Apitherapy: what is it, indications for use

Apitherapy is a medical procedure in which bee products are used. It got its name in honor of the unique composition of bee venom – apitoxin. Treatment with bees is practiced in order to eliminate the symptoms of serious diseases. But the procedure has a number of contraindications that you need to familiarize yourself with before starting therapy.

What is apitherapy

Treatment with bee venom is called apitherapy. The therapeutic technique involves the introduction of bee venom under the skin by the bite of a live bee. The procedure became widespread in 1959. After the methodology was recognized by the Ministry of Health, highly specialized specialists began to be trained in educational institutions.

Apitherapy is an effective way to deal with dangerous diseases. The procedure includes not only treatment with bee stings, but also the use of other bee products. The procedure has a cumulative effect. But improvements are noticeable after the first session.

The benefits of bee venom for the body

Bee therapy is based on knowledge of the benefits of bee venom for the human body. Apitoxin is produced by a large gland, which has a direct connection with the sting of the bee. The stinging apparatus is considered the main way to protect an insect from potentially dangerous objects. When bitten, about 0,2 mg of bee venom is released from the gland. It has a transparent color and a thick consistency.

The nature of the impact of bee venom on the human body is determined by the dosage. A single bite is not capable of harming health. In this case, there is a positive effect on the body. The most pronounced properties of bee venom include:

• improving the quality of sleep;
• bringing the body into tone;
• stabilization of the nervous system;
• elimination of pain syndrome;
• normalization of blood circulation by expanding blood vessels and capillaries;
• restoration of appetite.

Effects on the body

After apitherapy, a change in the parameters of the general blood test is noted. The level of hemoglobin rises and the ESR decreases. The introduction of bee venom into the body through a bite promotes blood thinning and improves heart function. Doctors recommend apitherapy to people suffering from atherosclerosis, since bee venom reduces the amount of bad cholesterol in the body.

In some cases, apitoxin is able to produce a diuretic effect. With a tendency to an allergic reaction, bee venom helps to reduce the sensitivity of the body. If the bite is made in the place of scar tissue, then the scar gradually dissolves, due to the acceleration of regenerative functions. Positive dynamics is also observed in the treatment of osteochondrosis, bruises and intervertebral hernias with the help of apitherapy. The benefits of bee stings are due to the rich composition of the poison, which includes:

• esters;
• toxic peptides;
• amino acids;
• minerals;
• enzymatic proteins.

The harm and benefits of bee treatment

In some cases, apitherapy treatment can be harmful to health. This applies to patients with diabetes and people suffering from kidney and heart failure. In these cases, a repeated sting of a bee carries a mortal danger. In the presence of an allergic reaction to bee venom, apitherapy can lead to Quincke’s edema, which often ends in death. The following manifestations of an allergic reaction are also possible:

• skin rashes;
• tearing;
• swelling of mucous surfaces;
• itching;
• deterioration in general well-being.

The accumulation of poison in the body can lead to toxic poisoning. This process is accompanied by severe nausea, vomiting and dizziness. The patient’s working capacity decreases, and there are difficulties with falling asleep. To avoid unwanted reactions, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications before treatment.

The beneficial effect of treatment with bee stings in each individual case is manifested individually. It depends on the initial state of the body and the existing problems. Apitherapy improves the functioning of all life support systems. It starts metabolic processes and promotes the removal of harmful substances from the body. Entering the body in small doses, bee venom eliminates inflammation and relieves pain. Patients suffering from intense pain notice an improvement in well-being after the second apitherapy session.

A bee sting helps relieve muscle spasms. It helps to get rid of pain of various etiologies and relieve the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The analgesic effect is achieved as a result of shock therapy. During a bite, the body activates the production of normal antibodies that prevent the reproduction of atypical proteins.

Indications for the use of apitherapy

Apitherapy is an effective way to treat with bee products. It is practiced in a wide variety of cases, starting with a common cold, ending with thrombophlebitis and osteochondrosis. Before medical manipulations, it is recommended to consult with your doctor. Indications for apitherapy are as follows:

• arthritis;
• migraine and headache;
• neurological disorders;
• skin diseases;
• cardiovascular pathologies;
• irregularities in the respiratory system;
• keloid scars;
• allergic manifestations;
• condition after a stroke;
• gynecological diseases;
• erectile dysfunction and prostatitis in men;
• diseases of the spine and joints.

What is the danger of self-medication

Some patients do not consider it necessary to consult a specialist before being treated with bee stings. Self-diagnosis and self-treatment is fraught with serious complications. If you do not first make sure that there are no contraindications, you can expose yourself to mortal danger.

Apitherapy at home is allowed only for specially trained people. It is necessary to know the points at which the bee sting will not be as painful as in other places. There are generally accepted schemes for placing insects on the body. If they are not observed, therapy will be ineffective. It also increases the risk of the following complications:

• critical decrease in blood pressure;
• loss of consciousness;
• angioedema;
• severe pain at the site of the bite;
• skin rashes;
• headache and dizziness.

