General information about Apitherapy.(Part 2).

As food, honey is mainly composed of the simple sugars fructose and glucose, which form the basis of almost all indications on how, when and why to use it. The main consideration is the fact that honey provides immediately available calories, from which it derives its energy value for healthy and sick people: quick access to energy without requiring lengthy or complicated digestive action. The same direct absorption also carries a risk of pathological sugar metabolism, such as diabetes and obesity.

8.

1. Get a Bee Sting Kit : This is epinephrine and may be obtained by prescription from your doctor.
   
   
2. Get a Source for Obtaining Honeybees : Call a local beekeeper (The Dept pf Agriculture can assist you).
   
   
3. Keep Honeybees in a jar for about 1Ѕ to2 weeks : Get an empty jar (for example, mayonnaise or pickle jars are good). Simply wash with warm water only. Put slits in the lid so the bees can get plenty of air. Put a teaspoon or two of honey in the bottom of the jar. Place a single layer of tissue paper over the honey. Ask the beekeeper to put some bees (50-75) in the jar and put the top on. Cut an inverted V in the end of an empty toilet paper roll. Hit the jar on your palm to knock the bees to the bottom for the moment. Quickly open the lid, insert empty toilet paper roll and replace lid. Place the jar of bees in the cupboard or dark, undisturbed place. In a day or so your bees will be calmer for you to retrieve them from the jar. Get a pair of long tweezers (six inches are preferred).
   
   
4. Give yourself a "Test" Sting: Find a place near a sunlight window. Bees go there when they get loose. If the bees are too active, just let a few go to the window and retrieve them at your leisure. With your tweezers, grasp a bee by the head or thorax. Have the honeybee sting you, perhaps on your knee or forearm. Wait approximately fifteen or twenty minutes. Should you encounter difficulty breathing in that time, use your bee sting kit.
   
   
5. If there are no difficulties, get ready to have the bees help you heal yourself: Ice can be used on the sting location both before and after, if needed. Place the bee on the location to be stung; discard the bee after it stings. Continue with the remainder of stings required for that day. Leave the stingers in for ten or fifteen minutes.
   
   
6. Remove the Stinger: By grasping the stinger with your tweezers, slide it along the skin. If you don't get the entire stinger out, your body will take care of it.
   
   
7. Remember to feed the Bees: Just give them a drop or two of honey every couple of days. A fine misting of water is also good.
   
   
8. What you might experience during your healing: Fatigue will most likely be one of the first things to go away. Slight redness at the sting location is normal and will go away. If and when it is extreme, your body is responding and those large saucer sized red spots may last about a week. Go back to the stinging trunk area of your body for awhile. For slight surface itching, use lotion, Preparation-H, a soothing cream or toothpaste. For severe itching use Benadryl Kapseals (antihistamine). Itching will also stop within a short length of time. For any one or more flu-like symptoms- just rest. This may last about a day or so, but then you should feel much better. These symptoms may include increased or decreased body temperature, a heavy "I can't move" feeling, nausea, diarrhea, splotchy hive-type marks, etc. You're OK. Benadryl may give you some relief. Don't give up! It's better to feel this way now for a short time than to feel this way later for a lifetime. Keep that in mind. For swelling, which could be intense, do nothing. Again, your body is waking up and these symptoms may happen three or four times, but they will not continue. Ice may be applied to help relieve the discomfort. Feet and hands seem to swell the easiest. Don't sting where already swollen from previous stings. Spread the wealth to other parts of your body. The healing process is your body's natural defense mechanism functioning, so let it work.
   
   
9. What is making honeybee stings help you get better?: Stings will activate your internal "get well" system. For some reason, it has not been functioning properly. Numbness, heavy arms/legs, spasticity, incontinence, "blah" feelings, rigidity, etc., can go away. Sting yourself and plan to BEE WELL!
   
