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.
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...
