Bee Pollen and Constipation

Can bee pollen cause constipation? Actually, bee pollen does not cause constipation. Bee pollen is used to relieve constipation, especially in the elderly and in people who have irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS.

The relationship between bee pollen and constipation is similar to the relationship between eating fresh fruit and constipation. Bee pollen is rich in quercetin, which is a natural antihistamine. That is, this naturally occurring plant chemical (bee pollen is made by plants, not by bees, it's just collected by bees) stops the release of histamine in the nose and throat, and also in the bowel.

In irritable bowel syndrome, histamine drives the tension in the muscles that causes the constipation phase of the disease. Stopping the release of histamine does not cause diarrhea. It just relieves constipation, especially when there are muscle spasms making constipation painful. Bee pollen can help with this symptom of IBS.

How much bee pollen is needed to relieve constipation?

First, make sure you don't have any allergic reaction to bee pollen or anything that might have contaminated bee pollen. Take a single capsule, a single tablet, or a scant teaspoon (3-4 grams) of bee pollen and wait 24 hours. If there are no symptoms of allergy, then take about a tablespoon (25 g) in a single dose.

If you take a probiotic for constipation (for example, Activia yogurt or probiotic capsules), bee pollen provides nutrition not just for you, but also for the friendly bacteria. The combination of bee pollen, propolis, and probiotic can be very helpful for slowly relieving constipation. Achieving regularity usually takes about two weeks.

And if you are man over the age of 60 who has "plumbing" issues, bee pollen may also relieve the prostate problems that secondarily cause constipation.

Raw bee pollen added to smoothies or fruit juice and stirred in well is the best way to use bee pollen for constipation. The lining of the colon gets maximum contact with the digested bee pollen. Bee pollen wafers and sports bars also work, but you probably don't want to use pills or capsules, since they are harder to digest.

Don't give up after the first dose. Getting back on a natural schedule usually takes at least a couple of weeks.