Breath of the bees: Unconventional healing in Turkey
Huseyin Ceylan founded his apiary 30 years ago. "Bees have a remedy for all diseases," says the experienced beekeeper. In Karaburun, Turkey, he created an extraordinary center that attracts patients with various ailments. For several days, they undergo an unusual therapy—inhaling air from beehives. This is our #DailyDoseOfGoodNews.
Bees are tiny creatures, but they hold great importance for our lives. This is why apitherapy, a form of alternative medicine that uses bees, is becoming increasingly popular in some countries.
In Karaburun, in the Turkish province of Izmir, people visit the center run by an experienced beekeeper to inhale air from the hives, as reported by zielona.interia.pl. Hive therapy, a branch of apitherapy, is intended to support the conventional treatment of various ailments.
Huseyin Ceylan, the owner of the center, comes from a family of beekeepers and has been running an apiary for 30 years. Although apitherapy is not officially recognized by the Turkish government, Ceylan lobbies for its acceptance by conducting research and presenting the results to the authorities.
The man emphasizes that his methods can coexist with Western medicine. "Bees have a remedy for all diseases," Ceylan stated in an interview with the Turkish media.
Apitherapy in Turkey
In the Karaburun center, guests spend several days inhaling air from the hives (interestingly, each hive has a slightly different scent). The treatments last up to three hours a day.
Among those who decided to try this method is 69-year-old Ulku Ozman, who—after numerous surgeries and pharmacotherapy—was looking for ways to strengthen her immune system.
During the sessions, patients use oxygen masks connected to the hives. Each session lasts 45 minutes, and participants change every 15 minutes to use different hives. The cost of therapy, accommodation, and food is 5,000 liras per day, which is just under 130 US dollars.
Apitherapy is gaining supporters not only in Turkey but also in Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Russia. Ceylan believes his method can be a valuable complement to traditional therapies. The components of the bee air have positive effects on the human body, and the sound emanating from the hive has a soothing effect on the patient.