Apitherapy sting points

The procedure is carried out according to a certain scheme. Carrying out apitherapy at home, you need to know the sting points. Without this information, it will not be possible to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. They practice 2 main schemes for placing bees – in problem areas and biologically active points. Most often, bites provoke in the area of ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe shoulders and hips. It is in these places that bee venom quickly penetrates into the lymphatic system. Painful places on the body are determined by palpation. Insects are placed directly on them.

Procedure Rules

An apitherapist is a specialist who provides treatment by introducing bee venom into the patient’s body. Therapy involves following certain rules. They concern both the procedure itself and the recovery period. These include the following:

• alcohol during treatment is contraindicated;
• before the procedure, it is important to conduct an apitoxin tolerance test;
• during the period of therapy it is not recommended to use potential allergens;
• after bee stings, lie down for 15-20 minutes;
• the total number of sessions varies from 10 to 15;
• after visiting the sauna or bath, it is strictly forbidden to carry out manipulations.

The bee is held with medical tweezers. It is applied to the affected area and pressed with the belly to the skin surface. After the sting is separated from the body of the insect, it is removed.

An important influence on the effectiveness of treatment with bee venom has the principle of selecting insects. It is believed that autumn bees have more apitoxin in their reservoir than any other. The benefits of poison are determined by the nutrition of bees. From this factor depends on how effective the procedure will be in the fight against a particular disease.

Test for tolerance

Even if there are no contraindications to the procedure, an allergy test should be performed before it is carried out. On the first day of medical therapy, 2-3 bees are placed in the lumbar region. With a high risk of developing allergies, it is better to limit yourself to a single bee sting. It is important to quickly remove the sting from under the skin. Within a few days after the procedure, the body’s response to apitoxin is monitored. It is advisable to take a blood and urine test. In the absence of unpleasant symptoms, the number of insects used is gradually increased.

Diet during treatment

To avoid the occurrence of unwanted side effects, it is necessary to monitor nutrition during apitherapy. Doctors recommend introducing honey into the diet in parallel. It is enough to use 1-2 tbsp. l. in a day. Allergenic foods must be discarded. These include:

• citrus fruits;
• chocolate;
• nuts;
• spices;
• mushrooms;
• carbonated drinks;
• apples.

Bee venom treatment for varicose veins

With varicose veins, thinning of the venous network occurs as a result of an increase in the cavity of the veins. On this basis, painful sensations appear in the limbs, aggravated after physical exertion. Apitherapy has a local effect, promoting blood flow to the desired areas. Bees are placed over varicose veins.

Bee sting for gout

With gout, treatment with bee stings helps to eliminate swelling and lower the uric acid content in the body. Due to the presence of apamin in bee venom, metabolism is accelerated. Insects are placed on acupuncture points. The analgesic effect persists for 7 hours after the bite. Treatment is carried out in several stages. After each stage, a break of 3 months is taken.

Treatment with bee stings for prostate adenoma

To stimulate the prostate gland, the bee is pressed to any place in the perineum. The bite promotes a rush of blood to the genitals. Due to this, stagnant processes and the accompanying pain sensations are eliminated. The duration of treatment is determined by the severity of the disease.

How to treat multiple sclerosis with bee stings

The benefit of apitherapy in the treatment of multiple sclerosis is due to the effect of remyelination. It manifests itself in a positive effect on the state of the nervous system. Bee stings activate the immune processes in the body and start the metabolism. After the first sessions, the patient’s state of health normalizes and mood improves.

Can a hernia be treated with a bee sting?

Intervertebral hernia is a serious pathology that limits motor activity. It appears as a result of injury or excessive weight lifting. Painful sensations caused by a hernia can be relieved by apitherapy. Reviews of people who have gone through the procedure are positive. Bee stinging is often combined with a course of physiotherapy.

Apitherapy in the treatment of joints, back pain, osteochondrosis

The most pronounced effectiveness of apitherapy is observed in the treatment of osteochondrosis and pain in the joints. In these cases, insects are placed in the lumbar region, elbows and knees, as well as on the neck. The entry of bee venom into the blood stimulates local blood flow. With each session, the pain becomes less pronounced.

Contraindications for apitherapy

Treatment with bees is called apitherapy for a reason. The procedure involves the substance apitoxin, which in large quantities provokes poisoning. Therefore, before treatment, it is important to familiarize yourself with the contraindications to the procedure. This will help prevent unwanted reactions. Contraindications are as follows:

• weakened state of the body after exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• tuberculosis;
• malignant tumors;
• deviations in the work of the pancreas and kidneys;
• dysfunction of the circulatory system;
• infectious diseases;
• Addison’s disease;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding period.

Conclusion

Bee treatment is available to most middle-income people. The cost of one procedure is 250-400 rubles.