By Brenda Warner


The pain experienced by a person stung by a bee is usually because of the venom produced. However, as they say, poison to one person can be meat to another. Bee venom therapy for lyme disease is a practice that has taken place for decade. The venom has also been shown to successful in treatment of allergies, inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and many other conditions.

Out of the three main components (amines, enzymes and peptides), at least eighteen products of pharmaceutical potential can be obtained. It is believed that the venom works by modifying immune response to external attack. The extract also facilitates cortisol production. While the product was initially applied directly through a bee sting, modern day technology has made it possible to package this product as injections, creams and ointments.

The treatment is most effective when there is direct involvement of bee on the skin. The bees are able to produce highly potent therapeutic agent when they have enough source of food that is pollen. This happens especially during fall and some period of spring. The cold season is not good for production.

People who are allergic to the bee stings can benefit greatly from vaccination by the agent. This form of treatment has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and has been shown to provide at least 99% immunity. It should be noted that a single sting is not sufficient to provide protection and one has to go through a series of exposure to attain the required protection.

Some side effects may be experienced when the shot is given. Some of them include redness, swelling and rashes. Other effects not related to the skin include shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. These reactions vary from one individual to another and may not even be there for most people when administered by a qualified professional. They are commonly seen in people with extreme allergies, women and those who use honeybee venom.

Certain conditions are a contraindication to treatment with this agent. In autoimmune diseases, the body produces antibodies that attack its own cells. Therefore, administration of the venom makes the immune even more active causing further destruction of cells. Some of these autoimmune diseases include multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, these injections in pregnant women should be given with caution as it poses a huge risk to sustainability of the pregnancy.

An emergency kit becomes quite handy when an individual goes into anaphylactic shock. This is a reaction that may encompass some of the side effects and becomes worse when the person goes into unconsciousness. The kit contains a syringe and epinephrine. Intervention needs to be made as fast as possible to save the life of the individual and further evaluation needs to be done at a health facility.

While this therapy may be beneficial in certain cases, further research needs to be done on others to ascertain the effectiveness. Some of the conditions that need further evaluation include multiple sclerosis and neuritis. Although, most bee farmers do not usually suffer from arthritis, scientific evidence is needed to know for sure that the venom can be used as a remedy.




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