Bee pollen is the pollen collected by bees as they gather nectar
from flowers for making honey. Like honey, bee pollen is used as
a food by the hive. The pollen granules are stored in pollen
sacs on the bees' hind legs. Beekeepers who wish to collect bee
pollen place a screen over the hive with openings just large
enough for the bees to pass through. As the bees enter the hive,
the screen compresses their pollen sacs, squeezing the pollen
from them. The beekeepers can then collect the pollen from the
screen. Bee pollen is very high in protein and carbohydrates,
and it contains trace amounts of minerals and vitamins. It is
used in a number of traditional Chinese herbal formulas and is
sold as a nutritional supplement in the United States and other
countries. Although it has been recommended for a variety of
uses, particularly for improving sports performance and
relieving allergies, little to no scientific evidence backs up
any of the claims about the therapeutic value of bee pollen. Bee
pollen is not the sort