prevent thyroxine production). For patients who don't respond to medicine, surgical thyroid removal is an option. In general, the relapse rate is quite high and thyroid medications must be continued indefinitely.

Royal Jelly

• Royal jelly is produced by bee colonies, and contains necessary vitamins and nutrients. Because of its antimicrobial properties, royal jelly has been proposed as a treatment or management option for a variety of autoimmune diseases. Royal jelly has been clinically studied for its pharmacological behaviors.

Graves' Disease Research

• In 2006, a medical study conducted at Karadeniz Technical University in Turkey explored the use of royal jelly in treating Graves' disease.The research exposed lymphocyte cells from healthy patients and patients with Graves' disease to varying concentrations of royal jelly. Immunity response was then evaluated, and the diseased cells exposed to royal jelly showed a decrease in autoimmune response. The trial concluded that royal jelly potentially can treat Graves' disease, though further studies are necessary.