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العربيةThe hidden amazing benefits of bee stings
The hidden amazing benefits of bee stings
From medieval times, the bees were isolated by the beekeeper, before being applied to the affected areas and provoked into stinging the patient. It is reputed that the emperor Charlemagne regularly received such treatment.
Bee venom is made by bees. This is the poison that makes bee stings painful. Bee venom is used to make medicine. Don’t confuse bee venom with bee pollen, honey, or royal jelly. Other venoms are derived from related members of the insect order Hymenoptera.
Venom can be administered by injection or topically as a cream. Peptides in the venom, principally mellitin and the less romantically named peptide-401, inhibit the inflammatory response by a combination of actions. They stimulate the production of cortisol, as well as stabilising mast cells.
Studies have also suggested that mellitin may inhibit the expression of inflammatory genes that cause the painful tissue swelling in rheumatoid arthritis.
Recent research has shown that modifying mellitin can greatly improve the effectiveness of liposome-encapsulated target drugs commonly used in cancer treatment. A variety of modified mellitin proteins were tested to achieve a compound stable enough to be inserted into liposomal nanoparticles and then into living cells without altering or causing damage to them.
Various therapeutic agents were then attached to the protein, which acts as a transporter agent, allowing enhanced therapeutic effects by targeting specific cells, such as groups of tumour cells.
Modern extraction techniques involve passing a small electric current across a mesh frame placed in the brood chamber of the hive. This agitates the bees, causing them to sting the mesh, releasing the contents of the venom sac, which can then be collected. The technique does not harm the bees, although the hives remain in an agitated state for some days afterwards.
Zoologists in northern India have taught farmers how to use cheap local resources to construct hives and venom extraction equipment. It is hoped that the project can be extended to provide the rural poor with an important extra source of income.
Frozen Shoulder
Bee venom acupuncture combined with physiotherapy has been studied in the treatment of frozen shoulder.
Research published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2014 tested the effects of apipuncture combined with physical therapy in 60 patients.8 Subjects were divided into three groups and given acupuncture with saline or two different doses of bee venom for two months, then followed up with at 12 months.
Those treated with bee venom reported reduced levels of pain after treatment, and those improvements persisted a year later.
Arthritis
Bee sting therapy may aid in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, according to research published BMJ Open in 2014.9 The literature review found one small clinical trial that compared bee venom acupuncture treatments to placebos. The bee treatments were more effective at reducing pain, morning stiffness, tender joint counts, and swollen joint counts, and also improved the quality of life of patients with arthritis.
However, the study authors note that the number of trials, their quality, and the total sample size was too low to draw firm conclusions regarding the effectiveness of apipuncture, and that more research is needed.
Psoriasis
Apitherapy may help in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions.4 For example, a 2015 clinical trial of patients with plaque psoriasis found apitherapy can help heal skin lesions and reduce inflammation.5
In the randomized, controlled study, 25 patients were given weekly injections of bee venom directly into skin lesions, while another 25 patients were given a placebo. After 12 weeks, patients who received apitherapy showed a significant reduction in both psoriasis plaques and levels of inflammatory blood markers compared to the placebo group. Larger trials are needed to confirm these results.
Pain
Apipuncture—a form of acupuncture that delivers diluted bee venom to acupuncture points—is being explored as a drug-free treatment for pain. A small clinical trial of patients with central post-stroke pain treated 16 subjects with either apipuncture or acupuncture twice a week for three weeks.6At the end of the trial, both groups reported reduced pain levels, but those treated with bee venom showed even greater improvements. More research is needed to explore apipuncture for the treatment of other pain conditions.
Parkinson’s Disease
Bee venom therapy is being explored as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease. A 2015 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found bee venom combined with acupuncture shows promise as an adjunctive treatment for the neurological disease.7
In the small clinical trial, patients who were on a stable dose of antiparkinsonian medication were also treated with apipuncture twice weekly for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, subjects showed improvements in gait speed, quality-of-life scores, motor control, and activities of daily living compared with the start of treatment.
Due to the limited research, it’s too soon to recommend bee sting therapy as a treatment for any condition. If you’re considering using bee sting therapy in the treatment of a condition, make sure to consult your physician before seeking treatment. Self-treating and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences.