What Is Royal Honey Used For

What Is Royal Honey Used For? A South African-Focused Guide

Royal honey has attracted significant attention in South Africa and globally, particularly for its supposed benefits for sexual health, vitality and general wellness. However, many claims are marketing-driven and not always supported by authoritative evidence. This article explains what royal honey is, what it is verifiably used for, and what South African consumers should know before buying or consuming it.

Where possible, the information below is based on credible medical, regulatory and industry sources.

What Is Royal Honey?

Composition and Background

The term “royal honey” is used commercially for products that typically combine:

Natural honey
Bee products such as royal jelly
Various herbal extracts (often including ginseng or similar tonics)

Royal jelly itself is a secretion from worker bees used to feed queen larvae. According to the South African Bee Industry Organisation (SABIO) and global bee science resources, royal jelly is rich in proteins, sugars, lipids and micronutrients, and is used within the hive primarily as a specialised food for queen bees (as outlined on SABIO’s honey and bee products information pages and similar beekeeping resources).

Commercial “royal honey” sachets or tonics are not a standardised product category. Different brands may contain:

Pure honey plus royal jelly
Honey blended with herbal ingredients
In some cases, undeclared pharmaceutical substances (a serious safety issue discussed below)

Because there is no single legal definition for “royal honey” in South Africa, it is important for consumers to read product labels and consult authoritative health and regulatory information.

Commonly Marketed Uses of Royal Honey

1. Sexual Performance and Libido

Most royal honey products sold on the global market are promoted as sexual enhancers or “natural Viagra.” Typical marketing claims include:

Improved male sexual performance
Increased libido
Better stamina and energy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has repeatedly warned consumers that several “royal honey” and similarly branded “honey blend” products sold internationally as sexual enhancers were found to contain undeclared prescription drugs, especially sildenafil and tadalafil (the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis). These warnings note that the products were marketed as “natural” but actually contained pharmaceutical substances that should only be used under medical supervision. Consumers can confirm this through FDA public safety alerts on sexual enhancement products, where specific honey-branded products have been listed.

While these warnings come from the United States, South African consumers are exposed to the same kinds of imported or online products, and the safety concerns are directly relevant.

2. General Energy and Vitality

Some royal honey products are marketed as:

General energy boosters
Tonic products to support vitality
Nutritional supplements due to royal jelly and honey content

Nutritionally, honey is a source of simple carbohydrates and small amounts of micronutrients, while royal jelly contains proteins, fatty acids and vitamins. Scientific reviews (such as those published in peer‑reviewed nutrition and apiculture journals) describe royal jelly as a nutrient‑dense bee product, commonly used in health foods and cosmetics in countries with established bee‑product industries.

However, regulatory bodies typically emphasise that such products should not be claimed to treat diseases or function as medicines unless tested and registered under appropriate medicine or complementary medicine regulations.

Regulatory and Safety Concerns

South African Context: Medicines and Supplements

In South Africa, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) regulates medicines, including complementary and alternative medicines and certain health supplements. Under the Medicines and Related Substances Act, any product that claims to diagnose, treat, mitigate or prevent a disease must be registered as a medicine and meet quality, safety and efficacy standards (as detailed on the SAHPRA official website).

For royal honey products sold with sexual performance or therapeutic claims, this means:

They may fall under the definition of a medicine or complementary medicine.
They should comply with SAHPRA’s regulatory framework if medicinal claims are made.

If such products include pharmacologically active substances like sildenafil without declaration, they would be in violation of medicines regulations and present a serious public health risk.

International Warnings About Hidden Drug Ingredients

Internationally, regulators such as the FDA and others have issued repeated advisories on:

“Royal honey” and “herbal honey” products marketed as sexual enhancers
Laboratory findings that these products contained undeclared PDE‑5 inhibitors (e.g., sildenafil and tadalafil)

These undeclared ingredients can:

Interact dangerously with other medicines (particularly nitrates for heart conditions)
Cause sudden drops in blood pressure
Be unsafe for people with cardiovascular disease or other conditions

South African consumers buying imported royal honey online or from informal retailers are exposed to the same risks if products are not properly controlled, registered or tested.

What Is Royal Honey Used For in Practice?

