To explain or tell the meaning of this proverb, we have to go through a little bit of elementary science.
Way back in school, we were taught about pollination. Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of a flower. And this is the beginning process that leads to fruit bearing.
Pollination is caused by the agents of pollination. The agents of pollination are wind, water, and animals such as birds, insects, etc. Examples of insects that cause pollination are bees.
Bees visit flowers with the aim of extracting nectar – a sugary liquid in flowers. Bees have long needle-like mouths and tongues that they insect into flowers to extract nectar. That is much like a patient receiving an injection.
And in the course of extracting the nectar, their hairy bodies brush pollen grains from the anther to the stigma causing pollination. After pollination, the flower undergoes various changes leading to fruit bearing.
So you see, the flower has been treated by the bee, just like how doctors treat patients. Ancient wisdom has done well to come up with this proverb.
