Bee stings, bee-venom therapy, and apitherapy are synonymous terminology. Bee-venom therapy is considered an unproven technique, yet there are fifty doctors in the United States that claim their patients have had success treating arthritis with bee therapy.

Bee venom contains eighteen active substances known to have a strong anti-inflammatory effect. One of the substances, mellitin, is said to be 100 times more potent than cortisone. Adolapin, another substance in bee venom, has anti-inflammatory and pain-blocking properties.

Bee-Therapy Research

Bee therapy started after beekeepers noticed that after being stung numerous times, their arthritis symptoms were relieved. The technique is used more commonly in Eastern Europe, Asia, and South America.

One researcher from New Jersey published a study of 108 osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients who had failed conventional treatment. Initially, the study participants received twice-weekly injections. The number of injections was increased until the patients improved. On average, the study participants showed improvement after twelve injections. The study, though, was not a double-blind, placebo-controlled study as is necessary if research is to be taken seriously.

Warning about Bee Therapy

One percent to 5 percent of the population is allergic to bee venom. A patient who is set to start apitherapy or bee therapy must first undergo allergy testing. Though side effects to bee venom are usually mild, people who are allergic to bee stings could have a fatal reaction.

Decisions about and preparation for bee therapy should be taken very seriously. Some patients have experienced good results from bee therapy, but have had to stop because the injections or bee stings were too painful. It takes a commitment and it's not easy to endure.