COPPER GLUCONATE is used to rectify copper deficiency in
human or veterinary therapies, alone or in association with other
trace-elements, orally or by injection.
In food, it is used as an additive for a dietetic purpose
(substance of mineral contribution).
The recommended nutritional requirements for a healthy
human adult, with a normal level of fitness, are 2 to 3 mg of copper
per day.
In beauty care, copper is a trace-element, tyrosinase
cofactor. It stimulates melanin synthesis (natural anti-UV filter)
and promotes maturation of collagen fibres.
Copper Gluconate has been used, in conjunction with an
ointment base, for a number of veterinary salves... for the treatment
of skin complaints in animals.
Use with bees
This chemical is not approved for use with bees and its
use in these circumstances is as "a non-medicinal curative substance".
Happy hive salts contains copper gluconate and is a product
of:-
BICKERSTAFFES HONEY
76 Buckingham Road, Maghull
Liverpool, L31 7DP, UK
A FREE sample of Happy Hive Salts together with scientific reports
on the use of Copper Gluconate is available on request.
A Zipped file containing the articles in Acrobat PDF format can be
sent by Email using the link.
I have no personal or business connections with
BICKERSTAFFES HONEY.
My own interest in the use of copper gluconate, stems from
the fact (refs) that the substance is more toxic to varroa than it
is to honey bees.
However it is no 'magic bullet', but can be used to make
the mite more susceptible to other, more conventional, miticides.
At the same time the copper gluconate envigorates the bees making
them more resistant to the side effects of the varroa treatment.
Conversley the bees may be treated with a miticide and this
can be followed up with the copper gluconate treatment. In which case
the copper gluconate helps to revive the bees that may be a little the
worse for wear and at the same time follows up the miticide with
another hammer blow.
Standardisation of dose... It is important to be able to
replicate effects. I use a standard mixture as follows
One Litre of water + One Kilo of sugar + One Gram of copper gluconate
I feed the syrup in frame feeders and I use one litre of syrup per
colony, but delivered in two doses... one of 330 ml and a week later
another dose of 670 ml.
I prepare the doses, in advance, in plastic bottles (a
particular brand of mouthwash comes in a suitable bottle).
Copper occurs naturally in honey, using this treatment
raises the level of copper residue found in the honey, but after a
period of about 4 weeks has elapsed the copper levels in the honey
are indistinguishable from normal background levels.
It is thus important that there are no supers or customer's
honey on the hive during treatment or a period of four weeks from
treatment. This gives the opportunity to treat either in spring or
autumn, or both as the case may be.
The information contained in this guide has been drawn up
with care and accuracy from the manufacturer's published literature.
It must be considered only as an indication and in no case can I be
held responsible for it's content.
I neither endorse nor condem this product. The information
as published here is a matter of public record. The information is
placed here for the education of those that wish to read it.
BEFORE you obtain or use the material concerned, please
ascertain the legality of doing so in your location as the product
may or may not be approved in your geographic State or Country.
