Apitherapy

Apitherapy refers to an alternative medicine used to treat illness and pain from acute and chronic injuries. It uses honey bee products like honey, pollen, Propolis, royal jelly and bee venom. In this regard, you should know that there is no scientific proof that declares the safety and efficiency of Apitherapy treatments.

It can treat the following illnesses:

• Multiple sclerosis 
• Arthritis 
• Infections 
• Shingles

Injuries treated by Apitherapy include:

• Wounds 
• Pain Burns 
• Tendonitis

When someone is under Apitherapy treatment, they can take honeybee products topically or orally, or the products can be injected directly into the blood. While it has been used for many years, it can be traced back to ancient Egypt & China. The Greeks and Romans used these products for medicinal purposes, whereas people used bee venom to treat joint pain from arthritis.

What is Apitherapy?

Apitherapy indicates a natural therapy used for medicinal or health benefits. Whereas a few people consider it as bee therapy. Remember that Apitherapy has had a major role in traditional medicine for centuries. The ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Chinese people used honey bee products to get relief from injuries and illnesses.

According to the researchers, these products are able to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and stimulate the immune system to promote health.

History

We can find references to the medical properties of bee products in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Egyptian and Greek traditional medicine practices.

As per the references, since the time of Hippocrates and Galen, Apitherapy has been practiced.

It is expected that present use of bee venom originated with Austrian physician Philipp Terč [cs] and his 1888 article "About a Peculiar Connection Between the Bee Stings and Rheumatism." However, the claims were not examined in proper clinical trials. Hungarian physician Bodog F. Beck coined "bee venom therapy" in 1935, and this latest practice of alternative medicine is attributed to him. It is also attributed to beekeeper Charles Mraz (1905–1999) in the latter half of the twentieth century. It was the year 1957 when the USSR Ministry of Health has sanctioned the bee venom usages for treating a few ailments by the approval of Nikolay Artemov's "Instruction for Bee Sting Venom Apitherapy".

The bee products have different usages, like people used beeswax to cast metals & make incendiary weapons, honey for food and religious offerings, Propolis as an adhesive, and pollen for agricultural work like plant breeding. In the late 1890s, J. Langer tried to use bee venom clinically via injection at the University of Prague. Later in 1930, Mack created bee venom solution commercially in South Germany. You should know that it was used in traditional medicine in Europe, Asia, and South America, including China, Korea, and Russia.

Bee Venom, Honey, and Other Products:

Apitherapy includes the uses of all products made naturally from honeybees. These are as follows:

Bee venom: It is made by Female worker bees, and you can get it directly from a bee sting which is administered to the skin via a stainless steel micro mesh. As a result, the venom enters the skin, but the stinger doesn't remain attached to the skin which kills the bee. Honey: Bees create a sweet substance that can be harvested as well.

Pollen: Bees collect this male reproductive material from plants. It comes with a lot of vitamins and nutrients.

Royal jelly: This food contains enzymes and several valuable vitamins.

Propolis: It is a mix of beeswax, tree resins, honey, and enzymes that bees make to protect hives from external threats such as bacteria or viruses. This one includes strong antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.

Beeswax: Honey Bees build the hives for creating it and storing honey & pollen. It is used mainly in cosmetic products.

Benefits and Uses of Apitherapy:

It can treat many different conditions, including:

Ease Arthritis Pain:

Since ancient Greece, Apitherapy bee venom therapy has been used to relieve pain from rheumatoid arthritis because of its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. According to research, BVT reduces swelling, pain, and stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Besides, another study says that it decreases the need for traditional medications. As a result, it reduces the risk of relapse.

Heal Wounds:

People have used honey topically to treat wounds like open cuts and burns. All credits go to honey's antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving properties. It helps to heal wounds and reduce infection risks.

Helps with Allergies:

Local wildflower honey helps to treat allergies in many ways. Honey helps to soothe a sore throat which is caused by allergies. It can work as a natural cough suppressant.

Local wildflower honey can help you to protect yourself from allergies. It includes many flower pollen, called an allergen. So, if you consume local honey, it can introduce the allergen to the body, potentially leading to building up an immunity to it.

Treat immune and neurologic conditions:

You can use BVT aa a complementary treatment for diseases related to the immune system and the neurologic system, such as:

• Parkinson's disease 
• Multiple sclerosis 
• Alzheimer's disease 
• lupus

Although bee venom is not the only process of treatment for these conditions, research says that it can increase the immune system and decrease symptoms of such conditions in the human body.

Regulate Thyroid Function:

BVT regulates thyroid function in those women who have hyperthyroidism. But we need more studies to gather more knowledge regarding BVT as a thyroid treatment.

Reduce Gingivitis And Plaque:

Propolis decreases gingivitis and plaque once you put it into your mouth. It can heal and prevent canker sores.

Serve As a Multivitamin:

Propolis and royal jelly have plenty of vitamins and nutrients. You can take them as multivitamins to improve overall health, including hair appearance. While you can find Propolis as an oral supplement & an extract, you can get Royal jelly in soft gel and capsule form.

Are There Any Side Effects Or Potential Risks?

You should know that different Apitherapy methods carry different risks. If you are allergic to bee products, remember that all methods are harmful.

Specifically BVT can be dangerous. You should know that Bee venom induces a histamine response causing irritation such as swollen, reddened skin, allergic reactions, etc., which are life-threatening.

BVT becomes painful sometimes. Are you not severely allergic to bees? Then, it may let you experience negative side effects like:

• headache 
• cough 
• uterine contractions 
• discolouration of the sclera, or white of the eye 
• jaundice, or yellowing of the skin 
• severe pain in the body 
• muscular weakness

Conclusion:

Apitherapy uses a wide range of honeybee products, and a few Apitherapy practices have less risk compared to others. For instance, if you want to get relief from arthritis pain, you should add honey to your tea to soothe a sore throat which has less risk compared to being stung by bees for relieving arthritis pain. You should consult your doctor to know if it is good for you or not. However, one thing you need to ensure is that it does not interfere with other current treatments. If your doctor is unsure what to do next, you should contact a naturopath who gives it as a treatment method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the meaning of Apitherapy?

It is a kind of alternative therapy which uses products that we get directly from honeybees.

Q. What are the benefits of Apitherapy?

These are the benefits of Apitherapy, including:

• Treat wounds and scars. 
• Treat immune and neurological conditions. 
• Boost health and overall immunity. 
• Improve oral hygiene. 
• Reduce hay fever symptoms.

Q. How is bee venom good for the skin?

When you apply the Bee venom cream, it will penetrate your skin. Thus, it can boost blood circulation, collagen and elastin production.