   
10. About Medications: Try to be as free of medications as possible, (but do not enlist the help of your physician). It's hard for bee venom to fight thru medicine, especially antibiotics. Take 2-3000 units of a good Vitamin C. Take Vitamin B-complex as well as Vitamin E. Use raw honey in place of sugar (its hard for the body to digest). Use Royal Jelly, a product good for its healing properties. Use Bee Pollen, a great source of protein and good for allergies, too! There is a healing in honeybee product; use them for improved health. (Health food stores carry these items).
    
    

Often honey is recommended because of its content of other nutrients like vitamins and minerals, but their quantity is so low that it is unrealistic to think they can provide any significant supplement in a deficient diet. Similar arguments are made for the nutritional and health benefits from most other bee products, particularly pollen and royal jelly. Although their beneficial characteristics have been shown in numerous cases, they cannot be based on simple numeric values, i.e. X amount of substance Y. Yet, it is well known that the quality and availability of a nutrient is important for its usefulness to the body. Micronutrients in unprocessed honey can be assumed to be of the highest quality possible. Thus from a nutritional point of view, a synergistic balancing effect or one that unlocks the availability of other nutrients already present, is one of the more plausible yet untested hypotheses.

9. Bee venom, in certain cases, can have strong toxic effects on humans. Approximately 0.5% to 2% of the population is hypersensitive to insect stings, but often we read reports in newspapers of 4% to 5% as well. These differences come from the various methods used in population studies and what we define hypersensitivity to be. However, the 1% to 2% hypersensitivity ration is accepted by the medical profession.

It is very important to remove the stinger as early as possible. It is best to remove it with a pair of tweezers, but if this is not at hand it can be done by scraping it with a fingernail or a tip of a knife. Never squeeze the venom sac of the stinger, because more venom will enter the wound.

An individual who is aware that he or she is hypersensitive to bee stings should carry an insect sting treatment kit, i.e. Anakit or Epipen. (These kits are available through pharmacies). Administer the medication by following the directions of the manufacturer very carefully. It is important to contact a physician and get medical attention as soon as possible. The physician will further determine what kind of treatment the victim requires. If someone does not know whether they are hypersensitive or not to bee stings they should get an allergy test done.

Topical applications under controlled conditions have shown accelerated wound healing in animals and of experimental burn wounds in rats but also of various types of wounds, including post-operative ones in humans. Similar, yet not equal, effects are obtained with the application of purified sucrose and special polysaccharide powders. External as well as internal wounds from operations become bacteriologically sterile within a few days and dry out. The simultaneous stimulation of tissue regeneration by honey reduces scarring and healing times. In addition, dressings applied with honey do not stick to the wounds or delicate new skins. In many tropical field hospitals, where antibiotics and other medicines are scarce, honey has been employed successfully for a long time.

10. RAW honey "successfully treats" (anecdotal evidence only):

• tinea pedis (athlete's foot)
  
  
• topical fungal infections
  
  
• conjunctivitis (with warm water for eye wash)
  
  
• burn therapy
  
  
• dressings for lacerations-promotes rapid regeneration
  
  
• topical antibiotic
  
  
• with apple cider vinegar and hot water take for "colds"
  
  

Antibacterial activity is the easiest to test and is probably the most studied biological activity of honey. In normal honey it is attributed to high sugar concentration and acidity (pH range 3.5 to 5.0). Yet, since also diluted honey has shown antibacterial activity, the active ingredient was attributed to an elusive substance generically termed "inhibin". Much of this activity was later attributed to hydrogen peroxide (H202) an enzymatic by-product during the formation of gluconic acid from glucose. The responsible enzyme, glucose oxidase is basically inactive in concentrated normal honey. Thus, in honey solutions (diluted honey) with the right pH, antibacterial activity is largely due to the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The biological significance of such a mechanism arises from the requirement to protect immature honey (with high moisture content) inside the colony until higher sugar concentrations are achieved.

11. Essential supplements:

• Vitamin C 500 mg 4/day- the adrenals need ascorbic acid to produce cortisol.
  