1. As a Sweetened “Wellness” or Tonic Supplement

In mainstream, regulated food and supplement markets, honey and royal jelly are commonly used as:

Ingredients in nutritional supplements
Components in wellness tonics and functional foods
Additives to cosmetic and skincare products

In these contexts, they are primarily used for:

Their nutritional profile (carbohydrates, proteins and micronutrients)
Their traditional association with vitality and general wellbeing

However, responsible manufacturers typically avoid unsubstantiated medicinal claims and adhere to national labelling and advertising regulations.

2. As a Traditional or Complementary Product

In some traditional or complementary medicine systems, bee products such as royal jelly and honey are used:

As general tonics
As supportive, non‑specific boosters of health

While these uses are part of longstanding traditions, regulatory and scientific authorities emphasise that they should not replace evidence‑based medical treatment, especially for serious conditions like erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular disease or metabolic disorders.

3. Illicit Use as “Natural” Sexual Enhancement Products

Unfortunately, the most high‑profile use of “royal honey” in recent years has been:

As a cover for adulterated sexual enhancement products
Sold over the counter or online as “natural” or “herbal”
Sometimes disguised as “honey blends” or “royal honey for him”

Regulatory alerts from agencies such as the FDA show that some of these products contain full therapeutic doses of prescription drugs without disclosure. This pattern is relevant to South Africa because:

Similar products circulate in the informal market and online commerce.
They may not be registered with SAHPRA or tested for quality and safety.

Considerations for South African Consumers

1. Assessing Product Claims

Consumers in South Africa should critically assess royal honey products that:

Promise “instant” or dramatic improvements in sexual performance
Claim to cure erectile dysfunction or other medical conditions
Avoid listing all active ingredients

Medicinal claims require regulatory oversight. Products that make such claims without clear regulatory status or registration numbers should be treated with caution.

2. Checking Regulatory Status and Labelling

Before using a royal honey product for health purposes, consumers can:

Consult the SAHPRA website or contact SAHPRA to understand how such products are regulated as medicines or complementary medicines.
Look for clear labelling, ingredient lists, and – where relevant – appropriate registration or listing information.

Where labels are incomplete, vague or in a foreign language without proper translation, the risk of undisclosed active ingredients is higher.

3. Consulting Health Professionals

For concerns such as reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue or low energy:

Medical practitioners and pharmacists are best placed to advise on safe and effective treatments.
Conditions like erectile dysfunction may point to underlying cardiovascular, metabolic or hormonal issues that need professional assessment.

Health professionals can also explain interactions between any supplement (including royal honey products) and prescription medicines.

Potential Risks and Contraindications

1. Allergic Reactions

Bee products, including honey and royal jelly, can cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. Documented reactions range from:

Mild symptoms (itching, rash)
Through to severe anaphylaxis in rare cases, as reported in medical case studies on bee‑product allergy

People with known allergies to bee stings, bee products or certain pollens should exercise caution and seek medical advice before consuming royal jelly or concentrated bee products.

2. Hidden Pharmaceutical Ingredients

As highlighted by regulatory alerts, the key risk with certain “royal honey” sexual enhancers is:

Presence of undisclosed PDE‑5 inhibitors or related drugs.

These can:

Interact with heart medicines (especially nitrates)
Exacerbate existing cardiovascular conditions
Pose particular risks to older adults and those with chronic disease

Because the dose is unknown and not medically supervised, the risk of serious side effects is higher than with prescribed medicines.

Summary: What Is Royal Honey Used For?

In credible, regulated contexts, royal jelly and honey are used as:

Nutritional and wellness ingredients in foods, supplements and cosmetics
Traditional tonics for general vitality

In the unregulated or semi‑regulated market, “royal honey” is widely used and marketed as:

A sexual enhancement product, often advertised as a natural alternative to prescription medicines

Regulatory and scientific evidence indicates that some of these sexual enhancement “royal honey” products:

Contain undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients
May pose significant health risks

For South African consumers, the safest approach is to:

Treat bold sexual or medicinal claims with scepticism
Rely on guidance from health professionals for issues like erectile dysfunction
Verify products and claims against information provided by national regulators such as SAHPRA and international regulators where appropriate

Royal honey may have a place as part of general wellness nutrition when sourced from reputable manufacturers and used as a food or supplement. However, using royal honey as a substitute for medically supervised treatment – particularly for sexual dysfunction or cardiovascular‑related conditions – is not supported by regulatory guidance and may expose consumers to avoidable risks.