Bee Venom Therapy Used to Treat Multiple Sclerosis, Arthritis

Bee Venom Therapy (BVT) works for many reasons and must be used carefully. But it's feasible to learn even for non-medical people... 

Speaker Creates Buzz Over Bee Venom as Medical TreatmentBy Alexandria Randolph, The Eagle, 7/28/2011

A multiple sclerosis patient who has been self-medicating herself with bee venom will speak Thursday at an annual event sponsored by the Central Texas Beekeepers in Brenham.

Alice Daley and her husband, Bill, said they initially learned about venom therapy in 1995 during a support group meeting for MS patients.

"When we heard about the bee sting treatment, we thought, 'We've got nothing to lose, so let's try it!'" Bill Daley said…

Bill Daley administers the venom once a week to his wife, who suffers from the autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. She has received more than 17,000 stings since beginning the treatment. Some use venom in a cream, ointment or injection form, the latter of which is used on her.

"I have a record of every sting I've ever given her," Daley said. "I give her 32 stings every week; five on each arm and leg, nine on her back, one on her neck and two on her chest."
Alice Daley said that while the treatment isn't commercially available or medically approved, it works for her.

"It keeps me out of the hospital," she said. "I get bee stings every week, and I haven't yet had a crash."
And, not only is she more mobile, she said, but doctors at her last neurological appointment could no longer find lesions that had been present on her brain.


Bill Daley, who is a certified reflexologist, also uses bee venom on some of his patients. "I sting a handful of people for arthritis and energy," Daley said. "There's one guy who gets stung just to feel better."

Kelling said bee venom therapy is not uncommon, though people should make sure they're not allergic to bee stings before trying it.

"I've heard my whole life about people with arthritis who had used stings on their knuckles," Kelling said. "It relieved people of the condition for a while."

While Kelling said he's not sure of the medicinal value of bee venom, he's been stung many times while working with his bees.

"All I know is I don't have any aches," he said...

Apitherapy Workshop in Rhode Island, July 28th

These workshops are very rewarding and not just for beekeepers, but for advanced practioners, too! 

American Apitherapy Society Symposium

Location:Crown Plaza Hotel Warwick, Rhode Island

Time: 8:30AM-5:15pm Thurs, July 28th

Price: $75 for entire day

Agenda:

http://www.easternapiculture.org/addons/2011apitherapy.pdf

Ideal for beginners and advanced practitioners alike; will also include a silent auction with unique apitherapy gifts & products. 

Register at Eastern Apiculture Society Conference. More details at link below:

http://www.easternapiculture.org/conferences/eas-2011.html

Propolis Protects Against Gastric Ulcers due to Radiation Exposure

Propolis extract is very effective in treating mucous linings of the body...

Anti-Ulcerogenic Effect of Aqueous Propolis Extract and the Influence of Radiation Exposure
International Journal of Radiation Biology, 2011 Jul 8

Purpose: to study the effect of aqueous propolis extract (AEP) against indomethacin (Indo)-induced gastric ulcers in irradiated and non-irradiated rats.

Materials and methods: animals were irradiated at different radiation dose levels before the induction of ulcers. AEP was injected orally one hour (h) before induction of gastric ulcers and the effects compared with those of lansoprazole (Lanso), which was used as a reference anti-ulcerogenic drug.

Results: pretreatment of rats, either irradiated or non-irradiated, with AEP effectively protected against Indo-induced gastric ulceration. This was associated with a reduction in acid output and peptic activity and an increase in the secretion of mucin. The mucosal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) level was also increased. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) were suppressed to the same extent after treatment. Both propolis and Lanso were effective in reducing the number of gastric lesions as well as the plasma level of malondialdehyde (MDA).

Conclusions: These findings indicate that the gastroprotective effect of AEP could be of value in the management of excessive gastric damage induced by radiation exposure.

Propolis More Effective than Antibiotics in Treating Infected Root Canals

We've seen very successful post-operative healing after using Propolis Extract...

Comparative Evaluation of Propolis and Triantibiotic Mixture as an Intracanal Medicament against Enterococcus faecalis
Journal of Endodontics, 15 July, 2011

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide, triantibiotic mixture (TAM), and an ethanol extract of propolis as intracanal medicaments on Enterococcus faecalis–infected root canals.

