Principle Facts Regarding Bee Venom Therapy For Lyme Disease

By Brenda Warner


Bee venom as the name suggests refers to poison produced by bees that is very painful when it comes into contact with skin. The good news is it can be used to make medicine. Bee venom therapy for lyme disease is one of the oldest treatments that exist. The treatment is also indicated in a number of conditions including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, neuralgia and some inflammatory conditions.

The agent is composed of biogenic amines, peptides and enzymes. Over eighteen components obtained from it have pharmaceutical capabilities. The mechanisms of action of this therapy are believed to be modification of the immunity and production of cortisol. The therapeutic agent is packaged in ointments, creams and most commonly injections.

Ironically, the traditional method of application has been shown to be the most effective as it involves direct stinging without subjecting the venom through technological processes. Potency of the agent is directly related to availability of pollen grains for the bees. This is maximum during the fall season and lowest in winter.

The therapy is likely to be effective in people who are allergic to bee stings. A specified number of shots when given subcutaneously provide ninety nine percent protection. Over the next half to a full decade, the possibility of reacting to venom is between five to ten percent. The purified form has been tried, tested and approved by the Food and Drug Administration, FDA.

Every kind of drug comes with its own side effects. The most common side effects with this agent include swelling, redness, and itching. When the agent gets into the blood system, it can cause other unwanted effects such as difficulty in breathing, heart palpitations, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. To minimize this adverse reactions, the shots should be given by competent medical professional.

A given category of people do not qualify for this kind of therapy due to serious complications that come with it. People with autoimmune disease and expectant women are among individuals that fall under this category. In autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, immunity system flares up upon injection with the agent, killing even more cells in the body. If expectant women have to go through the therapy, care must be taken to prevent overdose as this may lead to miscarriage.

As a precaution, professional should always carry with them a resuscitation kit when administering the shots. This is because some people may go into anaphylactic shock. Apart from the already mentioned side effects, they may become slurred in speech, confused and may lose consciousness. This requires quick intervention through an epinephrine shot.

When all else has failed, therapy using bee venom can prove to be a savior in many cases. However, additional research is needed in particular cases to prove for sure that they can be effective. For instance, it is not enough to assume that the therapy can be a remedy in arthritis just because a majority of bee farmers are immune to the disease. This treatment mode for other conditions such as nerve pain, and multiple sclerosis need to be investigated further.




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