Related Terms

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Background

• Apitherapy, also known as bee venom therapy, is the use of beehive products, including honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly and bee venom in the treatment of health conditions. Bee venom is considered a rich source of enzymes, peptides and biogenic amines. It is a colorless clear liquid characterized by a sweet taste. Bee venom is soluble in water and insoluble in alcohol and ammonium sulfate. When bee venom comes in contact with air it forms grayish-white crystals.
• Report about a Peculiar Connection Between the Beestings and Rheumatism, published by the physician Phillip Terc, sparked the modern use of bee venom to alleviate physical illnesses in 1888. More recently, Charles Mraz popularized bee venom therapy as a treatment for many autoimmune disorders until his death in 1997.
• Depending on the disease that is being treated, bee venom can be used in a cream, liniment, ointment or injection form. Bee venom solutions are also used in Europe and China with electroporesis or ultrasonophoresis.
• The most common conditions treated with apitherapy are multiple sclerosis and arthritis, but the condition that has the most scientific evidence supporting the use of apitherapy is post-herpetic neuralgia (herpes zoster pain).

Technique

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Theory/Evidence

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Safety

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Author Information

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References

Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to www.naturalstandard.com. Selected references are listed below.

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