Honey and cancer

[max2]

This was sent to me by a client.
I would love this to be true but is it?

I'm a sceptic from way back...

Is Honey a Cancer-killing Agent?
By Sayer Ji, Founder,  www.greenmedinfo.com
February 2018 ,  https://tinyurl.com/3xa4ndpb

Most of us know honey as a sweet treat, but few are aware of its powerful cancer killing properties.
Honey is a superlative healing food.  We know it has over 69 health benefits, as confirmed by the biomedical literature itself. But did you know it could be of profound benefit in diseases as life threatening and seemingly incurable as cancer?

Indeed, a study published the journal Molecules looked at the role of honey in positively impacting the development and progression of tumors or cancers. The review identified the presence of Flavonoids and phenolic acids in honey as the primary anti-cancer compounds involved in its beneficial properties.
https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/2/2497

According to the study, Flavonoids are biologically active natural compounds with a 15-carbon (C6-C3-C6) structure, comprising two benzene rings joined by a heterocyclic pyrane ring, with honey containing the following:
     *   Chrysin,  Kaempeferol,  Quercetin,  Pinobanksin,  Pinocembrin,  Luteolin, Apigenin,  Hesperetin,  Naringenin, and Genistein.

Interestingly, many of these Flavonoids are classified as phytoestrogens, which are phytochemicals structurally similar to mammalian estrogens and therefore can bind to estrogen receptors.  While many of these honey-derived Flavonoids have been demonstrated to have both inhibitory and stimulatory effects, the vast majority of the cell (in vitro) and animal (in vivo) studies have demonstrated the anti-breast and estrogen sensitive cancer properties of these compounds, indicating that flavonoid rich honeys are likely to positively influence estrogenic activity in estrogen-receptor positive cancers.

Furthermore, some honeys - such as Tualang honey - exhibit the property of selective Cytotoxicity, meaning they target cancer cells by inducing programmed cell death while leaving non-cancerous cells unharmed. This is extremely different than the mechanism of action behind conventional chemotherapy agents and radiotherapy which indiscriminately target both healthy and cancerous tissue, often conferring increased survival advantage to the most tumorigenic cells themselves: cancer stem cells.

Unlike chemotherapy and radiotherapy, natural compounds commonly exhibit this 'do no harm' property when it comes to healthy tissue, while at the same time being exceptionally effective at targeting the harmful cells.

Honey Better than Chemotherapy?
Another recent study compared the effect of Tualang honey with that of the pharmaceutical Tamoxifen (an estrogen receptor antagonist) in two breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231).  The study found that the anti-cancer effect of tualang honey on breast cancer cells was comparable to that of tamoxifen, a multi-billion dollar blockbuster drug.  This is all the more remarkable, considering that Tamoxifen is classified by the World Health Organisation and the American Cancer Society to be a human carcinogen, and is technically a Xenobiotic chemical - inherently toxic and biologically alien to human physiology.

Honey Kills Cancer in Animals
According to the study, animal research has established honey's significant anti-cancer properties, specifically in regard to inhibiting metastasis (invasiveness):-   
"Several studies have also confirmed the antimetastic, antiproliferative and anticancer effects of honey on breast tumor or cancer in rodents. In a murine (mammary carcinoma) tumor model, the anti-metastatic effect of honey when applied before tumor-cell inoculation has been reported [40]. The antimetastatic effect of honey may be due to its flavonoids such chrysin which have been shown to inhibit the metastatic potential of human breast cancer cells [41].
Similarly, a study investigated the antitumor effect of two honey samples containing different phenolic contents against Ehrlich ascites and solid carcinoma. Both honeys were found to markedly inhibit the growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, but the honey containing higher phenolic content exerted a greater antitumor effect  [42].  Research carried out by Tomasin and Gomes-Marcondes investigated the effects of combined Aloe vera and honey on tumor growth and cell proliferation against Walker 256 carcinoma implant in Wistar rats. Both agents were found to suppress tumor growth and inhibit cell proliferation  [43]."

Honey Kills A Wide Range of Cancers
The review focused on the potential of honey to affect a variety of cancers, including:

        *   Liver Cancer: Gelam honey has been found to kill liver cancer cells, exhibiting selective cytotoxicity, anti-angiogenic, cytotoxic, and anti-proliferative properties, in both cell and animal research.
        *   Colorectal Cancer: gelam and nenas monofloral honeys exhibit anti-cancer properites in colorectal cell lines.
        *   Prostate Cancer: Greek honeys (thyme, pine and fir honey) have been found to exhibit anti-proliferative properties.
        *   Other Forms of Cancer: There has been a battery of studies on the anti-cancer properties of honey, focusing on the following types: a) bladder, b) endometrial, c) renal cell carcinoma, d) skin cancer cells, e) cervical, f) non-small cell lung cancer, g) mouth cancer, h) bone cancer (Osteosarcoma).

What are the Mechanisms of Honey's Anti-Cancer Properties?
There are a wide range of observed mechanisms of honey's cancer-killing properties, which include:
        *   Cell Cycle Arrest - The normal process of cancer cell replication is halted.
        *   Activation of the Mitochondrial Pathway - compounds or agents such as honey rich in flavonoids that are capable of activating mitochondrial pathway and release of proteins such as cytochrome C are considered potential Cytotoxic (cell killing) agents.

        *   Induction of Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization  - The induction of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) leads to leakage of intermembrane space proteins into the cytosol and consequently causing cell death
        *   Induction of Programmed Cell Death (Apoptosis): The activation of a "cell death" program designed to protect against cancer.

        *   Modulation of Oxidative Stress: It is believed that honey's antioxidant properties may nip one of the fundamental processes in cancer's progression - oxidative stress - in the bud.
        *   Amelioration of Inflammation: Inflammation is at the root of many cancers, and since honey is able to suppress it, it is can significant impact Carcinogenesis.

        *   Modulation of Insulin Signaling: Because cancer is associated with increased insulin resistance and honey is capable of reducing insulin resistance, it is believed to mitigate a major driving factor in Carcinogenesis.
        *   Inhibition of Angiogenesis: Honey has been found to inhibit the fundamental process of cancer expansion (the production of a new blood supply) by inhibiting angiogenesis.

The study reviewed all possible avenues through which honey suppressed cancer, with 20 depicted in the image here..  (see links for image)

The study concluded with following summarisation:   "Honey is a natural product that shows potential effects to inhibit or suppress the development and progression of tumor and cancer.  Its antiproliferative, antitumor, antimetastic and anticancer effects are mediated via diverse mechanisms, including cell cycle arrest, activation of mitochondrial pathway, induction of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, induction of apoptosis, modulation of oxidative stress, amelioration of inflammation, modulation of insulin signaling, and inhibition of angiogenesis in cancer cells.
Honey is highly and selectively cytotoxic against tumor or cancer cells while it is non-cytotoxic to normal cells.  It can inhibit cancerogenesis by modulating or interfering with the molecular processes or events of initiation, promotion, and progression stages.  It, therefore, can be considered a potential and promising anticancer agent which warrants further research - both in experimental and clinical studies."

This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo -  Sign up for the newsletter here,  www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter
For full references please use source link here..

By Sayer Ji / Founder of Greenmedinfo.com -   Sayer Ji is founder of Greenmedinfo.com, a reviewer at the International Journal of Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, Co-founder and CEO of Systome Biomed, Vice Chairman of the Board of the National Health Federation, Steering Committee Member of the Global Non-GMO Foundation.   For more, visit Website and Facebook
       

[Michael Bush]

From what I've read in the past and the relationship of sugar to cancer and the relationship of honey to sugar, I would guess SOME of it is true, but most of it is exaggerated.  I have no doubt that honey is more effective than Chemo since Chemo is not very effective at all, and safer than Chemo since Chemo will kill you.  But that does not mean that honey is a cure for cancer.

[Kathyp]

Many of our best meds have come from nature.  It may well be that there are compounds in honey that are worth looking at.  Not sure that honey itself will be a treatment but perhaps something in honey?

[max2]

from Sofia De Leon Guedes.
"Researchers posit that phenolic compounds found in plants, such as aromatic acids and flavonoids, underpin the honey's antioxidant effects and it's ability to combat free radicals,known culprits behind malignant tumors..."Also see Moreni A etal " Trace element content and antioxidant capacity in honey from protected phytogeographical area of Uruguay" 
There is talk that Propolis will be new gold in beekeeping.

[Kathyp]

There is talk that Propolis will be new gold in beekeeping.

It's already in a lot of products.  I got a hair conditioner sample that had it, and I know beekeepers use it for all kinds of stuff.  Honey used to be used a lot medicinally, so going back to an old thing that worked is smart.

[Ben Framed]

There is a beekeeper in Florida who >reported< he (had) skin cancer. What he says he did was pick 10 bees and one by one, had them sting on, and around his skin cancer spot. He says that eliminated it.

In this case, I really don?t know about that. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[animal]

who knows? sounds plausible when it comes to the farmer ..

but "nanobees" research is interesting
https://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/news/nanobees-deliver-deadly-sting#:~:text=By%20arming%20small%20particles%20dubbed,holes%20in%20the%20cell%20membrane.

and there are other similar studies ... plus there's a lot of new research trying to create true nanobots for delivery of drugs (probably at least 10 years off)

bee venom and cancer .. this one gets kinda deep fast
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10378503/

[max2]

Say no more...
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/F1n2qnSIjm0

[maxell86]

The power of hindsight.

Honeybee honey will help, but not for certain people. Supermarket honey verus fresh pure honey. But different flora, that MGO stuff helps different ailments.
Australia stingless TC,TA,AA honey might show different results for diseases. Same for Aussie social bees, the flora they take pollen and nectar from increases the potency to help treat human conditions.

Anyone who has any mouth, teeth problems, cloves help. But honey in tea also helps. So does salty water. But that is a clue for most infections and treatable conditions.
But who cares, the rate of the suburban expansion, might spell out we will miss out of some possible treatments derived from nature. Even some cures.
Then the weather, angophoras around here have not flowered, they have budded, few weeks late as they need consistent days of sunshine to transform buds into flower, flower pollen, flower nectar.
A angophoras bud branch (4-5mm) landed on me while observing the bees yesterday afternoon. Oh you typically flower by now, December usually. Usually have the petals in the air when its windy.

Then the path of propolis and healing
https://scottishbeekeepers.org.uk/event/january-webinar-propolis-with-james-fearnley/
Plenty of youtube stuff as well, tincture and propolis, propolis and wax, etc

Now Australia native social bees, do propolis a bit different, tree sap from different eucalptus, etc. Worth finding out more.
Worth finding out more about the different flora in your area, there are surprises still be be discovered.