| As far back as around 400 B.C., Hippocrates - the | | | | considering this course of treatment. |
| Greek physician commonly referred to as the "father | | | | Is Bee Venom A Proven Technique? |
| of medicine", used bee venom to treat joint pain and | | | | Although bee venom therapy is largely an unproven |
| swelling, in fact bee venom therapy has been around | | | | technique, a small number of U.S physicians have |
| for thousands of years. | | | | reported good results using the substance to treat |
| Reference's to the treatment can be found in ancient | | | | arthritic conditions. |
| Egypt and Greek medical writings. | | | | Treatments of honeybee venom therapy, or |
| Also known as apitherapy, the technique is more | | | | 'Apitherapy' supposedly started after bee-keepers, |
| widely used in Eastern Europe, Asia and South | | | | who were stung many times, noticed their arthritis |
| America. Today many people still find the stings of | | | | pains were relieved. Some practitioners still use live |
| honeybees helpful when addressing conditions such as | | | | bee stings to deliver the venom. |
| rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and osteoarthritis. | | | | Bee stings are by no means a cure-all & there's |
| Honeybee venom contains many active substances | | | | no way of knowing if they will work for you, without |
| one of which is 'Mellitin', an anti-inflammatory agent | | | | trying, which could be dangerous without the |
| which is known to be more than one hundred times | | | | appropriate medical supervision. And to cap it all, we |
| stronger than cortisone. | | | | shouldn't forget bee stings are not pleasant. |
| These substances stimulate the body's release of the | | | | If you do decide you would like to try bee stings, speak |
| hormone cortisol as well as neurotransmitters such as | | | | with your doctor. It's important that you be prepared |
| dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin, all of which | | | | for a severe allergic reaction by having a bee sting |
| can help relieve the pain, stiffness and swelling of | | | | allergy kit on hand - even if you've never reacted |
| arthritis. | | | | negatively to bee stings in the past. Although the side |
| Caution.... Allergic Reactions | | | | effects of bee-venom therapy usually are mild, an |
| Yes it does sound like a quick fix for your arthritis pain, | | | | allergic reaction to a sting could potentially be deadly. |
| however, unfortunately bee stings are noted for | | | | Is Apitherapy a Viable Option For My Arthritis? |
| triggering an allergic reactions called 'Anaphylaxis' or | | | | It's true that bee stings may help your arthritis, but in |
| Anaphylaxis shock. | | | | my opinion should probably be avoided, due to the risk |
| Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening type of allergic | | | | involved. |
| reaction, so caution should be shown if you are | | | | |