  
• Vitamin E - is the fat soluble antioxidant (Vitamin C is the water soluble antioxidant)
  
  
• Riboflavin - the pituitary gland needs riboflavin to produce ACTH
  
  
• Pyridoxine HCL - Utilization of riboflavin demands 1:1 consumption of pyridoxine HCL
  
  
• Pantothenic acid - the adrenals need pantothenic acid to produce cortisol
  
  

Recommended supplements:

• raw honey
  
  
• bee pollen
  
  
• low protein, high fiber healthy diet
  
  

Must avoid:

• tobacco : increases one's need for Vitamin C
  
  
• alcohol : an immune suppressant
  
  

Both mechanisms can partially explain the sterilizing effect of honey on wounds and some of its efficacy against cold infections, but it does not explain its beneficial effect on burn wounds and faster wound healing with less scarred tissue. Subralimanyam has experienced 100% acceptance of skin grafts after storage in honey for up to 12 weeks. Antibacterial activity varies greatly between different types of honey. In addition to glucose oxidase, honey seems to contain other mostly unknown substances with antibacterial effects, among which are polyphenols. These other factors have been identified in a few cases but as a whole there are few scientific studies on the various claims of the beneficial effects of honey. However, it has been well demonstrated that most of the antibacterial activities of honey are lost after heating or prolonged exposure to sunlight.

12. Since the middle 1950s. the electric shock method has been used to stimulate the bees to sting. The collector frame is usually placed at the entrance of the hive and connected to a device which supplies electrical impulses. The collector frame is made from wood or plastic and holds a wire grid. Underneath the wires is a glass sheet which can be covered with a plastic or rubber material to avoid contamination of the venom. During collection, bees come in contact with the wire grid and receive a mild electric shock. They sting the surface of the collector sheet as they see this to be the source of danger. The venom is then deposited between the glass and the protective material where it dries and is later scraped off.

13. Bee venom can be collected without killing bees. During the 1950s and 1960s, venom collectors used a thick rubber sheet to collect bee stingers. The bees stung into the rubber sheet after receiving an electric shock and would lose their stingers, as a result they died. Compared to modern methods this collection technique is considered uneconomical. The newer collection devices and methods are safe and do not harm bees. During 30 minutes of collection time a well adjusted collector device will not kill more than 10 bees per hive. This loss is not significant to the population of the bee hive and does not effect the life span of the colony.

14. Bee venom is a rich source of biologically active components. In twelve European countries, in the drug category, we can find twenty-four products containing bee venom. These products include creams, liniments, ointments, salves or injection forms for treating different human ailments. They are available by prescription or without a prescription in certain countries. Veterinarians successfully used bee venom injection to treat arthritis in horses and dogs. Scientists also use bee venom to its components in their research based on the effects of the whole or separated components of the venom.

15. One of the simplest methods of preparing bee venom solution is to dissolve the venom in a previously sterilized, hot, isotonic saline solution and passed through a micro pore filter. The disadvantage of this method is that the hot saline solution may partially destroy the active components of the venom. Consequently, its healing effect cannot be compared to the effectiveness of live bee stings. There are other methods to prepare a more effective venom solution such as by a "cold" preparation method or by using freeze dried bee venom. Thorough study and precise methodology is required to prepare an effective solution which will meet the high standards of pharmaceutical products. One of the best articles on this topic was written by Arthur B. Kaspar (Bethesda, MD) who described the difficulties in preparing an effective venom solution.

16. The results of past research have shown that the venom sac of the honey bee has about 0.1 mg. of dried weight content. Therefore, 10,000 bee venom sacs contain 1.0 g of bee venom. In preparing BV-10 solution, every 1 ml will contain 1.0 mg. of bee venom. Administering 0.1 ml. of venom solution to the affected area will be the equivalent of one bee sting. As a result, 1.0 g of bee venom can provide 10,000 injections. For the past 30 years, BV-10 solution has been considered a homeopathic preparation and proven to be safe in use. The treatment was always conducted by physicians and there was no serious anaphylactic shock or deaths reported. The latest research has indicated that an average venom sac contains about 40-50% more venom than that amount previously mentioned. In this case about 7,000 injections can be prepared from 1.0 g of bee venom, however these results have yet to be widely distributed and accepted.

