In a serene valley near the Aegean Sea, Turkish beekeeper Huseyin Ceylan offers a unique form of alternative healing—inviting guests to breathe in air from beehives at his farm in Karaburun, in the Aegean coastal province of Izmir.
This practice, known as apitherapy—from the Greek word for bees—is gaining traction among those seeking relief from ailments such as allergies, migraines, and weakened immune systems. Though not officially recognized by the Turkish government, the therapy has long been practiced by beekeepers in Türkiye, Germany, Russia, and beyond.
Ceylan, a third-generation beekeeper with a background in agriculture, established his farm 30 years ago and has spent the past 15 years promoting apitherapy as a legitimate complementary treatment. “We’re not against Western medicine—it’s crucial,” he says. “But this method can work hand-in-hand with it.”
Each spring, guests arrive to stay for several days in cabins surrounded by lush greenery. They spend up to three hours daily inhaling beehive air through ventilators connected directly to the hives. A standard session lasts 45 minutes, during which participants rotate between three hives—each offering a distinct scent believed to have different therapeutic effects.
One of the visitors, 69-year-old Ulku Ozman, turned to apitherapy after repeated surgeries and medication weakened her immune system. “A friend suggested it, and I decided to give it a try,” she said. Guests pay around 5,000 Turkish lira (approximately $128) per day, which includes the therapy, lodging, and meals.
For some, the experience is more than just physical healing—it’s also deeply emotional. Senay Ilham, 68, who is in remission from breast cancer that had spread to her spine, described the scent of the beehives as “nostalgic,” reminding her of childhood moments spent around beekeepers. “It relaxes me both psychologically and physically,” she shared. “This smell seems familiar—it brings back a breeze from the past.”
While scientific validation is still in progress, the growing interest in beehive air therapy reflects a broader global movement toward integrating traditional and natural remedies with modern medicine. For Huseyin Ceylan and his visitors, the buzz of the bees offers more than just a hum—it offers hope.
