The use of honey mixtures to cure diseases is making a comeback in the
Saudi Kingdom.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (RECENT) REUTERS -

 As Saudi Arabia transforms from a desert kingdom to a modern nation
crowded by skyscrapers and western brands, citizens are discovering there is
still room for ancient and tribal traditions.
    The Gulf State has witnessed rapid urbanisation and modernisation in
recent years, mainly due to its oil wealth.
    As a result, many in Saudi Arabia turned away from traditional remedies
and chose to rely on branded medication found in pharmacies.
    Saleh Deboi'i And Abdul Hamid Rayash, who own bee farms across the
Kingdom and Yemen, extract honey from their bees for the sole purpose of
creating mixtures for medical use.
    They say the buzz around the benefits of honey doesn't just come from
the bees, but from all people who have benefited from consuming it.
    ''The Quran gives honey great significance and God almighty created a
whole Sura (Quranic chapter) titled 'al-Nahel' (The Bees), which bears
testimony to the greatness of this small insect which works diligently for the
sake of helping people and curing people," said Deboi'i.
    He says many people turn to honey for treatment because it is natural,
has fewer complications and tends to heal more quickly than other
treatments.
    ''Honey is good for treating illnesses of the stomach, the internal
organs and the colon. It also treats bloating and gases, indigestion, and
various stomach and other diseases. Honey is also good for treating the chest
and parts of the respiratory system, and coughing and illnesses of the throat.
Honey is also good for treating illnesses of the heart, blood pressure and the
veins," Deboi'i said.
    The beekeepers say their greatest achievements has been  helping
severally ill patients, including a 7-year-old girl diagnosed with leukaemia.

    ''I have a sister who is seven years old and she suffers from
leukaemia. She went through chemotherapy for two years but without any
results. Thank God, we were advised by some people to visit places which sell
natural honey as medication. We tried it for two years or one and a half years
and thank God, this has led to (good) results,'' said customer Ahmed
Ibrahim.
    Honey bees can be found in countries across the globe. They are
renowned for their delicious honey, made from pollen and nectar, which humans
have harvested for centuries.
   There are hundreds of bee farms in Saudi Arabia, including some of the
biggest found in the Middle East.
    According to local media sources, almost 90 tonnes of honey is produced
in Saudi a year, for both commercial and medical use.