Beekeeping and WWI veterans

[mightymads]

I came across an interesting article according to which beekeeping can serve as a method of therapy to cope with mental health issues:

Researchers say the act of beekeeping may help people with mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression. Many call it “beekeeping therapy.”

One group of people is especially getting help from such therapy: military veterans.
Many soldiers returning from military service have trouble dealing with the experiences of war. They may also have trouble creating a productive life after the military. Homelessness, depression and drug abuse can affect some military veterans.

“The buzzing – it fills that void in my head where clutter can go [says one of the veterans]. So, instead of thinking of the things that clutter my brain or the experiences that clutter my brain … I think of the bees.”

Beekeeping programs aimed at helping military veterans are not a new thing. In fact, the U.S. government had a program that taught beekeeping to soldiers returning from the First World War. Other countries at that time had similar programs.

“When things get really hectic, crazy and you want to relax, you just put your chair out in front of the bee hive and watch them go in and out [says another veteran]. And it’s so relaxing. All your cares just float away.”

Makes sense that Holmes was into beekeeping in his later years, doesn’t it? Previously, his ways of coping were self-destructive, and after Watson weaned him from substance abuse, Holmes managed to find a healthy method to cope with his depressive episodes.

Headcanons, everyone? Was Holmes was ahead of time yet again in finding such an effective way of therapy? Perhaps Watson suggested the beekeeping treatment for WWI veterans, seeing how soothing it was for Holmes?

Comments

[brewsternorth]

Oh hey, I have an icon for this topic! :P

Perhaps Watson suggested the beekeeping treatment for WWI veterans, seeing how soothing it was for Holmes?

...Headcanon accepted. I'd not heard of apitherapy (though having read two of the three books of the "Regeneration" trilogy I've heard of some of the others), but that totally would be something Watson would take an interest in.

(Now I'm wondering about an epistolary Holmes/Regeneration Trilogy crossover where Watson is corresponding with W.H.R. Rivers.)

[mightymads]

I looked up the Regeneration Trilogy and yes, a crossover would be amazing! Perhaps after returning from WWI Watson would find helping out Holmes in the apiary therapeutic as well :)