Bee venom therapy
Bee venom therapy, also known as apitherapy, involves the use of bee venom to potentially treat various health conditions. It is rooted in historical practices, with mentions dating back to Ancient Egypt and use by figures such as Charlemagne. While many people associate bees primarily with honey, the medicinal properties of bee venom are gaining attention, particularly in the context of natural medicine. Proposed uses for bee venom therapy include conditions like arthritis, chronic pain, autoimmune diseases, and even certain neurological disorders.
Despite its long history and growing interest, scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of bee venom is inconclusive, with mixed results from clinical studies. Safety is a significant consideration, as bee venom can trigger severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Individuals interested in pursuing this treatment are advised to consult healthcare professionals and undergo allergy testing before starting therapy. Overall, while bee venom therapy may hold promise for some, it remains a topic of ongoing research and debate within the medical community.
Bee venom therapy
DEFINITION: The use of bee venom to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: None
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Burns bursitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, gout, hay fever, scar tissue, shingles, tendonitis, desensitization therapy for individuals with bee allergies, pain conditions, neurological conditions, autoimmune conditions
Overview
Most people associate bees with honey or pollen. Another bee product, bee venom, is used to treat certain illnesses. The medicinal effects of bee honey are well known. Indeed, tea with honey has long been a remedy for sore throats, and some nutritionists consider bee pollen a near-perfect protein source.
Bee venom, however, is looked upon with some trepidation, given that most people’s only experience with the venom is with a painful bee sting. For thousands of years, though, the medicinal benefits of bee venom have been touted worldwide. While these medicinal effects have not been scientifically proven, using bee venom (called apitherapy) to treat various ailments is actively being studied.
Uses and Applications
The medicinal use of bee venom dates back to Ancient Egypt and is reported in various histories of Europe and Asia. For example, Charlemagne and Ivan the Terrible reportedly used bee venom to treat joint ailments. In more modern times, interest in the effects of bee venom was renewed in the 1860s with the publication of a clinical study conducted in Europe on bee venom’s effect on rheumatism. Since then, interest in bee venom treatment has ebbed and flowed.
With the increasing advent and acceptance of natural medicines, interest in the therapeutic value of bee venom has grown. However, there is conflicting evidence that bee venom is a useful therapy. For example, a small randomized trial did not show any effectiveness for bee venom in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. However, a review of studies found the venom may help treat arthritis.
Despite these contradictory findings, numerous conditions have been proposed for bee venom treatment. These conditions include chronic injuries such as bursitis and tendonitis, hay fever, scar tissue, gout, shingles, burns, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. In the mid-2020s, physicians recommended using honeybee venom to treat patients suffering from chronic or autoimmune diseases. Clinical trials indicated that honeybee venom is a good form of biotherapy, as it may support the body's natural defenses. It has been evaluated for treating some types of cancer, and it may also decrease the adverse effects of some medications.
In the mid-2020s, individuals in the alternative medicine community theorized bee venom’s effectiveness in treating many conditions. The most promising was using bee venom in desensitization therapy for people with severe bee allergies. Bee venom therapy was being investigated for its efficacy in treating pain conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, chronic pain, and nerve pain. It was also being studied as a natural treatment for neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus is an autoimmune condition that may benefit from bee venom therapy. Lyme Disease, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma were additional conditions being studied.
Mechanism of Action
Before the invention of the syringe, bee venom was administered directly from bees. Today, in some cases, it is still administered in this way. The live bee is held (with tweezers or some other small instrument) by the person administering the bee venom, who then places the bee on the part of the body to be treated, at which point the bee reflexively stings. Depending on the condition, the treatment schedule can vary. Venom can also be given via a syringe rather than directly from the bee.
Scientific Evidence
Scientists do not definitively understand how bee venom, a complex mixture of numerous compounds, acts on the human body. However, the components of bee venom that have been identified and studied include melittin, adolapin, and apamin. Rather than these individual components having an effect, it may be more likely that the body has an immune reaction to bee venom that proves beneficial in certain circumstances.
Choosing a Practitioner
Persons considering bee venom therapy should recognize that it is a natural treatment for which no rigorous scientific evidence proves its medicinal effectiveness. Before trying this therapy, one should consult a doctor.
Safety Issues
The greatest risk of bee venom therapy is an anaphylactic allergic reaction, including anaphylactic shock, which can cause a person to stop breathing. If not treated immediately, anaphylactic shock can result in death. Though only a small percentage of the population is allergic to bee venom, the person must be tested for a bee sting allergy before the treatment.
Bibliography
"Bee Venom: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews." WebMD, www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-972/bee-venom. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.
Cuende, E., et al. "Beekeeper’s Arthropathy." Journal of Rheumatology, vol. 26, 1999, p. 2684.
El-Tedawy, D. M., et al. "Systemic Bee Venom Exerts Anti-arthritic and Anti-inflammatory Properties in a Rat Model of Arthritis." Biomedical Reports, vol. 13, no. 4, 2020, p. 20.
Khalil, Abdelwahah, et al. "Bee Venom: From Venom to Drug." Molecules, vol. 26, no. 16, p. 4941, 15 Aug. 2021, doi.org/10.3390/molecules26164941. Accessed 11 Dec. 2022.
Lee, J. D., et al. "An Overview of Bee Venom Acupuncture in the Treatment of Arthritis." Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2, 2005, pp. 79-84.
Omar, A., et al. "Effects of Bee Venom and Dopamine-loaded Nanoparticles on Reserpine-induced Parkinson’s Disease Rat Model." Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1, 2021, pp. 1-10, doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-00764-y. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.
Wesselius, T., et al. "A Randomized Crossover Study of Bee Sting Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis." Neurology, vol. 65, 2005, pp. 1764-1768.