"Everything on earth is venom, nothing lacks venomousness. Only a dose turns substance into venom or medicine", Parcels the great healer used to say more than 300 years ago. Indeed the venom of many animals in small doses has been successfully used for healing various diseases in orthodox and alternative medicine since ancient times. Bee venom is the leader in this list. In most cases, bee venom is more effective than synthetic products. Bee venom therapists apply bee venom to specific points on the surface of the body to treat health. The therapeutic benefits of bee venom have been known for years. Throughout the history of civilization, bee venom has been well known as a medicine. Its therapeutic effect

and benefits are described in the works of ancient natural scientists and doctors, such as Hippocratus (IV century AD), Plinius (I century), Halen (II century). Nowadays, an extensive research all around the world is being done on its medical applications. Conditions. Bee sting therapy being used for Arthritis was recorded as far back as Hippocrates and Galen in 130AD. The treatment still has widespread support in many European countries and China in spite of the unpleasantness of a course of bee stings. The world scientific literature contains more than 1500 articles on bee venom.

Bee venom therapy is widely accepted and used in China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and many European countries like Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France. In Canada and the USA there are a growing number of people who are interested and accepting this kind of treatment.

Bee Venom Therapy is a classic example of the homeopathic principle, which states that a substance that produces the symptoms of a disease is a cure for that disease. Rheumatic diseases result in swelling, pain and inflammation. A bee sting causes the same symptoms. The sting stimulates the immune system to relive the inflammation caused by the bee venom, while relieving the symptoms of the rheumatic disease at the same time. Bee Venom Therapy stimulates the immune system through the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands. This therapeutic effect stimulates the immune system rather than suppressing it, completely contrary to the effects of many drugs. Bee venom is a rich source of enzymes, peptides and biogenic amines. There are at least 18 active components in the venom, which have some pharmaceutical properties. The effect mechanism of the venom is not entirely known yet. Scientists believe it can modify the way the immune system functions in the body and contribute to increased cortisol production. Bee venom peptides have systemic action: anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-pyretic, stimulating vascular permeability. It has also been proven that bee venom is a strong immunological agent and stimulates the body's protective mechanisms against disease. There are different mechanisms of bee venom action in the body - indirectly through hormone system and directly on the cardiovascular system.

Indirectly, through hormone system: The healing effect of Bee venom is caused by its stimulating the function of adrenal gland indirectly through hypothesis. Due to this stimulation process, more adrenal hormones such as cortisone and hydrocortisone are generated in Blood. These hormones provide healing effect, increasing body resistance against various unfavourable factors. Bee venom effects cardiovascular system directly:

It widens blood vessels and decreases blood pressure. Reduces blood coagulability and increases hemoglobin level. Bee venom is very effective against Hypertension.

Russian scientists have discovered that bee venom contributes to capillary vessels and small artery distention, increasing the blood surge to the organs and promoting metabolism improvement. Since bee venom increases the content of haemoglobin and leukocytes in blood and decreases blood thickness and coagulability, it can be very helpful for people having susceptibility to trombophlebitis. Bee venom promotes decrease of cholesterol content in blood, provides tonic effect for a Heart muscle, and decreases blood pressure. It improves patients overall state of health, appetite and sleep, increases vitality. It is good for body strengthening and pain relief.

Method of Application

Applying the venom topically provided a long-lasting effect and offers significant benefits in arthritic. It can be used for reducing inflammation and for pain relief in variety of medical conditions. In general, the therapy starts with the determination of whether the patient is allergic to the venom by administering a small amount of venom intradermally If no allergic reaction develops within a

certain time, the therapy is continued with the administration of one to two bee stings or injections. The therapy is carried out every other day by gradually increasing the number of bee stings or injections. The length of the therapy is determined by the nature and severity of the condition. Painful areas are first located by applying firm pressure with a finger. These areas frequently relate to Acupuncture points and when stings are applied to them, the benefit is enhanced. This technique is sometimes called 'bee acupuncture'. A bee is removed from a jar or hive with tweezers, held over an area of the body, which it then stings. The number, sites, and frequency of the stings depend on the patient and the problem. A simple tendonitis might just take a few stings, perhaps 2-3 at a session for 2-5 sessions. A more chronic problem like Arthritis can take 2-3 sessions a week, and several stings at a time, for 1 to 3 months. Multiple Sclerosis takes months to respond, though sometimes patients feel more energetic after a few sessions. Multiple Sclerosis patients who use bee venom insist that one must keep it up 2-3 times per week for 6 months in order to give it a full trial.

