#HONEY BEE STING SKIN#
This ingredient may promote skin health in several ways, including by reducing inflammation, providing antibacterial effects, and reducing wrinkles.Ī 12-week study in 22 women demonstrated that applying a facial serum containing bee venom twice daily significantly reduced wrinkle depth and total wrinkle count, compared with the placebo ( 15).Īnother 6-week study found that 77% of participants with mild to moderate acne who used a serum containing purified bee venom twice daily experienced an improvement in acne, compared with the placebo ( 16). Multiple skincare companies have started adding bee venom to products like serums and moisturizers. Though promising, more high-quality studies are needed to confirm these effects ( 14). The anti-inflammatory effects of bee venom have been shown to especially benefit those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a painful inflammatory condition that affects your joints.Īn 8-week study in 120 people with RA found that bee-venom acupuncture, which employed 5–15 bee stings every other day, provided symptom relief effects that were similar to those of traditional RA medications like Methotrexate and Celecoxib ( 12).Īnother study in 100 people with RA showed that combining bee-sting therapy with traditional medications like Methotrexate, Sulfasalazine, and Meloxicam was more effective at reducing pain and joint swelling than treatment with the traditional medication alone ( 13). Melittin has been shown to suppress inflammatory pathways and reduce inflammatory markers, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) ( 10, 11). Many of its components have been shown to reduce inflammation, particularly melittin - its main component.Īlthough melittin can cause itching, pain, and inflammation when delivered in high doses, it has potent anti-inflammatory effects when used in small amounts ( 10). One of the most well-documented benefits of bee venom is its powerful anti-inflammatory effects. While not all of the purported benefits of bee venom are backed by science, research has shown that it has several powerful medicinal properties. Bee-venom therapy has been used for thousands of years as a natural treatment for a variety of conditions.
Some substances in bee venom, including melittin and apamin, may have medicinal properties. Lastly, bee venom is used in live bee acupuncture or bee-sting therapy - a treatment method in which live bees are placed on your skin and a sting is induced ( 7, 8, 9). Meanwhile, bee-venom injections can be administered by healthcare professionals. You can purchase bee-venom products, such as moisturizers, lotions, and lozenges, online or in specialty stores. For example, it’s added to products like extracts, supplements, moisturizers, and serums. The venom is used in a number of ways and available in many forms. How is it used?Īpitherapy is an alternative medicine practice that uses bee products - including their venom - to treat and prevent illnesses, pain, and more ( 6).Īlthough bee venom has recently experienced a surge in popularity, bee-venom therapy has been used in traditional medicine practices for thousands of years ( 6). Importantly, while research shows that some compounds in the venom may have beneficial properties, the isolated effects of each component are unknown, as many components have not been well studied ( 5).
Nevertheless, according to some research, the enzyme may also have anti-inflammatory and immunoprotective effects ( 4, 5).Īs you can see, the substances in bee venom have been associated with both positive and negative health effects. Although they act as toxins, they have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.Īdditionally, it contains phospholipase A2, an enzyme and major allergen that causes inflammation and cell damage. That said, it’s primarily responsible for the pain associated with bee stings ( 3).īee venom also contains the peptides apamin and adolapin. Melittin - a compound that consists of 26 amino acids - comprises about 50% of the dry weight of the venom and has been shown to have antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer effects in some studies ( 1, 2). It contains both anti-inflammatory and inflammatory compounds, including enzymes, sugars, minerals, and amino acids ( 1). Bees excrete it through their stingers into a target when they feel threatened.
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