In addition to the well-known honey, beekeepers receive from the hives many other useful products: wax, scum, royal milk, propolis and bee venom. The latter is widely used in medical and cosmetic preparations. Consider what is bee venom, what are its benefits and dangers.
How is bee venom formed?
Bee venom is a colorless liquid with a smell reminiscent of honey. It is a biologically active substance, therefore, it instantly dries in the open air. In large quantities, it acts as an extremely harmful and even dangerous substance for humans (a bite of 450 bees is considered fatal, 180 or more - causes severe poisoning). In small doses, bee venom is used in cosmetology and medicine.
The poison is produced in the stinging gland of bees. Such glands are present both in working bees and in uterus - they secrete exactly the same poison. Each bee stings contain from 0.2 to 0.8 milligrams of poison, which the insect injects when bitten. For working bees, poison serves as a means of defense of the hive and family. The Queen, however, launches a sting solely to eliminate her rival.
A bee is not able to sting if its abdomen is filled with honey, and most often dies when bitten, because it cannot take out the sting.
The sting of the bee is arranged in such a way that once plunging it into the skin, it can no longer pull it back. Contrary to popular belief, not all bees die after being bitten. If the insect gently flies away from the victim, it will remain without a sting, but will survive. Death does not occur from the loss of a sting, but from damage to internal organs when it is removed from the body of a bee, when the insect hurries to distance itself from the victim.
How to get bee venom
In order to collect a sufficient amount of bee venom, a large number of bees are required. Resource collection is carried out in the apiary. There are 3 ways to obtain the substance:
- manually with tweezers;
- applying peach oil;
- using a poison receiver.
Manual selection of the poison requires a lot of time, skill and experience. When performing all actions with tweezers, insects must be caught one at a time and gently pressed so that the bee splashes out the poison, but not the sting. When using oil, several bees are dumped into a jar. The method is many times simpler and faster, but most insects die.
The use of an electric grid, called a poison receiver, significantly simplified the life of beekeepers. The device sends an electrical impulse and makes the bees give poison without damaging the sting. Thus, the required amount of pure poison is obtained without serious harm to the hive. A grid with a poison receiver is placed opposite the hive window. After that it is turned on.
It is important to remember that injecting poison annoys the bees on their own, so it’s dangerous to approach the hive after collecting the poison without special equipment.
Composition and benefits
The poison consists of a number of substances, protein compounds and amino acids. Its composition is complex and not fully understood. Scientists have been conducting research for decades, discovering all the new components and properties of a unique fluid. The poison is based on non-toxic proteins, the active components are protein groups, which include melittin, phospholipase and hyaluronidase. Additional active elements of the poison are:
- acid phosphatase;
- amino acids (18 of 20);
- phosphate, sulfuric and other inorganic acids;
- trace elements.
The beneficial properties of bee venom have been known since ancient times. Bee stings were used mainly in oriental medicine, in ancient India, China and Greece. Medical scientists became interested in the properties of a substance in 1930. Currently, the component is widely used in medicine and cosmetology. The poison has a positive effect on blood vessels and joints, it is both a warming agent, an antibiotic and a stimulant for nerve endings.
The reaction of the human body to a bee sting
Bee venom can be both harmful to the human body and useful when attacked by a bee. After a bite, the body reacts negatively to irritation. The process is accompanied by rather unpleasant sensations, pain. When the poison begins to act, swelling occurs.
When bitten, the substance is part of the cells, partially or completely destroying them. Active components act on red blood cells, accelerating blood circulation for faster movement of the poison. In addition, it increases vascular permeability for speedy absorption.
After a bite, the immune system is activated, which causes edema. In large quantities, the poison provokes a strong negative reaction in the form of weakness, nausea and a slight increase in temperature.
Bee venom treatment
Bee venom treatment is called apitherapy. The methods are used for diseases of the joints and blood vessels, which are affected by poison. Initially, the method of treatment was common in folk medicine. In the middle of the 20th century, scientists also paid attention to it. Currently, bee venom is also used in official medical practice. Many medicines include bee venom or its components.
Doctors believe that bee venom is a unique immunostimulant, especially beneficial for joints.