Methods

One hundred twenty extracted intact human permanent incisors were decoronated, and chemomechanical preparation of the root canal was performed. After sterilization of the samples, they were inoculated with pure culture of E. faecalis and incubated. After incubation, colony-forming units were recorded before medication. Then, samples were divided randomly into five groups (n = 24). Each group was then exposed to various intracanal medicaments, namely calcium hydroxide (group 1), TAM (group 2), propolis (group 3), ethanol (group 4), and saline as the control group (group V). The antibacterial effectiveness of the different intracanal medicament was recorded by determining the percentage reduction in colony counts (%RCC) at the end of days 1, 2, and 7. The data were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) post hoc test.

Results

The %RCC was highest for propolis showing 100% reduction on day 2 followed by TAM showing 82.5%, 92.2%, and 98.4% of reduction on days 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Calcium hydroxide showed a gradual increase in antibacterial activity with a maximum of 59.4% on day 7.

Conclusions

Propolis was more effective than TAM against E. faecalis at a 2-day time period, and both were equally effective at 7 days.

Honey Can Reverse Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics

Unadulterated Honey is an effective agent against destroying bacteria and speeds healing in wounds... 


Society for General Microbiology
Spring Conference 11-14 April , 2011 (PDF)
Harrogate International Centre, UK

"Manuka honey could be an efficient way to clear chronically infected wounds and could even help reverse bacterial resistance to antibiotics, according to research presented at the Society for General Microbiology’s Spring Conference in Harrogate.


Professor Rose Cooper from the University of Wales Institute Cardiff is looking at how Manuka Honey interacts with three types of bacteria that commonly infest wounds: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Group A Streptococci and Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcusaureus (MRSA). Her group has found that honey can interfere with the growth of these bacteria in a variety of ways and suggests that honey is an attractive option for the treatment of drug-resistant wound infection.


Honey has long been acknowledged for its antimicrobial properties. Traditional remedies containing honey were used in the topical treatment of wounds by diverse ancient civilisations. Manuka honey is derived from nectar collected by honey bees foraging on the manuka tree in New Zealand and is included in modern licensed wound-care products around the world. However, the antimicrobial properties of honey have not been fully exploited by modern medicine as its mechanisms of action are not yet known. 

Professor Cooper’s group is helping to solve this problem by investigating at a molecular level the ways in which manuka honey inhibits wound-infecting bacteria. “Our findings with streptococci and pseudomonads suggest that manuka honey can hamper the attachment of bacteria to tissues which is an essential step in the initiation of acute infections. Inhibiting attachment also blocks the formation of biofilms, which can protect bacteria from antibiotics and allow them to cause persistent infections,” explained Professor Cooper. “Other work in our lab has shown that honey can make MRSA more sensitive to antibiotics such as oxacillin -effectively reversing antibiotic resistance. This indicates that existing antibiotics may be more effective against drug-resistant infections if used in combination with manuka honey...”  

Propolis Can Control Blood Glucose, Improve Insulin Sensitivity

Propolis, along with the other products from the beehive, have remarkable promise for the human condition...

Effects of Encapsulated Propolis on Blood Glycemic Control, Lipid Metabolism, and Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Rats
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2012;2012:981896

The present study investigates the encapsulated propolis on blood glycemic control, lipid metabolism, and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats.

The animal characteristics and biological assays of body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin (FINS), insulin act index (IAI), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured and euglycemic hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp technique were used to determine these effects.

Our findings show that oral administration of encapsulated propolis can significantly inhibit the increasing of FBG and TG in T2DM rats and can improve IAI and M value in euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp experiment. There was no significant effects on body weight, TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C in T2DM rats treated with encapsulated propolis.

In conclusion, the results indicate that encapsulated propolis can control blood glucose, modulate lipid metabolism, and improve the insulin sensitivity in T2DM rats.

Bee Venom May Help Treat Complication of Lupus

We seen positive effects with the use of Bee Venom Therapy (BVT) for other auto-immune conditions such as Arthritis, Lyme's Disease, Multiple Schlerosis, ALS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, even Tennis Elbow ...