17. Bee venom has many active components, however, during its collection it may lose its volatile fractions. Presently it is unknown if these fractions play a role in the healing effect. Improper preparation methods may also decrease its effectiveness. Bee venom from an uncontrolled source may be old, oxidized (brownish color) or improperly stored and consequently less effective when used. With a proper preparation method it is possible to make a venom solution which is almost as effective as bee stings.

Bee venom solution was successfully used in the treatment of chronic pain, hearing problems, trauma, multiple sclerosis, scars, spondylitis deformans, psoriasis, and all types of arthritis. Some of the advantages of using bee venom solution are that the treatment can be conducted under the supervision of a physician, the dosage and components of the venom are standardized and the treatment is independent of the seasonal availability of live bees.

18. Bee Venom therapy may cause pain, the degree of which depends on the tolerance of the patient. It is possible to lessen the pain by applying ice, a cooler tool or even a cold silver spoon onto the sting site. Bee venom solution may also be mixed with Xylocaine or Lidocaine to desensitize the affected area.

19. Some of the most commonly used disinfectants like alcohol or iodine should not be used for BVT. These disinfectants rapidly destroy the active components of bee venom. In practice, the affected area can be washed with soap and warm water and dried with a towel. Before administering a bee venom injection the affected area can be cleaned with ether or benzene.

20. Bee Venom products in this form were developed to treat arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, joint inflammation, skin diseases, eczema, Sudeck-syndrome, etc. There is no scientific or anecdotal evidence for this kind of administration of bee venom for MS conditions.

General information about Apitherapy.(Part 1).

For thousands of years honey was the only source of concentrated sugar. uniqueness, scarcity and desirability connected it to divinity very early in human history thus ascribing to it symbolic, magic and therapeutic significance. Much of the myth many of the traditional medicinal uses have continued until today.

1. Apitherapy is the medical use of honeybee products. This can include the use of honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom.

2. The files of the American Apitherapy Society indicate that anecdotal evidence shows apitherapy to be effective in the following conditions:

Few of these medicinal benefits have seen scientific confirmation and they are not always exclusive to honey. The majority are due to the high sugar content and therefore can also be found in other sweet substances with high sugar contents. It was not by accident that sugar, when first introduced to Europe, was considered a medicine for many diseases and was used with caution.

• Skin: eczema, psoriasis, topical ulcers, degranulating wounds, corns and warts.
  
  
• Infections: laryngitis and mastitis. VIRAL: herpes simplex 1 and 2, post-herpetic neuralgia (shingles) and warts.
  
  
• Rheumatological: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, tennis elbow and bursitis.
  
  
• Cardiovascular: hypertension (chronic and acute), arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease and varicose veins.
  
  
• Pulmonary disease: (COPD), emphysema and asthma.
  
  
• Sensory: hearing loss, vision, glaucoma, diplopia and iritis.
  
  
• Orthopedic: stimulates bone healing.
  
  
• Psychological: depression and mood swings.
  
  
• Endocrine: PMS, menstrual cramps, irregular periods and decreased blood sugar.
  
  

The major properties and effects commonly attributed to honey are briefly described below, but there are hundreds of different local uses in various countries, according to the specific cultures and traditions, and it is impossible to mention all of them. The Koran also mentions several uses for honey and other bee products.

3. Many flying insects have a venomous sting, but because the honeybee has been domesticated and is easy to raise, it is the one used most for treatment. Honeybee venom consists of the following known components:

Mellitin:

• provides the "ouch" and the itch in bee venom
  
  
• has powerful bactericidal and cytotoxic properties
  
  
• produces the signs of inflammation via the release of histamine
  
  
• stimulates the pituitary to release ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, part of your body's own healing response
  
  
• is 100 times more potent as an anti-inflammatory agent than hydrocortisol, when tested in rats with arthritis (Nature, Nov. 1974)
  
  

Honey is said to facilitate better physical performance and resistance to fatigue, particularly for repeated effort; it also promotes higher mental efficiency. It is therefore used by both the healthy and the sick for any kind of weakness, particularly in the case of digestive or assimilative problems. Improved growth of non-breast fed newborn infants, improved calcium fixation in bones and curing anaemia and anorexia may all be attributed to some nutritional benefit or stimulation from eating honey.

