What is Apitherapy? 

More commonly referred to as bee therapy, the word, Apitherapy, comes from the Latin term, apis, which means bee.  Apitherapy is an alternative branch of medicine which uses products derived from bees, including venom, honey, pollen and royal jelly. Therapies involving the honey bee have existed for thousands of years and may be as old as human medicine itself.

Ancient rock art of early hunter-gatherers depicts the honeybee as a source of natural medicine. Bee venom therapy was practiced in ancient Egypt, Greece, and China—three Great Civilizations known for their highly developed medical systems. Hippocrates, the Greek physician known as the “Father of Medicine", recognized the healing virtues of bee venom for treating arthritis and other joint problems. Today, growing scientific evidence suggests that various bee products promote healing by improving circulation, decreasing inflammation, and stimulating a healthy immune response.

It is important to note that Apitherapy is not only the use of bee venom for healing, often called Bee Sting Therapy, but it also involves the use of all the hive products, like honey, pollen and royal jelly. Any single one or combination may be used. Depending on the condition being treated, these products are sometimes mixed with other ingredients, specifically various essential oils. As a traditional folk remedy that has been used in many other countries for centuries, Apitherapy takes advantage of the healing power contained in honeybee venom, which helps to alleviate pain and discomfort associated with serious conditions like multiple sclerosis, arthritis, lupus and Lyme disease.

Besides the two percent of the U.S. population that is allergic to bees, most people stand to benefit from Apitherapy treatment. While it may not necessarily cure all conditions, the venom can at least keep diseases at bay without imposing harmful side effects like drugs do. Aside from the temporary pain of the sting itself, there are virtually no other negative side effects from Apitherapy.

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