Rarely if ever a researcher remembers how the idea behind their whole PhD study came to mind and how the story started. Moreover, that definitely cannot be in full detail by any means. This is because it is a long hard journey, maybe even a lengthy tough voyage, neither a single task, nor a simple job, nor the silly and boring household chores. It is rather a bitter protracted adventure!
Whenever it is about prolonged travel, the company is the most important, not the destination. The worst ways on earth, when having a good companion, can seem just like having fun. On the other hand, a 5-minute-drive with a bad one always feels like eternity. Luckily, I have had the honour of working with the best research team, besides the excellent topic. The news arrived, thanks be all to God Almighty, the paper came to light.
It was a pleasure to work with such an impressive team. The magnificent Professor Dr. Mohamed Altinawi; the chief and most-senior professor of paediatric dentistry in the entire middle east region with over 40 years in the academic world, the marvellous Professor Dr. Piotr Fudalej; president of the European Orthodontic Society (EOS), president of the EOS 100th congress, and one of the few elites around the globe in both fields of orthodontics and treating cleft-lip-and-palate patients, the astonishing Dr. Talar Zeitounlouian; the first graduate Armenian, a truly hardworking clever researcher, and an ardent young scientist. Also, the touches of the skilled Professor Dr. Abeer Al-Kafri; professor of laboratory medicine, added a special flavour. Personally, amongst the magnificent and the marvellous, the astonishing and the skilled, I was, indeed, the fortunate and the blessed to have those great names as my co-authors!
As I have said earlier, it is hard to tell how everything had started, but my PhD research work had definitely a significant role in leading us here. Although things were critical and difficult to understand at first, things unfolded later with a bright light and the situation turned from whether to be or not to be and evolved into whether it was a bee or not a bee!
Brilliant are the bees. Imagine the scenery in the morning. The charm obscures our vision with the mist and dew. A buzzing bee breaks the silence while hurrying to work, flowers and roses are its goal, and when that bee is back to the hive, it brings us a magical elixir and plenty of recipes for health and happiness. Bees are incredibly active in a stunning way. Their ecological roles cannot be overestimated no matter what; pollinating flowers is a commonly known example as to their awesome helpful characteristics. This is besides sweet honey, of course, and its highly-beneficial value, both nutritional and therapeutic. However, honey is only one of the many wonderful products which bees give to life. Bees produce a variety of compounds or formulations that help boost the immunity, prevent diseases, and improve health. The term “Apitherapy” refers to the therapeutic methods which are dependent on bees’ products or those which employ such natural materials derived from bees in the medicinal process. These products include, for instance:
“Pollen” as a product which honey bees gather.
“Propolis”, “Nectar Honey”, and “Bees’ Bread” as products which honey bees gather and process.
“Royal Jelly”, “Bees’ Venom”, and “Bees’ Wax” as products which honey bees secrete themselves.
Honey, royal jelly, and propolis are all good examples of popular remedies in traditional as well as complementary medicines that possess proven positive effects. In our most recent article, we focused on propolis and employing it in the course of managing “Gingivitis” and “Periodontitis”.
Gingivitis and periodontitis, or gingival inflammation and periodontal inflammation, are prevalent oral health problems with serious consequences if left untreated. Propolis happens to be a promising natural biomaterial with a whole set of preventive and healing properties along with a wide range of curative uses. Propolis mouthwashes have been in use as an adjunct to help in treating gingivitis and periodontitis with varying success rates and different results; many randomised clinical/controlled trials (RCTs) have reached unlike findings, the fact that urged us to examine the existing literature and review it systematically in order to try to discover the absolute truth hidden behind that blurry glass.
A screening criterion was established with an emphasis and concentration on clinical trials. One study after another was thoroughly examined under the spectacles. The process, as known to everybody, is really tiresome, exhausting, and takes so much time, yet, it is fruitful.
The final outcome was a full-length rich systematic review that summarised many important studies. Significant findings were reached. Very briefly, it can be said that propolis appeared to have favourable effects in terms of controlling gingivitis and periodontitis especially when used in combination with mechanical treatment methods. Nevertheless, and at the same time, it was found that conducting more rigorous trials was still highly recommended (up until the moment of publishing our article). It has always been like this; the more boundaries we break, the more areas we discover, the more and more we need to go further and continue to explore!
Last but never the least, sincere heartfelt thanks to respected Dr. Jonathan Lewney, respected Ms. Danielle Yates, and respected Ms. Heather Bradbury. I wish you always all the very best! Once again, respected Professor Mohamed Altinawi, respected Professor Piotr Fudalej, and respected Dr. Talar Zeitounlouian, I cannot express enough gratitude to you. Thank you!