Pat "The Bee Lady" Wagner
Bee Sting Therapy: Healing from the Hive
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling illness that affects well over one million adults worldwide.
For many sufferers, MS means a lifetime of taking medications that offer little relief for a body that progressively gets worse. Such was the case for Pat Wagner of Waldorf, Md., until her mother suggested that she get stung — by a bee. Pat is now known as the "Bee Lady" for her practice of using bee stings to treat the debilitating symptoms of MS. For Pat, it's been a miracle, one that she's been happily sharing with people from all over the world — by stinging them.
(Editor's Note: The following suggests a therapy that must not be acted upon without the careful coordination of treatment with the patient's primary care doctor and, preferably, an allergist.
Bee sting venom can cause anaphylactic shock which can cause sudden death. The risk of shock is unacceptably high to try bee sting therapy without the supervision of an allergist.)
Bee Venom therapy (BVT) uses bee venom to relieve the symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis. A bee is held to a person's skin and allowed to sting, releasing its "venom" into the recipient. The principal active component of bee venom is melittin, a powerful anti-inflammatory substance, said to be 100 times more potent than hydrocortisone.
Melittin also helps to activate the body's adrenal glands, which causes one's own natural healing response. Another component, adolapin, is known for its painkilling properties. These compounds seem to greatly improve vision, coordination, mobility, and sensitivity to touch, among other things, in MS patients. They also decrease pain, can add to a feeling of overall well-being, and even boost energy levels.
Q: I have MS. How do I know if BVT is right for me?
A: MS patients often opt for BVT upon diagnosis. Others turn to BVT after unsuccessfully trying more conventional treatments, such as corticosteroid drugs, Interferon beta, etc. The decision to try BVT depends on your personal inclination toward a natural approach, input from your doctor and the ability to tolerate bee stings.
Q: Where does one get stung? Does it hurt?
A: BVT has been done literally from head to toe (except the eyes and inside the ears). The particular location(s) for getting stung vary depending on the particular symptoms being treated. Bee stings can be unpleasant, temporarily leaving swollen, itchy bumps on the skin. But the "stingy," hot feeling usually lasts for less than a minute.
To reduce these side effects, many use a light fan or a hot, wet washcloth on the site of the sting. Others, however, are convinced some reaction to the sting is essential to successful therapy.
