Bald’s Leechbook And The Power Of Royal Jelly

For whatever reason, scientists dug up an old English manuscript in the British Library called Bald’s Leechbook.  The book is a 1,000-year-old medical textbook.  It would be easy to dismiss the remedies in it as out of date but this would be a mistake.  The old ways still work in a lot of cases.

For example, the scientist recreated an old eye remedy that used onion, garlic, and part of a cow’s stomach.  Sounds gross right?  (OK, it is kind of gross.)  Here is the thing, the concoction killed up to 90% of MRSA bacteria in scientific studies.  If you aren’t familiar with MRSA, it is a superbug that modern antibiotics struggle to defeat.

One of the reasons for the success of The VanMan Co. is that we use all-natural ingredients because we know how powerful simple remedies can be.  One such ingredient is Royal Jelly, which has a long history of use for its potential medicinal benefits. 

Historical records indicate royal jelly has been used for at least 2,000 years, with documented use in ancient China, Egypt, and Greece. In China, it was part of traditional medicine, linked to longevity and vitality.  Ancient Egyptians used it as a beauty secret and for strength. In Greece, it was consumed for physical and intellectual enhancement.  

Just like the eye remedy in Bald’s Leechbook, royal jelly is an ancient remedy with modern benefits.  

(Note: While generally considered safe, royal jelly poses allergy risks for those with bee or pollen allergies.,  Always good to consult your doctor if you suspect there may be an issue using it.  VanMan is not a doctor.)

What Is Royal Jelly?

In short, royal jelly is a substance produced by worker honeybees to feed the queen bee and her larvae.  It is rich in proteins, vitamins (especially B vitamins), and unique fatty acids like 10-HDA.  For my super health nerds out there, here is an extremely specific breakdown:  

Royal jelly’s composition typically comprises 60–70% water, 12–15% proteins, 10–16% sugars, 3–6% lipids, and 2–3% vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It contains all eight essential amino acids, making it a complete protein, and is rich in B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, inositol, folic acid). It also has unique fatty acids, such as 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA).

When you put all of these things together in one place, you have the potential for a powerful health remedy when you use it as an ingredient (which we do).

Why Royal Jelly Is Awesome (AKA Its Alleged Health Benefits)

There have been a lot of studies done on royal jelly and its positive effects for your health.  It has been shown to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.  It can possibly lower stress and be beneficial for conditions like diabetes.  There is some evidence to suggest that it can help with cholesterol management and Menopausal Symptom relief as well (anxiety and back pain especially).

Where it really shines, at least in my opinion, is for skin health and wound healing.  Animal studies have shown a collagen boost when used, and it also has positive effects on skin hydration as well.  Its lipid content and antioxidants make it popular in skincare for elasticity benefits.  These are just some of the reasons that we use Royal Jelly in some of our products, like VanMan’s Bison Tallow & Honey Balm version with no essential oils, just tallow balm goodness.

What’s VanMan Cooking Up Next?

Next issue we are going to talk more about Tallow Balm.  Until then always remember . . . 

The van never stops,

VanMan