Mast cell degranulating peptide:

• leads to the release of histamine which creates the signs of inflammation (swelling, itching, redness, warmth)
  
  
• is the most powerful seizure-inducing agent known to man when injected into the brain (not cross blood brain barrier)
  
  
• increases short-term memory in rats (maze test)
  
  

Honey is said to improve food assimilation and to be useful for chronic and infective intestinal problems such as constipation, duodenal ulcers and liver disturbances. Salem (1981) and Haffejee and Moosa (1985) have reported successful treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders.

Apamin:

• blocks Ca2+ dependent K + channels
  
  
• enhances long-term synaptic transmission
  
  
• shortens duration of a nerve's action potential
  
  

In temperate climates and places with considerable temperature fluctuations, honey is a well known remedy for colds and mouth, throat or bronchial irritations and infections. The benefits, apart from antibacterial effects, are assumed to relate to the soothing and relaxing effect of fructose.

Hyaluronidase:

• loosens the glue (a substance called hyaluronic acid) which connects cells thus making the tissue or extra-cellular space more permeable. This facilitates the delivery of healing substances to and the elimination of waste or toxic substances from a damaged area.
  
  

Honey is used in moisturizing and nourishing cosmetic creams, but also in pharmaceutical preparations applied directly on open wounds, sores, bed sores, ulcers, varicose ulcers and burns. It helps against infections, promotes tissue regeneration, and reduces scarring also in its pure, unprocessed form. If applied immediately, honey reduces blistering of burns and speeds regeneration of new tissue. Many case histories are reported in the literature for human as well as veterinary medicine (sores, open wounds and teat lesions in cows). A cream, applied three times per day and prepared from equal parts of honey, rye flour and olive oil, has been successfully used on many sores and open wounds -even gangrenous wounds in horses. Lucke successfully tested a honey and cod liver oil mixture suspended in a simple non-reactive cream base on open wounds in humans, but he gave no details on proportions.

Dopamine (neurotransmitter):

• a neurotransmitter that increases motor activity. It is deficient in Parkinson's patients and excessive in psychotic patients treated with neuroleptic drugs. Dopamine, along with Serotonin and other catecholamines are implicated as factors in major depression.
  
  

Adolapin (neurotransmitter):

• Has an analgesic effect
  
  

4. In the drug category, limited information is available on the uses of bee venom in a tablet, capsule or drop forms. Nevertheless, there are dozens of products on the European market in the homeopathic category containing Apis mellifica or Apis Virus (Apium Virus-venom sac extract). In this category, bee venom was also mixed with snake and centipede venom and was taken orally to treat cancer. Bee venom capsules were developed and tested in the Calgary area for treatment of chronic pain. It should be noted that the results are preliminary and further research is required.

Clinical cases or traditional claims that honey reduces and cures eye cataracts, cures conjunctivitis and various afflictions of the cornea if applied directly into the eye, are known from Europe (Mikhailov, 1950), Asia, and Central America. This is said to be more true for Meliponid and Trigonid honeys from South and Central America and India. There are also case histories of ceratitis rosacea and corneal ulcers, healed with pure honey or a 3 % sulphidine ointment in which Vaseline was replaced by honey.

5. In the early 1980s bee venom solution was known to be as effective as venom from a live bee. Later this statement was modified based on the results and uses of the only bee venom solution on the market. Treatments with BVS are being done mainly in private clinics and limited information is available from the observations and results. The MS treatment with the live bee stings has only a decade of anecdotal history and BVS even less. The lack of a scientifically controlled study and proper documentation has made it difficult to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.

