Treatment of Lyme Disease with Bee Venom - Part II

Contrary to popular believe, a bee sting can actually do more good than harm. In fact, you're more likely to be struck by lightning than to have an anaphylatic reaction. But it's best to be prudent in the use of this toxic and potent venom attempting techniques such as this. For Part I of this article, see our blog posting of Sept 2011...

TREATMENT OF LYME DISEASE WITH BEE VENOM

PART II

by Dietrich K. Klinghardt, M.D., Ph.D.

Apitherapy Review Newsletter #8, 2012 Mar

The pain relieving effect of bee venom in the treatment of clinical conditions similar to Lyme disease has been established a long time ago. Bee venom contains a number of potent peptides which are responsible for its healing effect ("Bee Venom Therapy for Chronic Pain," Dietrich Klinghardt, J. of Neurol and Orthop. Med and Surg., Vol. 11, Issue 9, Oct 1990, pp. 195-197). Recent research proved that one of the peptides in bee venom, melittin, has a strong inhibitory effect on the Lyme spirochete at very low doses ("Bee Stings as Lyme Inhibitor" by L. L. Lubke and C. F. Garon, J. Clin. Infect. Diseases, July 1997, 25 Suppl. 1, pp. 48-51). When the spirochete is inhibited it does not multiply and is vulnerable to the host's own immune system and to medication.

The dosage and frequency of treatment is determined by the patient's clinical response. Patients with Babesia or Mycoplasma infections require higher dosages then those with only B. burgdorferi infections.

Different bee venoms are on the market. I use the product VeneX, which comes in two different strengths: VeneX-10 and VeneX-20 (Table 1.). VeneX-20 is twice as concentrated as VeneX-10. VeneX-10 contains 1.0 mg of bee venom per 1.0 ml. A 0.1 ml of this solution delivers approximately the same amount of bee venom as a natural bee sting. The content of melittin in bee venom is dependent on where it is collected on the hive; the season and the pollen source the bees have access to at the time. Generally between one third and one half of the venom is melittin. Because of these variables the symptoms seen on administration of the venom can also vary. Bee venom is used for desensitization and is approved with the FDA for this purpose. There is an official monograph in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoea of the United States (HPUS), also recognized by the FDA.

The average maintenance dosage is 1.0 ml of VeneX-10 (or 0.5 ml of VeneX-20) mixed with 2.0 ml preservative free buffered procaine (available from ApotheCure in Dallas, TX) injected subcutaneously, given between one and three times weekly for 6-12 months. Even though much of the venom's effect is systemic, independent of the location where it is given, additional benefits are observed by injecting the venom in specific target areas.

These areas include:

All tender areas in the body, transition areas in the body, where soft tissue meets bone, the occipital nuchal line, above and below the zygoma, around the mastoid and jaw bone, the para-sternal area, the spinous processes of the vertebrae;

 - The kidney and adrenal area (often palpation reveals significantly tender areas);

 - The thymus (upper end of the sternum);

 - Painful joints (in the most tender areas);

 - Acupuncture points: (Bladder 23 for stimulating the adrenals, Gallbladder 1 to improve Lyme related problems with vision, Bladder 10 and Gallbladder 20 to stimulate melittin uptake into the brainstem (cranial nerve problems), Kidney 3 to improve Lyme related kidney dysfunction, etc.);

 - Neural therapy points: over the mastoid to improve Lyme related hearing and balance problems (for more information on Neural Therapy: call American Academy of Neural Therapy, Inc., at 206-749 9967);

 - Over the vagus nerve: to treat Lyme related dental and jaw problems (infected jaw bone, cavitations, Lyme related chronic pulpitis/sensitive teeth);

 - Frankenhauser points: to treat Lyme related bladder problems, pelvic/prostate/sexual dysfunction.

Procedure:

Distribute the 2.5-3.0 ml bee venom and procaine mix over 10 areas, using 0.25 ml to 0.3 ml per injection. The injection is given with a 30g needle. The needle is advanced just deep enough for the needle tip to barely reach beyond the sensory skin nerves. If it burns, the needle is not deep enough. If it never burns, most likely the injections are given too deep, where the medication will be quickly flushed away by the blood stream and lymphatics, without having the much-desired local effect. For a long needle this means that the needle is inserted into the skin less than half way.

These injections should be painless and well tolerated. There is a welling up, itchiness and aching after 10 minutes or so, which becomes less with an increasing number of treatments. The discomfort may increase during the first four or five treatments and then lessen over time. The initial response determines the treatment frequency. The first injection often triggers an increase in well being and a decrease of pain levels after a few hours; sometimes as late as 24 hours after the injection. The initial improvement may last between 12 hours and several days. This determines if the patient needs to be treated once a day or as little as once a week. If the improvement is less than desired a higher dose of bee venom may be needed.

I start with a low initial dose of 0.3 ml VeneX-10 or 0.15 ml VeneX-20 to ride out the often strong initial reactions. Over the next treatments I increase the dose, depending on the response, rather rapidly to the full treatment dose (Table 2. and Table 3.). It is wise to wait with injecting around the head until the patient no longer has strong local reactions (redness, swelling).

We have taught many patients to treat themselves with this procedure. It is far less painful than the use of live bees. However, treatment with live bees does not involve the use of technical supplies and is often the only practical alternative.

If live bees are used I recommend reading the textbook by Charles Mraz and the other literature supplied by Apitronic Services (Tel.: 604-271-9414). I also recommend using the Multi Treatment Mesh (MTM) or SoftSting devices by the same company that allows the bee to not loose its stinger, survive the procedure and return to its hive.

Caution: 

Everyone who uses bee venom on domestic animals or humans must have an Anakit, Epipen or other medically approved "bee-sting kit," within immediate reach. The Anakit contains a pre-drawn syringe with epinephrine, an oral antihistamine and instruction sheet. The Epipen contains epinephrine in a self-injecting form.

Recommendation: 

Should the patient experience a systemic reaction (usually within minutes) with airway restriction, I recommend to inject one third (1/3rd) of the epinephrine subcutaneously into the palmar (soft) side of the forearm (same depth as the bee venom injection). The wheezing will stop at the price of an agitated feeling in the patient. Now he/she should take the antihistamine (swallow the pill), which takes 15-20 minutes to work. During this time, a second injection with epinephrine may be needed. In 20 years of using bee venom, I never needed to use this procedure. However, I have always combined bee venom with procaine, which prevents most allergic reactions.

Clinical observations: 
Many cases of chronic fatigue, MS, ALS, memory loss, jaw problems, etc. are really undiagnosed Lyme disease. With the new Lyme laboratory test many of these cases can be appropriately diagnosed. The treatment outlined here is in my experience very gentle and yet the most successful approach...