Treatment methods
To treat diseases with bee venom, several methods are used. Before starting the health course, doctors diagnose diseases, collect the necessary tests and find out if the patient has an allergic reaction to the components of the poison. After that, the optimal method of treatment is selected.
Apitherapy or treatment through bee stings is a traditional method. In this case, the course begins with the bite of one bee, after which the dosage of the poison is gradually increased. Doctors carefully monitor the dynamics of treatment and the condition of the body, so the treatment is harmless and almost devoid of discomfort.
In addition to bee stings, there are the following methods of treatment with bee venom:
- Rubbing ointments - It is usually used for local treatment or at certain points in the body - an accumulation of nerve cells. The method is quite effective and completely painless.
- Inhalation - inhalation of water vapor along with the volatile fraction of the poison.
- Electrophoresis - delivery of poison into the body using electric current.
- Intramuscular injection small doses of drugs. It is usually used for topical treatment, for example, joints.
- Drugs in tablets or capsules - The easiest way, but ineffective, since the poison is partially neutralized by gastric juice.
Experts note that the combined treatment with drugs based on bee venom and the use of honey significantly increase the effectiveness of therapy, accelerates the effect of poison and has a beneficial effect on the body as a whole.
What diseases do bee venoms use?
The unique substance has a diverse effect on the body in several directions at once, the main of which are the cardiovascular and nervous system. Therefore, treatment with bee venom is used for diseases such as:
- multiple sclerosis;
- hypertension;
- joint pain
- skin diseases.
The poison significantly increases blood circulation, stimulating blood diversion. At the same time, it has an anti-inflammatory effect. For various diseases, treatment is prescribed in various ways.
Bee venom in cosmetology
The substance is widely used in medicine, but it is of particular value for maintaining the beauty and youth of the skin. Beauticians add poison to skin preservation and rejuvenation products, moisturizers and restoratives.
The main active ingredient that is valued in cosmetology is apitoxin.
Experts note the similarity of the effect of apitoxin with Botox, despite the fact that the substance is natural and devoid of negative effects on the body.
The components of the poison actively affect the skin, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin. The cream gives the skin a healthy glow, smoothes out small wrinkles, and makes large ones less noticeable. In addition, bee venom is part of some lipsticks. It gives the lips a bright shade, and makes the form more expressive.
Pharmaceutical preparations with bee venom
Preparations based on bee venom can be found not only in cosmetologists, but also in pharmacies. They are used to relieve inflammation, accelerate the healing of wounds and eliminate pustules on the skin.
The most popular in domestic pharmacies are ointments with bee venom: "Sophia" and "Bee venom 911." The cream is used for joint damage locally, by applying to the area of inflammation. The ointment is used for radiculitis, osteochondrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Means have anti-inflammatory and warming effects, they are reasonably priced and highly effective.
Contraindications and Precautions
Despite the high efficiency and indications, bee venom is not suitable for everyone. The response of the body can be not only positive, but also negative. Side effects include itching and local skin irritation. When using drugs, body temperature can also increase by 2-3 degrees. To prevent side effects, the dosage should be strictly observed, do not overwork and exclude the use of alcohol during treatment.
The main contraindication to the use of bee venom and preparations based on it is allergy. Allergic reaction to bee venom affects about 1% of the population, it is difficult to tolerate in such people and can even lead to death.
Therefore, before treatment, a minimum amount of the drug or a bite of one bee is administered. If negative reactions of the body to poison are not detected, you can conduct a health-improving course of apitherapy. Due to some side effects, poison is contraindicated in
- heart disease;
- tuberculosis
- sexually transmitted diseases;
- malignant tumors;
- stomach ulcer.
During pregnancy, treatment of children or elderly people, you need to carefully monitor the patient, use the substance with extreme caution.
Trust treatment with bee venom is necessary only for specialists, in no case should you self-medicate.
Bee venom is one of the most valuable vital products of bees. Being a protective mechanism and dangerous in large quantities, it has been widely used in medicine, and some cosmetologists consider the components of the poison a panacea. When used correctly, the substance can significantly improve health and provide a lasting anti-aging effect.
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