Bee Venom-Associated Th1/Th2 Immunoglobulin Class Switching Results in Immune Tolerance of NZB/W F1 Murine Lupus Nephritis
Am J Nephrol, 2011;34:163-172

Background/Aims: Bee venom (BV) therapy has been used to treat inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis in humans and in experimental animals. This study was conducted to examine the therapeutic effect of BV on established lupus nephritis in New Zealand Black/White (NZB/W) F1 female mice.

Methods: Beginning at 18 weeks of age, mice were given a subcutaneous injection of either BV (3 mg/kg BW) or an equal volume of saline once a week until the end of the study. To examine the effect of BV on CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells, splenocytes from NZB/W mice (23 weeks of age) were treated with BV (1 µg/ml) or PBS in the presence of anti-CD3ε (1 µg/ml) and anti-CD28 antibodies (4 µg/ml) for 48 h.

Results: BV administration delayed the development of proteinuria to a significant extent, prevented renal inflammation, reduced tubular damage, and reduced immune deposits in the glomeruli. Interestingly, CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells were significantly increased in vitro and in vivo after BV treatment.

Conclusion: Collectively, the administration of BV that has immune modulating effects represents an applicable treatment of lupus nephritis in NZB/W F1 mice.

Propolis Fights Cavities, Mexican Researchers Discover

Propolis is very effective... we've surprised dentists with the use of Propolis Extract to treat injured or infected gums...


Mexican Researchers: Resin Produced by Bees can Fight Cavities

Researchers are using propolis, a resinous substance produced by honey bees, to fight cavities and are examining whether the compound can be used to control hypertension, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, or UNAM, said.

Bees use propolis, which is made from plant resins gathered by the insects, to seal hives, UNAM said.

The chemical structure of propolis "varies due to factors such as the time of year, flowering and the region where the insects gather it," the university said.

The project, whose goal is to promote the use of a "wasted resource," is being carried out by UNAM School of Chemistry researcher Jose Fausto Rivero Cruz and veterinarians Angel Lopez Ramirez and Adriana Correa Benitez.

Mexico produces just six tons annually of propolis even though it is the world's sixth-largest honey producer, the researchers said.

Propolis is mainly used in Mexico to deal with coughs, but it is known that the substance has other therapeutic uses and can help in the treatment of viral infections, scars, swelling, allergies and pain.

The researchers tested the effects of propolis on the bacterial organisms that cause cavities - Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus mutans - and isolated some compounds that help fight the dental problem.

"With these discoveries, we can look for ways to prevent cavities," Rivero Cruz said.

The researchers are also looking at using propolis to control high blood pressure, but that phase of the project is going more slowly and has not entered the test stage yet, UNAM said.

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2011/07/12/mexican-researchers-resin-produced-by-bees-can-fight-cavities/#ixzz1RzhBWxx8

Malaysian Tualang Honey Heals Wounds Faster Than Other Treatments

Placing honey immediately on a burn is very effective in eliminating the pain quickly and reducing the damage ...

Evaluations of Bacterial Contaminated Full Thickness Burn Wound Healing in Sprague Dawley Rats Treated with Tualang Honey
Indian J Plast Surg, 2011 Jan;44(1):112-7.

AIM: The effect of Tualang honey on wound healing in bacterial contaminated full-thickness burn wounds was evaluated in 36 male Sprague Dawley rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 12/group). Three full-thickness burn wounds were created on each rat. Each group of rats was inoculated with a different organism in the burn wounds: Group A was inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Group B was inoculated with Klebsiella pneumoniae and Group C was inoculated with Acinetobacter baumannii. One wound on each rat was dressed with either Tualang honey, Chitosan gel or Hydrofibre silver. Each wound size was measured on day 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 of the study.

RESULTS: The mean wound size of the Tualang honey-treated wounds was not statistically different than that of the Chitosan gel or Hydrofibre silver-treated wounds when the wounds were compared throughout the entire experiment (P > 0.05). However, comparing the mean wound size on day 21 alone revealed that the Tualang honey-treated wounds were smaller in comparison to that of the Chitosan gel and Hydrofibre silver-treated groups.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that topical application of Tualang honey on burn wounds contaminated with P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii gave the fastest rate of healing compared with other treatments.

Propolis Oil Extract Shows Antimicrobial Activity

Confirmation that Propolis mixes well in skin creams. Hmm, we've known this for 18 years...


