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Bee Venom Therapy (BVT)

Article  in  Asian Journal of Nursing Education and Research · January 2015

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2996.2015.00058.0

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Neethu Jose
Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institute
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 Asian J. Nursing Edu. and Research 5(2): April-
April June 2015

ISSN 2231-1149 (Print) [Link]

2349-2996 (Online)

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Bee Venom Therapy (BVT)
Neethu Jose*
Assistant Professor, Jubilee Mission College of Nursing, Thrissur, Kerala
Corresponding Author Email: agnesfeb9@[Link]

ABSTRACT:
Bee venom therapy is the specialized form of apitherapy. Apitherapy is a medical concept for treating systemic
immune disease, allergic disease, viral and organic specific inflammatory [Link] venom therapy uses
honeybee [Link] venom has been used traditionally by ancient Egyptians as a remedy for the control of
pain and inflammation in arthritis. Bee venom also known as apitoxin contains more than 40 biologically and
pharmacologically active compound. The average life l span of ahoney bee is 4-66 weeks. In BVT healthy female
honey bees of 20days of age is used, from the species Scerana Indica. BVT is now practicing in Kerala in Idukki
and Wayanad district. BVT is the therapeutic application of honeybee venom, through live live bee stings, to bring
relief and healing for various spinal, neural, joint or other musculo-skeletal
musculo skeletal ailments. The bee stings stimulates
the immune system of the body and stimulates the production of cortisol-the
cortisol the natural steroid. BVT should be
started with allergic test, which is with a single bee sting. If there is no untoward reactions occurs the therapy
continuous. Recent studies have shown that bee venom produces both anti-inflammatory
anti inflammatory and anti
anti-nociceptive
effects via different mechanisms.

KEYWORDS: Bee Venom Therapy, bee sting therapy, Melittin, Apamin, Rheumatoid arthritis, Beevenom
acupuncture.

INTRODUCTION: BVT is the therapeutic application of honeybee venom,

Bee Venom Therapy (BVT) also called bee sting through live bee stings, to bring relief and healing for
therapy, is one type of Apitherapy or the therapeutic use various spinal, neural,
l, joint or other musculo
musculo-skeletal
of beehive products such as honey, royal jelly or bee ailments. It is believed that bee stings stimulates the
venom. The use of bees and bee products goes back to body’s immune system in specific locations. it may also
ancient Egypt, Greece, and China but Hungarian doctor increase the body’s production of cortisol.
Bodog Beck popularized the treatment.

Bee venom also known as Apitoxin contains more than

40 biologically and pharmacologically active compound-
compound
phospholipaseA2, histamine,
stamine, epinephrine, free
aminoacids and the peptides melittin and apamin.
Melittin, major component of bee venom, has anti- anti
tumor, antimicrobial, anti-nociceptive
nociceptive and anti
inflammatory activities.
Figure 1: Honey bee with its sting (posteriorly placed) embedded in
the patient’s skin

How it works? 4-6

Healing potency of bee venom stimulates the Adrenal
gland to produce [Link] also starts the immune
Received on 20.08.2014 Modified on 24.09.2014
Accepted on 12.10.2014 © A&V Publication all right reserved
system to produce a healing response in the injured area,
Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research 5(2): April-June
June 2015; Page156-161
Page156 and also spurs the production of endorphins
endorphins, the natural
pain killers. The antibacterial and antiviral properties
make the venom in fighting bacterial and viral ailments
137
 Asian J. Nursing Edu. and Research 5(2): April- June 2015

in CNS and elsewhere. Lastly, bee venom has the ability to kill cancer cells and
The presence of neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin can make malignant tumors close to skin surface
and nor-epinephrine which facilitates nerve transmission disappears. Bee venom contains peptides- melittin and
and healing in condition involving nerve disorders. This apamin, which have the ability to destroy cancerous
give bee venom the ability to travel along neural cells. when melittin binds with our antibodies,
pathways from the spine to various trigger points and immunotoxins are created, they penetrate to the DNA of
injured areas to help repair nerve damage and restore infected cell and destroy them. Apamin can travel from
mobility. blood stream and can cross blood-brain barrier into the
CNS thus facilitating healing process of neural disorder.