Frequently, specific benefits of unifloral honeys are reported, based on the traditional assumption that honey made from the nectar of a medicinal plant has the same or similar beneficial activity as the one recognized for the whole plant or some parts of it. Even if no transfer of active ingredients is involved, mechanisms similar to homeopathic potentiation are possible. Empirically effective therapies such as Bach flower therapy and aroma-therapy suggest that there can be much more to the medicinal value of honey than chemical analysis and quantification reveals. These claims are not supported by orthodox scientific evidence.

Multiple sclerosis patients respond in individual ways to live bee sting therapy. Some of them may show improvement within a short time, but others need a longer period. In several cases the condition of the patient did not improve. Presently it is unknown what causes these differences. We face similar problems in venom solution administration as well.

We have to understand that the simple administration of a bee venom solution will not ensure its effectiveness. It is important to follow certain guidelines. These may be found in the books printed in 1994 on the uses of bee venom. It needs to be stressed that these guidelines are not scientifically proven, however based on observations they seem to work in most cases. Patients may not feel they are improving or even reverse reactions may be observed. Some possible causes include; insufficient quantity and/or concentration of venom solution, improper administration, insufficient intake of Vitamin C, poor nutrition, allergies, medications, mental blocks (patients see little hope for recovery), scarring (may slow energy flow through the body), etc.

Frequently, claims are voiced that honey is good for diabetics. This is unlikely to find confirmation because of its high sugar content. However, it is better than products made with cane sugar, as a study by Katsilambros et al., has shown. It revealed that insulin levels were lower when compared to the uptake of equal caloric values of other foods, but blood sugar level was equal or higher than in the other compared products shortly after eating. In healthy individuals, the consumption of honey produced lower blood sugar readings than the consumption of the same quantity of sucrose.

6. Bee venom solution can be administered by electrophoresis or ultrasonophoresis. Both these methods use the highly diluted BVS (BV-10), however ultrasonophoresis requires it to be mixed with an ointment. The venom solution or ointment is then placed onto the affected area and penetrates the body with the assistance of an electric current or ultrasound. Another method uses a bee venom tablet containing a controlled amount of venom which is dissolved in a specific amount of distilled water thus ensuring its safe and proper concentration. The Chinese are successfully applying these methods for the treatment of bronchial asthma and all types of arthritis conditions.

Traditional, but well-studied medicinal systems as the ayurvedic medicine of India, use honey predominantly as a vehicle for faster absorption of various drugs such as herbal extracts. Secondarily, it is also thought to support the treatment of several more specific ailments, particularly those related to respiratory irritations and infections, mouth sores and eye cataracts. It also serves as a general tonic for newborn infants, the young and the elderly, the convalescent and hard working farmers.

These methods are safe and painless. The do not require the use of any sophisticated instrumentation other than that which is already in use by medical institutions. Furthermore, these methods ensure the controlled administration of the venom by a physician or therapist.

Bee venom solution can be used by acupuncturists as well. During the last three decades the Chinese have combined traditional acupuncture methods with bee venom solution for the treatment of epilepsy, impotency and all conditions treated with live bee stings. One of the methods uses an acupuncture needle that is dipped into the venom solution and administered into acupuncture points. Another method places the venom solution on the acupuncture points and the needle is administered through the solution. All of these techniques have led to the wider and safer application of bee venom solution.

Honey is said to normalize kidney function, reduce fevers and help insomnia. It is also supposed to help recovery from alcohol intoxication and protect the liver; effects also ascribed to fructose syrups. Heart, circulation and liver ailments and convalescent patients in general improved after injection with solutions of 20 and 40% honey in water.

7. Lay practitioners Api-Therapy is as old as beekeeping itself. It was written about by Hippocrates, and there are mentions of it in Chinese texts that are 2,000 years old. Apitherapy began as part of folk medicine, and even today, most of the people using it are doing it themselves or with the help of lay practitioners who administer the live bee sting.

Many Professional licensed health professionals now are beginning to use apitherapy, either with live bee, or in an injection. Two well-known physicians practitioners are Dr. Christopher Kim, of Red Bank, New Jersey, and Dr. Theodore Cherbuliez, M.D., president of AAS.

