Brezovica’s Api chambers – a blend of love for bees, nature and health

Driven by his love for bees, nature and a healthy lifestyle, Cvetko Veljkovic from Brezovica, in the municipality of Strpce, has combined all three in the Api chambers he built alongside his beehives. Api chambers – specially designed facilities intended for apitherapy and relaxation – provide visitors with rest and rejuvenation through air from beehives and bee products, while also supporting respiratory health.

Drawing on many years of beekeeping experience, Veljkovic expanded his work seven years ago by building an Api chamber, the first of its kind in Kosovo.

He says that everyone can benefit from inhaling air from beehives, particularly people suffering from respiratory conditions.

“I started working with the Api chamber back in 2019, and it was the first Api chamber in Kosovo and Metohija and the second in Serbia. The Api chamber is primarily beneficial for people with respiratory problems, asthma and bronchitis, but it also has positive effects on those who suffer from migraines and stress. People who are allergic to pollen cannot use the chamber directly, so we install special filters for them, allowing them to inhale air from the hive. That air contains pollen, propolis, various essential oils, and everything that bees bring back from nature. It acts as a natural inhalation therapy,” Veljkovic said.

He explains that the first Api chamber he built is located on an uphill path, which recently prompted him to construct a second one by the roadside so that it would be accessible to people who are unable to walk long distances.

“The first Api chamber I built is situated uphill and requires some walking to reach. I designed it that way because it is beneficial for people to walk before undergoing apitherapy, as it exercises the lungs and bronchial tubes before inhalation. The chamber is also useful for people without health issues, as well as for children who play sports. After training, they can come here and inhale the hive air, which is a real vitamin boost for the lungs. Because some people are unable to walk, I decided to build a second chamber next to the road for those who are injured or have limited mobility,” Veljkovic explained.

Among those who have been benefiting from the Api chamber for the past three years is dentist Danijela Karamanova from Skopje, who strongly recommends apitherapy to others.

“I have been coming here regularly for three years. I first heard about the Api chamber from a friend who had visited before. I already knew Cvetko and his family, but we had lost touch for a long time before reconnecting. The Api chamber and royal jelly have numerous benefits and have helped me greatly in strengthening my immune system. As women age, hormonal imbalances and insulin resistance often occur, and this apitherapy has had a positive impact on my health. It also helps with cysts and precancerous conditions, so I would recommend it to everyone,” Karamanova said.

Veljkovic began beekeeping with just three hives and now owns nearly 300. In addition to honey, he produces propolis, bee bread (perga), and honey brandy, while particularly highlighting the beneficial properties of royal jelly.

“We extract royal jelly directly from the hive and do not package it. The challenge is not producing it, but preserving it. Proper storage requires specialized medical equipment, sterilizers and medical-grade refrigerators. Royal jelly is extremely potent, rich in calories and contains nearly fifty amino acids, while many of its properties have still not been fully researched,” Veljkovic noted.

He added that he is pleased to see an increasing number of people recognizing the benefits of Api chambers, as reflected in the growing number of visitors.

In recent years, alongside visitors from across the region, Brezovica has also welcomed guests from the United States, Switzerland and Germany.