POLLEN AS FOOD AND MEDICINE - A REVIEW

Pollen, the male gametophyte of flowering plants, is a high energy mat erial, which is collected by insects and stored as food reserve. Polle n has been used traditionally by humans for religious purposes and as supplementary food. Pollen is a concentrated, energy and vitamin rich food that in contemporary times is not only consumed as a dietary comp onent, but also is used in alternative medical treatments. Pollen has potential importance as a supplementary and survival food, and for con ditioning of athletes. Pollen has been used medically in prostatitis, bleeding stomach ulcers and some infectious diseases, although such us e has been questioned by the medical profession. Pollen may also be us ed for treatment and prevention of the high-altitude-sickness syndrome . Because some individuals are allergic to pollen, and various pollen species contain specific allergens, individual sensitivities must be t ested before pollen is used as a treatment or as a supplementary food.