| Clinical
Specialties: Apitherapy
 What
is Apitherapy?
Apitherapy, or "bee therapy” (from
apis which means bee in Latin) is the medicinal
use of products made by bees. In the united States
it is Apis mellifera, the European honey bee
which is most commonly used. Products of the
honey bee include bee venom, honey, pollen, royal
jelly, propolis, and beeswax.
Therapies involving the honey bee have existed
for thousands of years and some of them may be
old as human medicine itself. The ancient rock
art of early hunter-gatherers depicts the honey
bee 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.
For more information on the history of modern
apitherapy, visit the American Apitherapy Society
website at www.apitherapy.org
Andrew Kochan, MD - Medical Pioneer in Modern
Apitherapy
Dr. Andrew Kochan is the current President
of the American Apitherapy Society. He has been
on the forefront of evidence-based clinical
research on bee therapies for nearly 15 years.
He became interested in apitherapy when he learned
that it helped certain conditions, especially
shingles, that did not respond well to conventional
medicine. He has seen first-hand the remarkable
benefits of apitherapy for health problems which
could not be successfully treated with allopathic
medicine. Apitherapy, in general, and bee venom
therapy, in particular are one of Dr. Kochan's
main areas of clinical interest. Bee products
are an integral part of his approach to treating
acute and chronic pain.
Cautions
Bee products are a valuable source of healing,
but individuals susceptible to allergies
should use apitherapy with caution. People
who have a history of heart disease, hypertension,
tuberculosis, or diabetes should check with
an expert in apitherapy such as Dr. Kochan
before using bee products.
Related
Links
The following are links to various published
papers and organizations of interest:
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