1. Get a Bee Sting Kit : This is epinephrine and may be obtained by prescription from your doctor.
   
   
2. Get a Source for Obtaining Honeybees : Call a local beekeeper (The Dept pf Agriculture can assist you).
   
   
3. Keep Honeybees in a jar for about 1Ѕ to2 weeks : Get an empty jar (for example, mayonnaise or pickle jars are good). Simply wash with warm water only. Put slits in the lid so the bees can get plenty of air. Put a teaspoon or two of honey in the bottom of the jar. Place a single layer of tissue paper over the honey. Ask the beekeeper to put some bees (50-75) in the jar and put the top on. Cut an inverted V in the end of an empty toilet paper roll. Hit the jar on your palm to knock the bees to the bottom for the moment. Quickly open the lid, insert empty toilet paper roll and replace lid. Place the jar of bees in the cupboard or dark, undisturbed place. In a day or so your bees will be calmer for you to retrieve them from the jar. Get a pair of long tweezers (six inches are preferred).
   
   
4. Give yourself a "Test" Sting: Find a place near a sunlight window. Bees go there when they get loose. If the bees are too active, just let a few go to the window and retrieve them at your leisure. With your tweezers, grasp a bee by the head or thorax. Have the honeybee sting you, perhaps on your knee or forearm. Wait approximately fifteen or twenty minutes. Should you encounter difficulty breathing in that time, use your bee sting kit.
   
   
5. If there are no difficulties, get ready to have the bees help you heal yourself: Ice can be used on the sting location both before and after, if needed. Place the bee on the location to be stung; discard the bee after it stings. Continue with the remainder of stings required for that day. Leave the stingers in for ten or fifteen minutes.
   
   
6. Remove the Stinger: By grasping the stinger with your tweezers, slide it along the skin. If you don't get the entire stinger out, your body will take care of it.
   
   
7. Remember to feed the Bees: Just give them a drop or two of honey every couple of days. A fine misting of water is also good.
   
   
8. What you might experience during your healing: Fatigue will most likely be one of the first things to go away. Slight redness at the sting location is normal and will go away. If and when it is extreme, your body is responding and those large saucer sized red spots may last about a week. Go back to the stinging trunk area of your body for awhile. For slight surface itching, use lotion, Preparation-H, a soothing cream or toothpaste. For severe itching use Benadryl Kapseals (antihistamine). Itching will also stop within a short length of time. For any one or more flu-like symptoms- just rest. This may last about a day or so, but then you should feel much better. These symptoms may include increased or decreased body temperature, a heavy "I can't move" feeling, nausea, diarrhea, splotchy hive-type marks, etc. You're OK. Benadryl may give you some relief. Don't give up! It's better to feel this way now for a short time than to feel this way later for a lifetime. Keep that in mind. For swelling, which could be intense, do nothing. Again, your body is waking up and these symptoms may happen three or four times, but they will not continue. Ice may be applied to help relieve the discomfort. Feet and hands seem to swell the easiest. Don't sting where already swollen from previous stings. Spread the wealth to other parts of your body. The healing process is your body's natural defense mechanism functioning, so let it work.
   
   
9. What is making honeybee stings help you get better?: Stings will activate your internal "get well" system. For some reason, it has not been functioning properly. Numbness, heavy arms/legs, spasticity, incontinence, "blah" feelings, rigidity, etc., can go away. Sting yourself and plan to BEE WELL!
   
   
10. About Medications: Try to be as free of medications as possible, (but do not enlist the help of your physician). It's hard for bee venom to fight thru medicine, especially antibiotics. Take 2-3000 units of a good Vitamin C. Take Vitamin B-complex as well as Vitamin E. Use raw honey in place of sugar (its hard for the body to digest). Use Royal Jelly, a product good for its healing properties. Use Bee Pollen, a great source of protein and good for allergies, too! There is a healing in honeybee product; use them for improved health. (Health food stores carry these items).