Will bees save us from baldness?

Image from APiS UK Image from APiS UK

 

Propolis is a resin-like compound honeybees collect to coat their hives. New research suggests that this compound may increase hair growth as observed in studies of mice. Although the researchers did not test propolis on balding mice, they did find faster hair growth in mice that had been shaved or waxed, which is somewhat promising.

Source:

Miyata S, Oda Y, Matsuo C, et al. Stimulatory Effect of Brazilian Propolis on Hair Growth through Proliferation of Keratinocytes in Mice.J. Agric. Food Chem. 2014.

More like this

Another (if vain) reason to save the Bees!

By Colin Gilchrist (not verified) on 16 Dec 2014 #permalink

This theory sounds promising. Especially it would help people that lost their hair due to receiving cancer treatment.

By An-zelle Lubbe… (not verified) on 04 Apr 2015 #permalink

Does the probiotics quality in in honey have any influence on these results?

By George B Dunn (not verified) on 10 Apr 2015 #permalink

If it has only proven to let hair grow faster is it not only considered as a cure for baldness caused by factors like stress or poor nutrition? Male pattern baldness is genetic and is seen as permanent. Many previously discovered treatments that make hair grow faster has not been able to stimulate hair growth in bald areas of people with this genetic condition. Will the rate of hair growth have an effect on genetic baldness? If hair follicles are dormant how will faster hair growth treatment have any effect?Can it reactivate these dormant hair follicles?

By Chanelle Olivi… (not verified) on 14 Apr 2015 #permalink

This a very interesting theory that should be investigated more. Many men are suffering from baldness and the age at which the baldness starts to occur is decreasing with each generation. A break through in this would change the world as we know it.
u15116434

A very interesting blog. Very insightful. I have heard that woman can go bald as well, is this fact or fiction?

Very interesting blog. I would definitely be willing to invest in a product that would prevent me from going bald!

Really interesting and insightful, a break through like this would change the world.
u15116434

I have used many products for treatment of hair loss and did not find any product prior to 2013 that stimulate hair growth , as mine is apparently genetic. If the propolis work after waxing there might be a chance that it can work for genetic baldness, as in waxing part of the hair is pulled out .

By Hendrik Erasmus (not verified) on 18 Apr 2015 #permalink

It is interesting that in our modern age, medicine constantly see the merrit of natural treatments. Honey and bees were intwined with us from the beginning of time and its fantastic that bee's may hold the cure to baldness.

Since the mice had hair loss due to shaving and not natural baldness I wonder if this will only help faster hair regrowth and will not affect baldness due to alopecia and and other illnesses.

But shaving hair alone can excellerate the growth and even the temperature might have an influence , besides its not like those mice have a problem with hair growth . If they really want to cure baldness from genetic causes they should do tests on animals that are actually bald by nature and not just a razor.

Isnt this more a cure for faster hair growth than a cure for baldness?

I wonder if propolis have other health benefits we haven't yet discovered.