Indication1

Disease type Application, details

Arthritis Both osteoarthritis and rheumatic arthritis Rheumatic arthritis being more susceptible to BVT
Diseases of the central  Multiple sclerosis
and peripheral nervous  Dementia
system (CNS, PNS)  Post stroke paralysis
 Polyneuritis
 Ganglion nerve inflammation
 Cerebellar ataxy (muscular disfunction) Syringomyelia (pain of extremeties, headache), Inflammation of
facial nerve
 Myopathy (neuromuscular disease)
 Trigeminal neuralgia
 Posttraumatic inflammation of plexus nerve Inflammation of arachnoid CNS membrane
 Parkinson’s disease
Heart and blood system  Hypertension
 Arteriosclerosis
 Endarteritis (chronic inflammation of the inner layer of arteries)
 Angina pectoris
 Arrhythmia
Skin diseases  Eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis
 Furunculosis (recurring boil)
 Healing of cicatrices
 Baldness
Other disease  Ophthalmology
 Gastroenterology: colitis, ulcers, IBS
 Pulmonology: asthma, bronchitis, Otorinolaringology: pharingytis, tonsillitis, ear nerve neuritis
 Endocrinology
 Urology, gynecology
 bursitis
 tendenitis
 dissolving scar tissue(keloids)
 Herpes zooster

About 2% of the population may have allergic reactions to bee stings, the first step is to test the risk factor by
injecting a very small amount of bee venom underneath the skin or with a single sting. if no allergic reactions the
therapy continuous.

Beneficial and toxic biological effects of whole bee venom in animal and cell experiments1
Overall effect Specific effects
or target
Anti-inflammatory and Glucocorticoid-and aspirin like effects.
anti- arthritis action
Anti-cancer effects Antitumor effects on ovary, hepatoma, prostate, bladder, melanoma and renal cancers cells by different
mechanisms of action depending on the tumor type
Affects the central and  Stimulates many peripheral chemoreceptors, e.g of heart, sinocarotid, intestinal systems, affecting flow to
peripheral nervous system the CNS
(CNS, PNS)  Has cholinolytic action (against acetylcholine)
 Blocks transmission of the vegetative synapse and the polysynaptic neuronal paths
 Pain-soothing aspirin-like action
 Influence of brain EEG and behaviour patterns of animals, inhibiting their conditioned reflex patterns.
 Increases brain blood circulation

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 Asian J. Nursing Edu. and Research 5(2): April- June 2015

Anti-addictive effects BV acupuncture may modulate methamphetamine- induced hyperactivity, hyperthermia through activation of
the peripheral nerve and the central alpha (2)- adrenergic activation.
Heart and blood system  Increases coronary and peripheral blood circulation, improves the microcirculation of blood in the tissues,
 Slows down heart at lower doses and stimulates it at higher ones, lowers blood pressure, antiarhythmic
 Against blood coagulation fibrinolytic, stimulates the building of erythrocytes
Action on the immune Immunosuppressive and immunoactivating
system
Protection from radioation Improves regeneration of leucocytes and erythrocytes
Antibiotic fungicide and Bactericide action against different pathogens Action against Candida albicans, and inactivation of Herpes,
antiviral action Leukaemia and HIV viruses
Antihyperthermic Activates specific body systems to overcome hyperthermia
Gall bladder-intestine Increases fall flow and cholesterine and bilirubin concentrations
system
Endocrinological system Increases secretion of thyroid, hypophysis and of the hypothalamus hormones
Metabolic effects Increases protein and nucleotide metabolism
Liver protecting Potent suppressive effect on anti-apoptotic responses of TNF-alpha/Act D-treated hepatocytes
Growth increasing Increase of growth of chicken broilers
Toxic effects Allergenic, induces pain, cytotoxic, inhibits respiration, neurotoxic

