Apitherapy — bee sting therapy

Submitted by Don Cost

I recently read a very interesting article in the American Bee Journal that was about apitherapy. The author Jeremy Barns is a beekeeper in Pennsylvania that won the “Beekeeper of the Year Award” in 2018.

Apitherapy is the medicinal use of products made by honeybees (e.g. honey, pollen, royal jelly, propolis and beeswax). Sometimes, these products are also combined with other ingredients, like essential oils. The combination will always depend on the condition that is being treated.

This alternative therapy is now used in the treatment for many autoimmune and neurological diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Bee therapy also is starting to show promising benefits against different types of cancer.

There is growing scientific evidence that suggests various bee products promotes healing by improving circulation, decreasing inflammation and stimulating a healthy immune response. The bee venom that is used in this therapy is actually a rich source of enzymes and peptides. In fact, there is at least 18 active components in the venom that have healing properties.

In this article, Barnes talks about three women who came to his house to talk to him about this therapy. All three women had been diagnosed with MS prior to their visit with him.

He gave them 40 bees every week, for several weeks, so that they could try apitherapy. He explained to them that there are specific protocols that must be followed the first time a person tries this type of therapy. For example, each person starts with one bee to see if there is an allergic reaction. If a person does not have an initial allergic reaction, they will gradually work up to larger amounts of bees.

The dosage and frequency are determined by each patient’s clinical response. When Barnes administered the first treatment for each lady, he gently stimulated one live bee to get it to sting the affected area or trigger point. The treatment area will vary for each person depending on their health issues.

All three of the ladies lived in Cal- ifornia, so Barnes created a special type of box and put bees inside it so the ladies could take the bees home and do treatments there. All three ladies reported relief of several MS symptoms after they completed their therapies. Currently, up to 10,000 people with MS are undergoing this type of treatment.

Bee venom is most effective when it comes directly from the live bee late spring to early fall. That is when bees have a good source to produce potent venom.

Apitherapy has not been proven to cure any diseases and those who are allergic to bee products should use caution and talk to their doctor before trying this therapy. However, it seems to be very effective for reducing pain and inflammation in several types of diseases. For 100 years it has demonstrated its efficacy in thousands of cases.

At the present, apitherapy has shown tremendous potential and there is now a strong scientific interest in the pharmacological properties of bee venom. If a person wants to try this therapy they should consult with their primary care doctor to see if it is right for them.

I also recommend looking for a naturopath doctor who offers this therapy. The American Apitherapy Society website https://apitherapy.org/ will provide more information.