Also indexed as: Rye Pollen
Pollen, a substance collected from the flowers of various plants, contains carbohydrates,
fat, protein, and some vitamins and
minerals.1
Where is it found?
Most noncultivated plants produce pollen. Commercial pollen is collected from bees
returning to their hives (bee pollen) or may be directly harvested with machines (flower
pollen). It is not clear which plants produce the most effective pollens. Some of the most
common pollens used are timothy grass, corn,
rye, and pine.
Pollen has been used in
connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual
health concern for complete information):
Who is likely to be deficient?
Since pollen is not an essential bodily constituent, deficiencies do not occur.
How much is usually taken?
The optimal intake of pollen is unknown. Some doctors recommend using 500 mg two to three
times per day. Research on the proprietary rye pollen extract has used three to six tablets,
or four capsules, per day.
Are there any side effects or interactions?
Many people have allergies to inhaled
pollens. Allergic reactions to ingested pollen (some of them quite serious) have also been
reported.2 3 4 Otherwise, no significant adverse effects have
been reported.
At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions
with Pollen.
References:1. Stanley RG, Liskens HF. Pollens. Springer-Verlag: New York,
1974.
2. Cohen SH, Yunginger JW, Rosenberg N, Fink JN. Acute allergic reaction
after composite pollen ingestion. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1979;64:270.
3. Mansfield LE, Goldstein GB. Anaphylactic reaction after ingestion of
local bee pollen. Ann Allergy 1981;47:154–6.
4. Noyes JH, Boyd GK, Settipane GA. Anaphylaxis to sunflower seed. J
Allergy Clin Immunol 1979;63:242–4.