The beneficial effects of bee sting can be attributed to  Incontinence of stool /urine
Melittin-an anti-inflammatory agent, hundred times  Fainting
stronger than cortisone.2  Loss of vision
 Hematologic abnormalities
Side effects3  Anaphylaxis
 Abdominal cramps  Seizure
 Nausea  Cardiac or respiratory arrest and death
 Vomiting

Main biological and therapeutic effects of bee venom and its components1
Fonts in red: potentially toxic effects
Component, % of total Effect
Melittin Biologically active peptide Main biologically active component Membrane-active, diminishes surface tension of
membranes Anti-inflammatory in very small doses; Stimulates smooth muscles; Increases
50-55 % capillary permeability increasing blood circulation and lowering the blood pressure, lowers
blood coagulation, immuno stimulatory and immunosuppressive, Radiation protective,
influences the central nervous system, Anticancer, Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral
Higher doses are inflammatory and haemolytic
Phospholipase A Enzyme hydrolysing Destroys phospholipids and dissolves the cell membrane of blood bodies; lowers the blood
phospholipids coagulation and blood pressure
10-12 % Induces inflammation, the strongest allergen and thus the most harmful BV component
Phospholipase B cleavage of the toxic Detoxicating activity
lysolecetin
1%
Hyaluronidase Catalyses hydrolysis of Catalyses the hydrolysis of proteins, thus enabling the penetrating of BV into the tissue;
hyoloronic acid, the tissue cement dilates blood vessels and increases their permeability, causing an increase of blood
1-2 % circulation; allergenic
Apamine Biologically active peptide Anti-inflammatory stimulating the release of cortisone, antiserotonine action Increases the
defence capability Immuno-supressor, stimulates the central nervous system in very small
2-3 % doses Higher doses are neurotoxic
MCD, mast cell degranulating- peptide 401 Lyses mast cells, releasing histamine, serotonine and heparine Melittine-like effect
2-3 % increasing capillary permeability increasing Anti-inflammatory simulates the central nervous
system
Adolapine Biologically active peptide Inhibits the specific brain enzymes cyclooxigenase and lipooxigenase Decreases
1% inflammations by, anti-rheumatic, decreases pain Inhibits the aggregation of erythrocytes
Relatively low toxicity
Protease-Inhibitors Biologically active Inhibits the activity of different proteases like trypsin., chymotprypsin, plasmin, thrombin,
peptides 3-4 % thus decreasing inflammation, anti-rheumatic Low toxicity
Secapin, tertiapin, cardiopep, minimin, Peptides, with an uncertain role in the physiological action of BV Antiradiation effects
procamine 3-5 % cardiopep has antiarhythmic effects
Histamine Neurotransmitter Dilates blood vessels, increasing the permeability of blood capillaries and increases blood
0.7-1.5 % circulation; Stimulates smooth muscles; Allergenic
Dopamine, Noradrenaline Neurotransmitters The low concentrations in BV do not cause physiological effects in mammals, but active
0.2-1.5 % when injected in invertebrates
Alarm pheromones 4-8 % Complex ethers, causing alarm of the bee colony and its defensive behaviour

139
 Asian J. Nursing Edu. and Research 5(2): April- June 2015

Counter-indications and allergy1  In case of hypotension, intra venous crystalloids

