Apitherapy

Alternative Apitherapy - The Buzz About Bee Venom!

Bee Products:

There are hundreds of highly effective alternative therapies available around the world in different cultures for people to try. One of the least known but highly effective therapies is apitherapy.

So What is Apitherapy?

Apitherapy is also referred to as bee therapy, and uses bees and its products for treating various health conditions. Some of these products are bee venom, raw honey, pollen, royal jelly, propolis, beewax, and more.

The use of bee venom and products dates back to ancient Egypt, Greece and China. It is believed that Hippocrates, who is considered the father of modern medicine, used to bee stings for treating various health conditions such as arthritis. Even a detailed paper was published by Philip Terc in 1888 on bee venom and rheumatism. Today apitehrapy is used around the word for treating hundreds of health conditions.

It is also recommended for treating serious ailments such as osteoarthritis and sclerosis. In both these case, bee stings are used ( in the same way as in acupuncture) for relieving inflammation and pain. Apitherapy is also said to be beneficial for victims of infections, tendonitis, burns, and in some cases it is also effective in dissolving scar tissues.

How It Works?

In apitherapy, bee venom is injected directly into the body using a needle. Alternatively, a live bee is used to sting a person that is being treated using this therapy. However, only a licensed doctor or venom therapist must administer these injections. Mostly, a patient will receive three to six stings in each session, although in certain conditions people also receive 15 or more stings at a time. In some cases, bees are contained in a special box, jar or hive, and are placed directly on the area that is to be treated.

Even you can buy a box of bees from an apitherapist, or a bee farmer, and then let them sting you. You just need pair of guts and special tweezers to place bees on your body, and they will do the rest! In fact, this is one of the simplest and highly effective home remedies that is being practiced by thousands of people with excellent results. You should wait for five to eight minutes before removing the stinger.

Various Health Benefits of Apitherapy

There are different bee products that have different health benefits and you can use them as per your requirement. We are listing below some of the most popular bee products that are used in apitherapy along with the health benefits that you can get by using them. Many of these products are also used in hundreds of home remedies for treating various health conditions.

• Bee Venom: Bee venom can be given through a needle, or as actual stings. Bee stings contain substances such as melittin and adolapin that are anti-inflammatory and more powerful that commonly prescribed drugs such as cortisol. Therefore, bee stings are highly effective in treating various health conditions such as bursitis, arthritis, tendonitis and rheumatism.

• Bee Pollen: This bee product is rich in minerals and vitamins and is one of the best nutritional supplements. Aside from this, it is best treatment for people suffering from some seasonal allergies like hay fever. It can also help with athletic performance, and has anti-aging properties.

• Raw Honey: It is one of the most valuable bee products that is being used by millions around the world and is one of the best source of energy. Honey is also rich in B complex vitamins and various minerals. Aside from that, it has several antibacterial , anti-tumor, and antifungal properties that help in treating things such as sore throat, cold, cough, etc.

• Propolis: It is a tree resin that is made be bees for sealing up their hives, alongwith beewax. In apitherapy, it is used mainly for its antibiotic properties (just as propolis helps in keeping infections at bay from the hive). It also helps in treating people suffering from cold, dental cavities, gum disease and boosts immune system.

• Royal Jelly: It is a creamy substance that is produced by the worker bee, and is loaded with B vitamins. It also contains acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter that is found in spinal cord, brain and various areas of nervous system. Aside from this, only other place where it is found is the bee hive. It not only regulates the memory, but also enhances the cognitive functions. Many studies have shown that royal jelly is also helpful in infertility, fatigue, asthma, lack of appetite, reducing cholesterol levels and joint pain. Being one of the most effective bee products, it is used in various home remedies, and anti-aging creams.

• Beeswax: Beewax is made by the glands present on the underbelly of worker bees, and is one of the main constituents of honeycomb. It is not only used for making candles, but also as a skin softener in various home remedies.

Apitherapy can be the best home remedy for arthritis

Apitherapy can be used for treating serious health conditions such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis and lupus. Bee venom has more than 40 healing components, including melittin, which is a compound identified in the year 2009 in a study by Blue Cross Shield (Massachusetts) as an anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory element.

Risks of Apitherapy

Apitherapy is not for everybody, and there are number of people who should avoid it, or take it under strict medical supervision. For instance, if you are allergic to bee stings, then you should take extra care with this treatment. Many people are not aware of allergies due to bee stings, therefore, they should get in touch with a experienced therapist who will be ready with remedy if you experience an allergic reaction.

In addition, all those who are suffering from hypertension, heart problems, diabetes, or tuberculosis should avoid apitherapy. Aside from this, honey should not be given to kids below one because it may contain bacteria in it. Similarly people with weak immune system should avoid honey. Finally, the recommended daily dosage for most of the bee products is not clear. Therefore, to be on the safe side, you should take care when using them.