Bee Venom
July 29, 2013
Probably the reason most people steer clear of bees is because they can
sting. Bee stings are certainly not the most pleasant thing to experience and
this is mainly due to the venom they leave behind. Apitoxin, or honey bee venom,
is a bitter, acidic, colorless liquid produced in the abdomen of worker bees.
Bee venom is a complex mixture of proteins
from secretions, which cause local inflammation and acts as an anticoagulant.
It is estimated that 1% of the population is allergic to bee stings. That being
said, bee venom is becoming an increasingly popular treatment for arthritis, rheumatism
and joint diseases because of its anticoagulant
and anti-inflammatory
properties. If getting stung by bees isn’t your cup of tea, bee venom balms are
also available to apply to your skin but they are less potent. Recent studies
from earlier this year have also found that a key ingredient in bee venom destroys HIV without harming other cells. I think it is
safe to say that the unique properties of bee venom will continue to be studied
by scientists and will may be used in a larger number of treatments in the
future.
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