Apitherapy is the medical use of honeybee products. This can include the use of honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom.

Q What kinds of conditions are treated with APITHERAPY?

The files of the American Apitherapy Society indicate that anecdotal evidence shows apitherapy to be effective in the following conditions: SKIN:  eczema, psoriasis, topical ulcers, degranulating wounds, corns and warts. INFECTIONS: laryngitis and mastitis. VIRAL:  herpes simplex 1 and 2, post-herpetic neuralgia (shingles) and warts. RHEUMATOLOGICAL: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, tennis elbow and bursitis. CARDIOVASCULAR: hypertension (chronic and acute), arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease and varicose veins. PULMONARY DISEASE: (COPD), emphysema and asthma. SENSORY: hearing loss, vision, glaucoma, diplopia and iritis. ORTHOPEDIC: stimulates bone healing. PSYCHOLOGICAL: depression and mood swings. ENDOCRINE:  PMS, menstrual cramps, irregular periods and decreased blood sugar.

Q How does Bee Venom work ?

Many flying insects have a venomous sting, but because the honeybee has been domesticated and is easy to raise, it is the one used most for treatment. Honeybee venom consists of the following known components:

MELLITIN:

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    provides the “ouch” and the itch in bee venom
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    has powerful bactericidal and cytotoxic properties
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    produces the signs of inflammation via the release of histamine
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    stimulates the pituitary to release ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, part of your body’s own healing response
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    is 100 times more potent as an anti-inflammatory agent than hydrocortisol, when tested in rats with arthritis (Nature, Nov. 1974)

MAST CELL DEGRANULATING PEPTIDE:

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    leads to the release of histamine which creates the signs of inflammation (swelling, itching, redness, warmth)
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    is the most powerful seizure-inducing agent known to man when injected into the brain (not cross blood brain barrier)
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    increases short-term memory in rats (maze test)

APAMIN:

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    blocks Ca2+ dependent K + channels
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    enhances long-term synaptic transmission
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    shortens duration of a nerve’s action potential

HYALURONIDASE:

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    loosens the glue (a substance called hyaluronic acid) which connects cells thus making the tissue or extra-cellular space more permeable. This facilitates the delivery of healing substances to and the elimination of waste or toxic substances from a damaged area.

DOPAMINE (neurotransmitter):

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    a neurotransmitter that increases motor activity. It is deficient in Parkinson’s patients and excessive in psychotic patients treated with neuroleptic drugs. Dopamine, along with Serotonin and other catecholamines are implicated as factors in major depression.

ADOLAPIN (neurotransmitter):

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    Has an analgesic effect

Q Can Bee Venom be taken orally?

n the drug category, limited information is available on the uses of bee venom in a tablet, capsule or drop forms. Nevertheless, there are dozens of products on the European market in the homeopathic category containing Apis mellifica or Apis Virus (Apium Virus-venom sac extract). In this category, bee venom was also mixed with snake and centipede venom and was taken orally to treat cancer. Bee venom capsules were developed and tested in the Calgary area for treatment of chronic pain. It should be noted that the results are preliminary and further research is required.

Q Has Bee Venom solution been reported to be effective in treating Multiple Sclerosis?

In the early 1980s bee venom solution was known to be as effective as venom from a live bee. Later this statement was modified based on the results and uses of the only bee venom solution on the market. Treatments with BVS are being done mainly in private clinics and limited information is available from the observations and results. The MS treatment with the live bee stings has only a decade of anecdotal history and BVS even less. The lack of a scientifically controlled study and proper documentation has made it difficult to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.

Multiple sclerosis patients respond in individual ways to live bee sting therapy. Some of them may show improvement within a short time, but others need a longer period. In several cases the condition of the patient did not improve. Presently it is unknown what causes these differences. We face similar problems in venom solution administration as well.

We have to understand that the simple administration of a bee venom solution will not ensure its effectiveness. It is important to follow certain guidelines. These may be found in the books printed in 1994 on the uses of bee venom. It needs to be stressed that these guidelines are not scientifically proven, however based on observations they seem to work in most cases. Patients may not feel they are improving or even reverse reactions may be observed. Some possible causes include; insufficient quantity and/or concentration of venom solution, improper administration, insufficient intake of Vitamin C, poor nutrition, allergies, medications, mental blocks (patients see little hope for recovery), scarring (may slow energy flow through the body), etc.