Bee wax and honey-a primer for OMFS

Beeswax is the natural secretion from the wax gland of the genus Apis mellifera and Apis cerana whereas honey is a by-product of flower nectar and the upper aero-digestive tract of the honey bee. The introduction of beeswax and honey to clinical use dates back to the fourteenth century but subsequently it was restricted to the cosmetic and food industry. With the emerging trend of using natural resources as cure for many diseases, beeswax and honey have regained its popularity in medical field. The presented manuscript describes the production, composition, and attempts to highlight the uses of beeswax, honey, and advances especially in oral and maxillofacial surgery.