Some Important Aspects On Bee Venom Therapy For Lyme Disease

By Ruth Jones


Venom therapy has been in existence for many centuries. Its first use is believed to have been among beekeepers in South America, Asia and Eastern Europe. The treatment, also referred to as apitherapy has been attempted for many conditions including multiple sclerosis, asthma, Lyme disease and premenstrual syndrome. There are a number of important facts on bee venom therapy for Lyme disease that one should know if considering this form of treatment.

Lyme disease is a rapidly spreading infectious conditions that is caused by a bacterium known as Borrelia burgdoferi. The condition is transmitted form one person to another through a tick bite. Affected persons tend to complain about chronic fatigue that is most severe in early afternoons, non-healing infections affecting the jaw bone, joint pains, reduced libido, insomnia, emotional irritability, confusion and poor short term memory among others.

There are no specific guidelines to guide the use of bee venom. Commonly, therapy is initiated at high doses and tapered over several months as the symptoms of an illness begin to resolve. Other practitioners do it in the reverse; starting at a low dose and increasing it gradually until therapeutic levels are attained. As far as the source of the therapeutic agent is concerned, two approaches can be used; exposing the client to the natural sting by a swarm of bees or injecting the commercially available product.

How exactly he venom achieves its effects is not clearly understood. However, research has helped identify at least forty active ingredients within it. The most significant among them is a peptide known as mellitin. This peptide has strong anti-inflammatory properties that rival those of cortisone. The peptide also has the ability to inhibit the reproduction of Borrelia burgodoferi which helps to control the infection.

There are several side effects that one should look out for when on this treatment. In general, the effects are similar to what one experiences when they are stung by the bee. They include swelling, redness and itchiness of the injected area. In about 5% of people, allergic reactions may be noted. It is important that everyone intending to have this therapy undergoes sensitivity just as a precautionary measure.

The conventional treatment for this condition involves the use of antibiotics. Intravenous metronidazole has been shown to be effective (mainly against the cystic stage). The oral form of the drug is injurious to the liver. An alternative drug that works in the same way as metronidazole is tinidazole. Tinidazole has been shown to have less toxicity. Antibiotics may be combined with proteolytic enzymes.

Venom can be obtained commercially in vials. You will be well advised to get in touch with a physician or an allopathic to take you through the initial stages of the therapy. They will help determine whether you have any sensitivity to the therapeutic agent and also teach you how you can administer to yourself from then on.

Bee venom is an important therapeutic agent even though it has not been approved for use for most of the conditions it is said to treat. Ongoing research has helped reveal more information about this agent and hopefully it will be taken up by pharmaceutical companies in the near future to be repackaged into a more predictable product. For now, there is need to be very cautious and to consult a physician whenever in doubt.




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