Keith Benson quoted me: " Keith Benson just came back 'I have yet to see this a standard medical therapy - in fact, it is just a fringe thing" and added himself: " And your point? .......I can tell you that this is, in fact, not a standard medical practice". Let me explain the point again - for those with ears to hear. I have referred to the booklet published by International Bee Reasearch Association (tel: +44 (0)29 2037 2409, web:www.ibra,org,uk, e-mail: [log in to unmask]) , Honey and Healing, 2001 - ISBN: 0-85092-240-8. This contains five lectures by scientists on their recent work on the healing capacity of honey. The studies included comparison with sugar honey which was found not as effective. I am drawing the inference from this that (some types of) floral honey have been shown to be in some way different from sugar honey, in context of the discussion on the possible effects on bees of feeding sugar. It is up to readers of this list whether or not they feel that is useful evidence or not. Denigration of the research (without any sign u have read it) as a 'fringe' practice is simply not relevant. A fact (if it is a fact ) is a fact whether recognised by a small group of reasearchers or by the general run of vetenary practitioners. Presumably if u had been around when Galileo first mumbled that the earth revolves around the sun, u would have said 'that's only a fringe view - can't see a multi-billion project to set a man on Mars starting from that view, as there are many better theories based on the earth being flat'. It remains something of a puzzle why a group on this list is so insistent on crushing any idea that natural honey could possibly be more than flavoured sugar and , by extension, that sugar is as good a feed for bees as natural honey. You claim knowledge of nutrition and medical practice - I would have thought that , as a professional, u would read up the scientific papers ( over 200 references in Honey and Healing) and take up the issues with the scientists who did the work. Instead u seem only to want to restrict debate by deriding the concepts in principle, unread. You even end your post by seeking to associate 'open-mindedness' with gullibility - so anyone seeking new knowledge is a fool? Stick to your own narrow views by all means but may I suggest, in the interests of 'informed discussion on beekeeping issues and bee biology' (let us remember the purpose of this list) that u would help others more if u concentrated on presenting the evidence for your side of the argument and less on knocking other posts without providing evidence. Others on this list could then make up their own minds. Lastly, I do not mind if u refer to me by my name, Robin Dartington, with which I sign all posts. Christine Gray is the owner of the computer. Presumanbly when u get a business letter u reply to whoever signed the letter rather than just to Barcklay's Bank? Robin Dartington :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::