Historically, bee venom has long been reputed to possess strong, anti-arthritic properties. It is known that Hippocrates employed bee stings in his ministrations and that Galen (130AD) wrote of bee venom as treatment.
Traditionally, therapy involves the application of bee stings to the affected area of the patient over a period of time. Gradually the frequency and number of stings are increased until desensitization (immunity to the stings) is achieved, after which maximum anti-arthritic benefits are experienced. Now there is an alternative method of achieving the possible health benefits of bee sting therapy, but without the pain.
There are two possible theories as to how bee venom works. Stings activate powerful immune responses in the body or alternatively that bee venom stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, a hormone with anti-inflammatory properties.
Veteran apitherapist and beekeeper Charles Mraz of Middlesbury, Vermont, says he has treated thousands of people of a 60 year period and that roughly 80 percent have significant improved or fully recovered from their illness. “Alternative Medicine Digest” reported that more than 1500 papers on the healing properties of bee venom have been published in European and Asian scientific journals, demonstrating the extent of interest and studies on the topic over many years.
In a 1993 study, rats with Adjuvant Arthritis (induced auto-immune arthritis) were given honey-bee venom. The trials resulted in a significant suppression of arthritis and a reduction of AGP (alpha one-acid glycoprotein) believed to have an adverse effect on the immune system. Rats injected with AGP had accelerated arthritis development and an increase in the severity and duration of the disease.
Apitherapists and patients cite recoveries from a wide range of chronic diseases, most notably, arthritis and auto-immune disorders such as multiple sclerosis and lupus.
Cautions: People with allergies to bee stings or bee products, people
with tuberculosis, diabetes, atherosclerosis, venereal diseases and
congenital heart diseases.