ISLAMABAD: In a peaceful valley near the Aegean Sea, beekeeper Huseyin Ceylan has developed a unique therapy that draws people from across Turkiye seeking relief from various ailments by inhaling air from beehives. Located in Karaburun, a scenic district in the Aegean coastal province of Izmir, Ceylan’s farm is becoming a hub for those looking to complement conventional medical treatments with an alternative approach known as “apitherapy.”
Traditional Apitherapy: A Natural Complement to Medicine
Apitherapy, derived from the Greek word for bees, involves inhaling air that circulates around active beehives. Visitors to Ceylan’s farm stay in cabins surrounded by lush greenery, spending up to three hours a day breathing in the hive air.
According to Ceylan, this practice helps alleviate symptoms ranging from allergies and migraines to other chronic conditions. Despite its growing popularity, the government has yet to officially recognize apitherapy as a medical treatment.
Ceylan, whose family has a long history in beekeeping, studied agriculture and began his farm three decades ago. Passionate about his work, he has spent years researching and advocating for the therapy’s acceptance in medical circles, emphasizing that it is meant to complement—not replace—modern medicine.
“We are not against Western medicine; it remains very important,” Ceylan explained. “Our method works hand-in-hand with conventional treatments, and I have been pushing for its integration into medicine for the past fifteen years.”
Patients Find Psychological and Physical Relief in Hive Air
Among those who have benefited from the therapy is 69-year-old Ulku Ozman, who sought out the treatment after surgeries and heavy medication weakened her immune system. Visitors like Ozman enter cabins where ventilators deliver fresh air directly from beehives.
Each session lasts 45 minutes, with patients rotating between three different hives, each offering a unique scent. The therapy costs around 5,000 Turkish lira ($128) daily, covering treatment, accommodation, and meals.
Senay Ilham, 68, a breast cancer survivor with metastasis to her spine now in remission, described the scent of the hive air as nostalgic and soothing. “This smell feels familiar, like my childhood,” she said, recalling memories of playing near beekeepers. “The beehive air brings a breeze that relaxes me both mentally and physically.”
Though not yet officially endorsed, this traditional beekeeping therapy continues to provide comfort and hope to many in Turkiye and beyond.
