Bee Venom Therapy: What Is It and How Does It Help?

Bee Venom Therapy: What Is It and How Does It Help?

Most people have experienced a dreaded bee sting at some point in their lives, so it’s understandable that the idea of using bee stings for medicinal purposes might sound strange. However, bee venom has shown potential health benefits, including reducing pain and alleviating symptoms of various health conditions. This guide explores bee venom therapy (BVT), a unique yet promising form of alternative medicine.

What Is Bee Venom Therapy?

Bee venom therapy (BVT) falls under the broader category of apitherapy, which refers to the use of honeybee products—such as beeswax, honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and venom—for therapeutic purposes (Lee et al., 2016).

The primary goal of BVT is to reduce inflammation and boost immune response through the active components in bee venom. Bee venom, also known as apitoxin, is a colorless, odorless liquid rich in amino acids, enzymes, peptides, and volatile compounds. Two key components—melittin and phospholipase A2 (PLA2)—are largely responsible for the therapy’s anti-inflammatory effects (Son et al., 2007).

How Bee Venom Therapy Works

The venom is typically harvested directly from live bees. While a trained healthcare professional should ideally administer BVT, some individuals choose to perform the sessions themselves, though only after consulting a medical professional (Park et al., 2015).

Before beginning treatment, it's advisable to apply ice to the injection area to numb the skin. Similar to acupuncture, BVT relies on targeting strategic points along the body’s meridians to achieve the best results (Kim et al., 2008).

Using tweezers or another precise instrument, a bee is carefully held by the head or thorax to avoid damaging its abdomen or stinger. The individual may use a live bee to sting the designated site directly or inject purified venom via a syringe. After the sting, the stinger should be left in place for several minutes to deliver a full dose of venom and trigger cortisol release, which helps reduce inflammation (Cherniack, 2011).

Patients typically receive multiple stings per session—sometimes dozens—depending on their condition. Treatments are often repeated several times a week. It's also important to rotate sting sites to allow the skin to heal properly.

Historical Background and Modern Applications

Bee venom therapy has been used for centuries. Ancient Egyptians utilized bee venom, and many European and Asian cultures adopted similar practices (Skovgaard, 2009).

In the modern era, American beekeeper Charles Mraz helped popularize BVT in the United States. He collaborated with scientists at institutions like Sloan-Kettering and Walter Reed Army Institute and co-founded the American Apitherapy Society (AAS), which continues to educate the public and healthcare community on the benefits of apitherapy (American Apitherapy Society, 2023).

Today, BVT is practiced worldwide and has gained attention even among celebrities—Gwyneth Paltrow, for example, has publicly discussed undergoing bee venom therapy (Vogue, 2016).

Clinical research suggests that bee venom therapy may be beneficial for a wide range of conditions, including:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Autoimmune diseases such as lupus, Lyme disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
• Fibromyalgia
• Shingles
• Burns
• Gout
• Tendonitis
• Neurological  disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson’s disease
• (Son et al., 2007; Lee et al., 2016; Park et al., 2015)

While BVT does not cure or prevent cancer, studies suggest it may reduce side effects associated with breast, liver, lung, ovarian, and prostate cancer. Additionally, early research has shown bee venom may have potential in combating HIV particles (Liu et al., 2013).

Final Considerations

Although individuals with access to hives could theoretically begin BVT on their own, it's not recommended without medical supervision due to the risk of severe allergic reactions. The therapy should not be considered a substitute for conventional treatments unless advised by a medical professional.

Always consult your doctor before starting BVT. It is critical to screen for allergies, especially to bee stings, and to keep epinephrine on hand in case of anaphylaxis. Consider starting with a small test sting to assess sensitivity before pursuing full treatment (Cherniack, 2011). Bee venom therapy may offer supplementary benefits, but it should be used in conjunction with, rather than in place of, conventional medical care.

We hope this guide has provided helpful insight into what bee venom therapy is and how it might benefit certain individuals. Beyond medicinal uses, bees play an essential role in our ecosystems. If you’re interested in exploring the many benefits bees offer, including beekeeping, feel free to contact us by email or phone to learn more about our products and services.

References

• American Apitherapy Society. (2023). About Apitherapy. https://www.apitherapy.org
• Cherniack, E. P. (2011). Apiotherapy: bees, beekeeping, and bee venom therapy. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 19(3), 153–160.      https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2011.05.006
• Kim, H. W., Kwon, Y. B., Ham, T. W., Roh, D. H., Yoon, S. Y., Han, H. J., ... & Beitz, A. J. (2008). Effects of bee venom on cold allodynia in a rat model      of neuropathic pain. Neurochemical Research, 33(7), 1293–1301.
• Lee, G., & Bae, H. (2016). Bee venom therapy: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Toxins, 8(11), 326.      https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins8110326
• Liu, C. C., Hao, D. J., Zhang, Q., An, J. H., & Yang, H. (2013). Bee venom and melittin suppress growth and metastasis of human melanoma cells through apoptotic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Cancer Letters, 335(2), 343–350.
• Park, J. H., Yim, B. K., Lee, J. H., Lee, S., & Kim, T. H. (2015). Risk      associated with bee venom therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One, 10(5), e0126971. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0126971
• Skovgaard, N. (2009). The use of alternative medicine in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 16(8), 905–913.
• Son, D. J. Lee, J. W., Lee, Y. H., Song, H. S., Lee, C. K., Hong, J. T. (2007).      Therapeutic application of anti-arthritis, pain-releasing, and anti-cancer effects of bee venom and its constituent compounds. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 115(2), 246–270.
• Vogue. (2016). Gwyneth Paltrow talks wellness and bee sting therapy.      https://www.vogue.com/article/gwyneth-paltrow-goop-wellness-bee-therapy