Propolis Oil Extract: Quality Analysis and Evaluation of Its Antimicrobial Activity
Nat Prod Res, 2011 Jun 30

Designing propolis products for external use involves determining the optimal form of propolis for the introduction into dermatological pharmaceuticals and cosmetic preparations. As a potent ingredient, propolis oil extract from raw material harvested in Lithuania was analysed.

The rheological characteristics, content of phenolic compounds, major compounds and antimicrobial activity of the propolis oil extract are investigated here for the first time. The propolis oil extract was produced by maceration using different solvents, raw material was collected in Lithuania. Solvent mixture with 96% ethanol increased the rheological stability and extracted amount of phenolic compound. High-performance liquid chromatography identified the potent quality markers for Lithuanian propolis, phenylpropanoid vanillin, coumaric acid and ferulic acid.

Antimicrobial activity of propolis oil extract was evaluated in experimental studies in vitro, and the minimal concentration of phenolic compounds that inhibited respective microorganisms was determined.

The results demonstrate that phenolic compounds have effective antimicrobial activity in propolis oil extract; thus, it can be compatible with the semisolid preparation.

Honey May Help Prevent Atherosclerosis

Honey has also been found to prolong human tissue used for transplants...


Effect of Natural Honey on Human Platelets and Blood Coagulation Proteins
Pakistan Journal Pharm Sci, 2011 Jul;24(3):389-97

Present study was conducted to determine the effects of honey on blood hemostasis, in-vitro effect of honey was observed on platelet aggregation and blood coagulation employing, activated partial prothrombin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen levels in blood.

Honey samples showed moderate inhibition of platelet aggregation with IC(50) 5-7.5%. The coagulation assays showed that at higher concentrations (>15%) honey samples increased whole blood clotting time. When assayed in platelet poor plasma (PPP), honey samples significantly (P>0.005) prolonged aPTT, PT, and TT. The honey samples (at 3.75% and 7.5% concentrations) cause mean increment of aPTT = 19±10% and 62±10%; PT 6±5% and 40±5%; TT 35±15% and 112±30% respectively. Moreover, PPP isolated from whole blood pre-incubated with honey samples (9.0% for 10 minutes) showed mean prolongation of aPTT, PT and TT of 45±21%, 26±9% and 105±24% respectively.

Interestingly, incubation of honey at 6.25% and 11.75% concentrations in PPP considerably (P≥0.005) reduced fibrinogen levels i.e. 13±4% and 86±30% respectively.

The present study outlines the inhibitory effect of natural honey on platelet aggregation and blood coagulation. These observations provide first line data for modulatory role(s) of honey on process of hemostasis…

On the basis of present and previous results, it can assumed that honey might interfere at several steps in the formation of atherosclerotic disease this effect finally translates into the prevention of vascular disorders such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders.

Propolis Flavonoid Protects Against UV-Induced Skin Damage

Propolis, the power house of protection, now protects against the sun...


Chrysin Protects Epidermal Keratinocytes from UVA- and UVB-Induced Damage
J Agric Food Chem, 2011 Jun 24




Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone), a natural flavonoid occurring in various plants and foods such as propolis and honey, reportedly opposes inflammation and carcinogenesis, but has rarely been applied in skin care.


This study, therefore, aimed to explore the roles of chrysin in protection against UV-induced damage in HaCaT keratinocytes.


Results showed that chrysin can attenuate apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression induced by UVB and UVA. Chrysin predominantly reversed the downregulation of aquaporin 3(AQP-3) by UVB. It predominantly reversed JNK activation and also mildly inhibited p38 activation triggered by UVA and UVB. Animal studies revealed that chrysin's topical application demonstrated efficient percutaneous absorption and no skin irritation.


Overall, results demonstrated significant benefits of chrysin on the protection of keratinocytes against UVA- and UVB-induced injuries, and suggested its potential use in skin photoprotection."

Honey Helps Heal Horses' Wounds - Univ of Sydney

Honey works - we treated a horse injury caused by a barbed-wire fence with raw, wildflower honey. He healed in a week!!!

Honey helps heal horses' wounds, researchers find

29 June 2011

A simple application of honey to horses' leg wounds results in smaller wound sizes and faster healing time, University of Sydney researchers have found.

Honey has been used to treat wounds in humans since ancient Egypt, but this study, using manuka honey from Australia and New Zealand, is the first time in the world a clinical trial has been conducted in horses.