The stings are applied to the painful areas provoking an immune response. The red and swollen wheals demonstrate the vaso-dilatory effects of bee venom, drawing Blood to the site of the stings and activating the body's healing process. After 30 seconds or so the pain subsides and is replaced by a feeling of warmth. Bee venom is also injected under the Skin along with a local anaesthetic.

Some say that collecting the venom in vials loses some of its potency, but in many situations this is more realistic than finding a beekeeper or handling bees. Bee venom is also used in creams, liniments and ointments. The application of venom solution with electrophoresis or ultrasonophoresis is practiced in Europe and China. When combined with an oral therapy, such as vitamin therapy, good analgesic effects were obtained in cortisone-dependent patients suffering from rheumatoid polyarthritis.

Bee Venom is the product of the bee's sting and some people may be allergic to it. There can be many adverse reactions that can happen, but usually they cause a localized reaction with redness and swelling surrounding the sting area. A more severe reaction may result when the swelling to the whole limb causing problems with movement. The most severe reactions are when the person stung has intensive Skin redness, irritation and difficulty in breathing, which can result in loss of consciousness. This is also known as "anaphylactic reaction" and needs urgent medical help (If this is not forthcoming, death may result.) Bee venom therapy is an alternative form of healing. In the hands of a licensed practitioner, it is considered to be safe and can be used when the patient does not respond to conventional treatment methods. Several patients suffering from Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis noticed an increase in their Skin temperature with a change in the Blood circulation. However, good results were shown in all the sciatic nerve cases, and those with nerve and articular pains. In chronic inflammatory nerve affections the results were also very good, with ceasing of pains and a partial recuperation of movement. Currently bee venom is being used with some success to treat MS. The enzyme 'Hyaluronidase' dissolves scar tissue on the myelin sheath, improving synaptic transmission. Side by side with traditional bee sting therapy it is possible now to use bee venom in health products as a food supplement. New Zealand happened to be the first country in the world that started using Bee Venom as an ingredient in products for health (blend of honey and venom). Thus, consumers have got now possibility in using bee venom therapy, but without painful bee sting and getting silimilar healing effect. Oral intake of honey with added bee venom is infinitely more pleasant than old-fashioned Bee sting therapy and much more acceptable form of treatment. bee venom honeys provides an alternative method of achieving the possible health benefits of bee sting therapy but without enduring the pain of bee stings. Bee venom products range includes not only honey and bee venom blends, but also Skin Care creams and gels, and the like. Dosages of the products can be easily adjusted, depending on the individual health condition.

Bee Venom therapy can be useful in a wide variety of medical situations. It is reasonable to try bee venom therapy in any clinical situation where nothing else works. Bee venom therapy has been used for centuries as a natural anti-inflammatory for chronic pain. BVT applies as part of an overall approach, which includes nutrition, vitamins supplements, minerals and exercises. A partial list of medical studies reported that bee venom was used in the following cases:

Rheumatological: acute and chronic Bursitis, ankylotic spondylitis deformans, fibrositis, juvenile Arthritis, lateral epicondylitis ( Tennis Elbow ), myalgia, Osteoarthritis, polyarthritis deformans, psoriatic Arthritis, rheumatoid Arthritis, traumatic Arthritis. Cardiovascular: acute rheumatic carditis, arrythmias, atherosclerosos, Hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease. Endocrine: cortisol secretion, hypoglycaemia, irregular periods, mood swings, stimulates endogenous plasma ACTH. Immune system: AIDS, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, T-Cell suppression and B-Cell enhancement. Nervous system: chronic pain syndromes, Dupuytren`s contracture, lumbago neuralgia, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), peripheral neuritis, post-herpetic neuralgia, Sciatica. Dermatological: Corns, degranulating wounds, Eczema, mycosis fungoides, Psoriasis, scleroderma, seborrheic Dermatitis, topical ulcers.