What Is Apitherapy and What Are Its Applications?

We often hear about the many therapeutic as well as the cosmetic uses of honey. Some of us may also have read about the use of bee venom as a cosmetic procedure when used to erase signs of aging by celebrities such as Camilla Parker Bowles, Duchess of Cornwall.

All these and other uses made of bee products such as honey, venom, bee bread, pollen, royal jelly and propolis fall within the ambit of Apitherapy. Treatments that today constitute apitherapy have found mentioned in ancient practices of Egypt, China and Greece, however in modern times apitherapy refers mainly to the use of bee venom for various curative purposes.

ApitherapyThe active ingredient in bee venom is melittin, which is thought to have natural  anti-inflammatory properties, as well as antiviral and antibacterial abilities.

In addition the other proteins and peptides that bee venom includes are thought to have a beneficial immunogenic and neurotoxic impact.

There is anecdotal evidence to show that bee venom therapy can help to resolve a number of health problems, though this is not supported in clinical practice –

  • Incurable auto immune disorders such multiple sclerosis are thought to respond to bee venom therapy.
  • Inflammatory conditions such as arthritis are also thought to be helped with bee venom.
  • Bursitis and tendonitis are other conditions that are thought to be helped with apitherapy.
  • Herpes zoster or shingles is also a condition thought to improve with this therapy.
  • Cosmetic uses of the therapy include removal of blemishes such as scar tissue and scar pain.
  • Even allergic hay fever could be improved with the therapy.
  • Certain spinal problems also can be resolved with the help of apitherapy.
  • Certain fungal, bacterial and viral infections may also improve with this.
  • The therapy could help in healing burns, sprains, factures and physical trauma also.
  • There may even be beneficial impact on certain benign or cancerous tumors.

Other applications of Apitherapy

Propolis is a kind of bee glue found inside a bee hive that protects the hive from infection and is known for its strengthening and regenerative impacts.

Bee pollen is a source of enzymes and is known to have antioxidant activity and is a popular dietary supplement.

Royal jelly has long been important in Chinese medicine and is also use in apitherapy for different ailments.

Similarly bee bread is also used in apitherapy for various curative effects on health.

For more information about apitherapy, visit the nonprofit website dedicated to this alternative treatment.