Would you let a bee prick you on purpose? Definitely not. People try to keep their distance from bees to avoid their painful stings. But surprisingly, the venom which the bee injects in your body, has many medicinal and health benefits. Like the other bee products such as honey and bee pollen, bee venom can help with many medical conditions and the astounding bee sting therapy (apitherapy) can have a positive impact on human health. Looks like these little guys are more of a comrade than a threat.
An Overview About Bee Venom
Bee venom is made by honey bees, they are the reason why bee stings hurt so much. The venom is synthesized in the two glands associated with the sting apparatus of the honeybee. So, when a bee pricks, it loses its sting and the whole sting apparatus, along with the venom sac, muscles and nerve center. These nerves and muscles keep on injecting the venom until the sac is empty. However, recent studies show that taking small doses of these venoms can help to relieve pain and cure ailments that normally do not respond to medicines. Due to its therapeutic value, bee venom has now captured the attention of medical science. Furthermore, scientists and doctors invented a separate kind of therapy, apitherapy, which is used to treat skin and health problems.
The Bee Sting Therapy
Bee sting therapy, also known as apitherapy, is the medicinal use of products made by honeybees. A few of these products are honey, bee pollen, royal jelly, propolis and beeswax. Most of the time, the bee sting therapy uses bee venom or a mixture of bee products for treating various illnesses. Moreover, this apitherapy gives new hope to multiple sclerosis and arthritis sufferers, potentially promising to relieve pain.
In apitherapy, patients are usually injected with bee venom, right under the skin, by using syringes. These injections are done with the help of trained medical professionals. For better results, sometimes the live stings of the bees are used on the patients. Apitherapy researchers claim that the melittin and adolapin, certain compounds of the bee sting, aids to reduce pain and inflammation. Together with all the ingredients, bee venom helps the body release natural healing compounds and fight pain and aches.
Benefits of Bee Venom
Bee venom tends to posses multiple health and therapeutic benefits. Research shows they have potential in helping the following ailments:
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Hearing loss
- Bone healing
- Arthritis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Skin diseases, like eczema, baldness, dermatitis, etc.
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- High blood pressure
- Asthma
- Nerve pain (neuralgia)
- Muscle swelling (inflammation)
Components of Bee Venom
The exact composition of the bee venom is not known. Scientists say that the venom consists of a wide variety of compounds. Among the many compounds, the following are the most prevailing components of bee venom:
- Adolapin: It has anti-inflammatory and pain killing effects.
- Melittin: This is the most common compound found in bee venoms. With its anti-inflammatory effects, melittin can help the body to heal. It also stimulates anti-stress pathways of the body.
- Apamin: It is considered as a mood elevator and is claimed to improve nerve transmission.
- Norepinephrine: A crucial neurotransmitter that controls heart rate, inhibits inflammation and enhances blood flow to skeletal muscles
Is Bee Venom Safe?
Bee venoms are considered safe for most people. They do not have any severe side-effects, but sometimes people may experience redness or swelling of the place where the venom has been injected. Although, the effect is not very severe.
On the contrary, people with allergies to bee stings should not use bee venom injections. They might develop symptoms like itching, anxiety, heart palpitations, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, etc. Moreover, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid bee venom consumption, because the venom increases the secretion of a chemical called histamine, which can cause the uterus to contract. This might lead to a miscarriage.
The Bottom Line
So now, you know that honey bees are extremely beneficial to us. The honey that they provide us, is a favorite sweetener for many people and also happens to help with many ailments. Additionally, bee venom is a natural remedy for treating some serious illnesses like arthritis and multiple sclerosis. If you are suffering from any kind of illness, then bee sting therapy can potentially help you combat your sickness. Always make sure to consult with a doctor or physician before taking any supplements or therapy.
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very interesting knowledge, a naturapath sugested I try bee venum for my arthritis, I have been using it for about a two weeks and seems a bit less pain, but it may take longer, naturapath said 1 month to start to feel a strong improvement.
I wasn’t aware of all these other uses, very interesting how nature provides us many cures on its own.