Apitherapy is a practice which consists of treating various ailments using products from bees. In this sheet, you will discover this practice in more detail, its principles, its history, its benefits, who practices it, how a session takes place and finally, the contraindications.

From the Latin apis for bee, apitherapy is a discipline that consists of using the products harvested, processed or secreted by the bee – honey, propolis, pollen, royal jelly and venom – for dietary and therapeutic purposes. . Since the beginning of the 1950s, studies carried out around the world have made it possible to better understand the virtues traditionally attributed to honey and propolis, and to discover the previously unknown benefits of pollen and royal jelly. . However, the most clearly therapeutic application of bee products – and one of the oldest – remains the use of bee venom to treat chronic rheumatic and arthritic conditions, certain inflammatory diseases such as tendonitis and bursitis, as well as multiple sclerosis.

The main principles

Recent research has identified, in part, the components of the venom that are responsible for its action. It indeed contains certain anti-inflammatory agents, in particular adolapine and melittin. Known to be 100 times more potent than hydrocortisone, melittin stimulates the production of cortisol, a steroid hormone that also acts as an anti-inflammatory. In general, we agree that these components have a toning and stimulating action, that they strengthen the immune system and help detoxify the body.

Data regarding the efficacy of apitherapy are based almost entirely on anecdotal evidence. There are no scientific studies which would have demonstrated the therapeutic effects in a really convincing way.

Contribute to the treatment of epilepsy

For the past 30 years, the Chinese, among others, have combined acupuncture with bee venom to treat epilepsy. The method involves dipping the needle in the venom solution or placing a little of the solution on the acupuncture point before stimulating it.

Contribute to the treatment of Parkinson’s disease

According to Rock Domerego, biologist and therapist, president of the European Association of Apitherapy, it is now possible to increase the action of acupuncture by replacing traditional needles with bee stings to relieve ailments as well. as serious as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease1 But, again, these claims have not been supported by official science.

Decrease pain

Since 2001, Korean researchers have published around twenty animal studies that evaluated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential of bee venom and its ability to reduce pain or stiffness. For example, highly concentrated doses of purified bee venom would have helped to improve a certain type of arthritis in rats. In humans, few rigorous studies have been identified to date.

Relieve arthritis

Researchers believe that this technique may have some effectiveness in relieving musculoskeletal pain. Indeed, in some scientific studies, the venom was injected at acupuncture points while the placebo treatment consisted of injecting a saline solution rather than real venom. The pain experienced was significantly lower in the subjects receiving the actual injections. However, a lot of uncertainties persist as to the concentration of bee venom to use and the ideal number of injections.

Contribute to the treatment of multiple sclerosis

The treatment of multiple sclerosis with apitherapy raises some hopes. Testimonies, which can be found on several apitherapy sites, report desperate patients who have seen their pain subside, their energy increase and their vision improve. However, the benefits are still more than uncertain and animal studies are very preliminary.

Given the few studies on its efficacy and safety, apitherapy should in no way replace an effective treatment. This therapy is painful and difficult to administer. If used, medical supervision is necessary. Although the side effects attributable to bee venom are usually moderate, the patient, even if he has not been diagnosed with allergies before, should be prepared to respond to anaphylactic shock. This is because a person can develop the allergy a few weeks after being bitten. An untreated allergic reaction can be fatal.

The specialist

Bee venom therapy is widely used in Asia (China, Korea, Japan), Europe (Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, France, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Switzerland), and increasingly in the United States and in Canada. In 1995, it was estimated that more than 10 people were involved in the world. These include doctors (who usually use syringes), acupuncturists, homeopaths, naturotherapists and beekeepers.

Course of a session

The venom is administered either directly through bee stings or from a syringe containing diluted venom solution. The traditional method, which is still practiced today, consists in depositing, one at a time using forceps, live bees on the subject’s skin. They are more particularly placed on painful areas or on acupuncture points. As soon as the stinger penetrates the skin, the bee loses part of its abdomen and dies within hours. To bypass the direct application of bees, various techniques can extract the venom from the bees without them dying. To treat tendonitis, for example, two or three sessions of two to ten injections would suffice. For a serious disorder, such as multiple sclerosis, the treatment could be spread over a very long period and require two treatments per week, with 25 to 30 injections each time. Since apitherapy is not an officially recognized technique, to know the “dosage” you will have to rely on someone who has already experienced the approach. It is also possible to contact a “therapist” through one of the groups of apitherapy followers (see Sites of interest).

Become a Apitherapist

No training in apitherapy leads to an official diploma. Organizations bringing together associations and apitherapy practitioners often offer workshops, and practitioners pass on their knowledge in the field. Each year, the American Apitherapy Society organizes a three-day training seminar, with demonstrations, aimed at promoting new applications of apitherapy9. A training program in French10 is also offered on the Internet.

Contraindications of apitherapy

It is estimated that around 2% (some sources indicate up to 5%) of the population is allergic to bee venom. However, in rare cases, this allergy can prove to be fatal. Before starting therapy, therefore, it is best to undergo an allergy test. It is also recommended that you always have an epinephrine auto-injector (Epipen®, Twinject®) on hand.

Apitherapy is as old as beekeeping itself. Knowledge of the medicinal use of bee venom dates back to ancient times. Chinese texts dating back 2 years make mention of it. Likewise, Hippocrates (000-460 BC), the father of medicine, considered venom an ideal remedy for treating arthritis and joint problems. In the 377th century, Austrian physician Phillip Terc, a pioneer of apitherapy in modern medicine, used bee venom to treat rheumatic diseases. In his report published in 1888 (Report about a peculiar connection between the beestings and rheumatism), he noted that no complications arose during the 25 years during which he treated more than 500 patients with rheumatism, and practiced more of 39 treatments.

Charles Mraz is also considered a great master of apitherapy. He practiced for over 60 years as both a beekeeper and therapist in the state of Vermont in the United States, and passed his know-how around the world until his death in 1999. In 1928, Franz Kretchy developed a technique to bypass the direct application of the venom by bee stings by injecting a solution using a syringe. Although the approach is controversial, it has continued to generate interest. Several organizations, which bring together individuals and associations involved in apitherapy and related fields, including Apitherapy.com and the American Apitherapy Society, ensure that the most recent discoveries in the field are transmitted.