 The main counter indication to BVT is bee venom should be given. Vasopressors like dopamine and
allergy. Apitherapy should be used only after a BV norepinephrine may be needed for persistent hypotension
allergy test.  Antihistaminics should be used in addition to
 During acute and chronic infections epinephrine and not as its substitute. Diphenhydramine
 After vaccinations in a dosage of 50 mg IV can be given
 Chronic tuberculosis and hepatitis  Nebulized β2 agonist, salbutamol (2.5 mg diluted to
 Acute cancer 3 mL saline) can be used to relieve bronchospasm
 Children under 5 years old  Methylprednisolone (125–250mgIV) or intravenous
hydro- cortisone can be used
 Pregnancy, breast feeding
 Patients on beta blockers may respond poorly to
 Type 1 pancreatic diabetes
epine-phrine; glucagon is given to such patients to
 Renal insufficiency
counteract the beta blockade. Dose: 1–5 mg IV over 5
 hepatic failure min followed by 5–15 mcg/min infusion
 impaired cardiac functions and respiratory problems  Rapid removal of stinger is advocated. It should not
be squeezed out as it will release more venom from the
Complications2 venom sac.
 Hemolysis  For mild reactions, application of ice pack or diluted
 Kidney injury vinegar to the site of sting may be sufficient. Oral and
 Hepatotoxicity topical antihistaminics can also be used
 MI  Multiple beestings causing massive envenomation
should be treated more aggressively with epinephrine,
Treatment and Prevention for Venom Allergy7 antihistaminics, steroids and calcium gluconate (10 mL
Anaphylaxis is diagnosed in a patient with suspected of 10% solution slow IV) for hyperkalemia. Patient
exposure to allergen bee venom, if there is an acute onset should be observed for 12–24 hours for coagulopathy,
of illness with skin or mucosal involvement with one of renal and neurological damage.
the following:
 Respiratory compromise (dyspnea, bronchospasm, CONCLUSION:
wheezing, hypoxemia, stridor) The use of bee venom as a therapeutic agent for the
 Hypotension (Systolic BP <90 mm of Hg or 30% relief of joint pains dates back to Hippocrates, and
decrease from the base line), syncope or evidence of end references to the treatment can be found in ancient
organ damage Egyptian and Greek medical writings as well. Also
known as apitherapy, the technique is widely used in
Management Eastern Europe, Asia, and South America. The beneficial
 Out of hospital: At the first signs of any clinical effects of bee stings can be attributed to melittin, an anti-
manifestations of anaphylaxis, the patient should self- inflammatory agent. There is no time frame with any
administer epinephrine, if available (adult dose, 0.3 mL ailment since people do respond differently because of
of 1:1000 intramuscular; pediatric dose, 0.01 mL/kg of the nature of the injury or disease or their body’s health
1:1000 intramuscular). Susceptible patients may even status.
use aerosolized epinephrine from a metered-dose inhaler
(10–20 doses) to counteract the effects of laryngeal
REFERENCE:
edema, bronchoconstriction, and other manifestations of 1. Stefan Bogdanov, Bee Venom: Composition, Health, Medicine:
anaphylaxis A Review, Bee Product Science, 11 April 2011 ,1-16
 In-hospital management 2. Adel Nazmi Alqutub, Ibrahim Masoodi, Khalid Alsayari, Ahmed
 Assess airway patency, breathing and circulation. Alomair: Bee sting therapy-induced hepatotoxicity: A case report,
World Journal of Hepatology 2011 October 27; 3(10): 268-270
Establish intravenous (IV) access 3. ALS untangles 13:Beevenom, report, Amyotrophic lateral
 Aqueous epinephrine (1:1000), in a dose of 0.3–0.5 sclerosis 2011; 12: 471-472
mL is for adults and 0.01 mL/kg (not exceeding 0.3 mL) 4. http/[Link]/pubmed22027265,22109081
for children should be given. In case of profound 5. [Link]/aboutnci/servingpeople/cancer-research-
progress/advances/nanobees
hypotension, skin perfusion is hampered. In such cases, 6. http//[Link]/wiki/Apamin
2–5 mL of epinephrine (1:10,000) should be given slow 7. Tarun Kumar Dutta, V Mukta, Indian Guidelines and Protocols:
IV or an IV infusion can be set up by mixing 1 mg of Bee Sting, Toxicology,417-420 available from
epinephrine in 250 ml saline and be given at the rate of [Link]/medicine_update_2013/[Link]
0.25–1 mL/min. If IV access cannot be established,
epinephrine can be given through endotracheal tube,
intralingually or intramuscularly

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