Apitherapy (Bee Venom Therapy, BVT)

APITHERAPY

Apitherapy encompasses the use of bee hive products including honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly and bee venom.  Apitherapy is used to treat many illnesses and to alleviate pain from injuries both chronic and acute.

Bee Sting Therapy or Apipuncture is a method which is used by licensed practitioners and licensed acupuncturists to treat ailments such as skin disease and arthritis using the sting of a live bee. The treatment involves placing a live bee, held by tweezers, on the affected area of the body and simply allowing it to sting the patient.

Bee venom represents a complex composition of polypeptides, enzymes, amines, lipids and amino acids.

In 2003, the first standardized and federal regulated injectable form of honeybee venom known as Apitoxin (purified Apis mellifera toxin) was patented in Korea and it is awaiting United States FDA approval branded as Apitox.

Bee Venom Therapy is a treatment modality which involves the injection of bee venom into the skin.In humans, bee venom has been used as an anti-inflammatory medicine to relieve pain and treat chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Recent studies have also shown that bee venom has radio-protective, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities.

References

Castro HJ, Mendez-Lnocencio JI, Omidvar B, Omidvar J, Santilli J, Nielsen HS Jr, Pavot AP, Richert JR, Bellanti JA.2005. A phase I study of the safety of honeybee venom extract as a possible treatment for patients with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis.Allergy Asthma Proc. 26:470-476.

Cherbuliez T. 2013. Apitherapy – the use of honeybee products. In: Grassberger, M., R.A. Sherman, O. Gileva, C.M.H. Kim & K. Y. Mumcuoglu (Eds). Biotherapy – History, Principles and Practice: A Practical Guide to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Disease using Living Organisms. Springer Pub., Heidelberg, pp. 113-146.

Kim CMH. 1997. Apitherapy. In: Mizrahi et al. (eds). Potentiating Health and the Crisis of the Immune System. Plenum Press, N. York, pp. 243-271.

Kim CH. 2013. Apitherapy – Bee venom therapy.In: Grassberger, M., R.A. Sherman, O. Gileva, C.M.H. Kim & K. Y. Mumcuoglu (Eds). Biotherapy – History, Principles and Practice: A Practical Guide to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Disease using Living Organisms. Springer Pub., Heidelberg, pp. 77-112.