"Wounds in horses, particularly leg wounds, have long healing periods. But we found applying a manuka honey gel throughout healing led to 27 percent faster healing times," said lead researcher Dr Andrea Bischofberger.

"Wounds in horses which received no treatment took an average of 64 days to heal, while those treated with manuka honey gel took 47 days to heal," said Dr Bischofberger, who will present her findings this Friday 1 July at a veterinary science conference.

"In our pilot study we used pure honey, but in our second study we used a water-based manuka honey gel of 66 percent honey. When applied for 12 days we found these wounds healed just as well as those treated with pure honey."

Using a manuka honey gel means expensive bandages can be avoided, Dr Bischofberger explained. "With its faster wound healing times and its bandage-free application, the manuka honey gel solution is an extremely versatile and affordable topical wound product."

In a third study Dr Bischofberger and colleagues investigated how manuka honey actually worked to speed up wound healing. While it seems to have an anti-bacterial effect and immune-modifying effect on the key initial healing phase, the inflammatory stage, the honey's exact healing mechanism is still unclear.

"What we do know is treating wounds with manuka honey leads to healthier tissue regrowth," Dr Bischofberger said.

"Wounds treated with manuka also showed improved new blood vessel and skin surface growth compared to control wounds," Dr Bischofberger added.

Dr Bischofberger is a Swiss veterinarian currently with the Research and Clinical Training Unit(REaCT) at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Camden (UVTHC), a part of the University of Sydney.

REaCT Director, Professor Andrew Dart, is a surgical specialist and expert on the complications associated with lower leg wound healing in horses, and is supervising Dr Bischofberger's research.

"Wound healing in horses' limbs, particularly lower limbs, is usually a long and complicated process compared to wounds on the body," he said.

"The results of these studies have led to significant national and international interest both from the animal and human fields. There is potential for the manuka honey gel to be used across species with similar beneficial effects."

Royal Jelly Benefits Humans as well as Bees

Fresh royal jelly has the best results, but I can attest that the freeze-dried capsules are also effective and practical... 

April 29, 2011 by: Shona Botes

(NaturalNews) Many people are aware of the health benefits of honey, but few are aware of the benefits that Royal Jelly has to offer. This is the substance that is produced by worker bees to feed the young bee larvae and the Queen bee in the hive. This substance offers many benefits to people, such as lowering cholesterol levels, wound healing properties and even anti-cancer properties.

Royal Jelly has anti-inflammatory properties. This applies when it is applied topically or ingested internally, making it an excellent supplement for those suffering from arthritis. It has been shown to stimulate the growth of brain stem cells, thereby making it an effective tool in preventing both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

Research done in both Japan and Croatia show that Royal Jelly may have significant anti-cancer properties. In one study, mice were injected with cancer cells. When they were then injected with Royal Jelly, it drastically reduced the spread of the cancer cells.

It is believed that Royal Jelly is able to improve the quality of a woman`s eggs, thereby aiding fertility issues and promoting overall health of the reproductive organs. Many women report that Royal Jelly is able to help reduce the effects and symptoms of PMS because of the fact that it is able to balance and regulate hormone levels in the body.

This nutrient is also able to assist those suffering from insomnia and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatism. It is able to boost sexual libido and even help regenerate bone growth. It is able to boost the immune system, making it effective in fighting against infections.

Over the years, Royal Jelly has been given to premature infants to help them gain weight. Studies have shown that it is also useful for ulcers, digestive disorders such as constipation, circulatory problems and cardiovascular ailments. It also has remarkable anti-aging properties because it helps to improve collagen production in the skin. In summary, Royal Jelly is able to assist with regulating all of the functions of the human body.

People who are allergic to bees or honey products should exercise caution when using this product, as serious allergic reactions may occur.

[Editor`s Note: NaturalNews is strongly against the use of all forms of animal testing. We fully support implementation of humane medical experimentation that promotes the health and wellbeing of all living creatures.]

Sources:
http://www.bee-pollen-buzz.com/bene...
http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthi...
http://apitherapy.blogspot.com/2008...
About the author: Shona Botes is a budding blogger, as well as a fabulous frugalist. Her spare time is spent engaged in blogging, cycling, photography, as well as green living and natural healing and remedies.