Is Apitherapy Useful

Another alternative therapy that’s fast becoming popular as a complementary treatment is Apitherapy. As the name suggests, apitherapy is the use of honey bee products like royal jelly, honey, propolis and pollen.

Even though apitherapy has not been scientifically proven to be a potent treatment, anecdotal evidence suggests that various forms of apitherapy like the bee-venom therapy is helpful in curing autoimmune diseases that arise from overactive immune response and multiple sclerosis.

Apitherapy dates back to the ancient Egyptian civilization. There have been instances of the use of apitherapy in Greece and China too. The healing properties of bee-products have not only been mentioned, but also discussed in ancient books and scriptures.

Bee venom therapy, one of the more popular of the apitherapy treatments has been claimed to be useful for patients suffering from arthritis, some forms of herpes and tendonitis. Bee venom therapy is also said to dissolve scar tissues and permanently cure one from scars.

The bee venom therapy utilizes a mixture of various peptins which could have immunogenic effects. The component melittin in bee venom however, has powerful and instant anti-inflammatory properties.

There is no particular standardized practice of administering bee venom therapy. The stings are administered in the manner of acupuncture. The sensations, coupled with the effects of venom together make the treatment useful. Before administering though, it has to be checked whether the person receiving the bee therapy is allergic to bee venom or not. If this prior check is not made, it can result in the death of the patient due to the body’s intolerance towards bee venom.

A lot of scientific researches are being done to ascertain the uses of apitherapy. The most recent works have come from an Austrian physician who is trying to prove that there is a connection between Rheumatism and bee stings.