Kalpetta  :

A bee sting is definitely not something pleasant or enjoyable, but one will be surprised to see people queuing up to get stung by bees at the ‘Bee Venom Therapy (BVT) Centre’ here.

They believe that the venomous sting of honeybees is a virtual panacea for all their ailments and it can even cure chronic diseases such as psoriasis and arthritis. The stings are also said to be effective in speeding up the recovery process after a stroke.

Between 10 am and 12 noon every Tuesday, patients suffering from various ailments swarm the centre, temporarily functioning in a private auditorium, to undergo the painful technique.K M Sankarankutty, head of the Bee Research and Training Institute under the Kerala Khadi Grama Vyavasaya Board, who supervises the proceedings, will tell you how the ‘sting’ works and unfurl interesting instances and will give you ample evidence to back up his case.

Still if you are not convinced, he will hand you a copy of a pamphlet titled ‘The Miracle and Wonders of Treatment from Bee Venom’ to enlighten yourself.

The black-and-white notice also carries a disclaimer that the centre will not be responsible for any adverse effects that may be associated with the therapeutic treatment, which is also know as apitherapy.

“Certain compounds in bee venom, namely melittin and adolapin, help reduce inflammation and pain, especially in arthritis patients. Apis cerana indica is the bee species used for the treatment,” says Sankarankutty, as he takes a live bee out of a wooden box and places it on the knee of a patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

“After keeping the bee on the affected area, you need to give the insect a small pinch so that it gets agitated and injects venom into the patient through the needle-like portion of the sting apparatus,” elaborates Sankarankutty, who underwent the necessary training at the Central Bee Research & Training Institute, Pune, in 1987. The treatment is not offered to pregnant women and patients with hypertension, kidney and heart ailments, and psychiatric disorders.According to him, ancient Egyptians had used the method as a homoeopathic remedy for arthritis, and reference to the treatment can also be found in ancient Chinese and Greek medical writings. “It’s a century-old practice which is simple and cost-effective. People who are convinced of the medicinal uses of bee venom will be given training in bee-keeping. Bee-boxes will be provided to them by charging `2,000 per box so that they can undergo the therapy in the comfort of their homes. So, more than the monetary benefit, our aim is to create a society sans arthritis patients.” At the centre, bee venom is given as a shot for rheumatoid arthritis, nerve pain (neuralgia), multiple sclerosis (MS), swollen tendons (tendonitis), and muscle conditions such as fibromyositis and enthesitis.

The treatment is being offered as per guidelines provided by the American Apitherapy Society.“I had been bedridden for almost nine years following a stroke in 2005.

“ I tried both ayurveda and allopathy to get back to normal life after being paralysed. But nothing worked. I was being carried to the centre by my relatives, but right after I got the first injection of bee venom, I had sensation in my arms and legs. The following week, I came here walking, to the surprise of many,” says Rajarajan, a 53-year-old farmer from Ambalavayal.

According to Dr Rajmohan P R, an ayurveda practitioner based in Meppadi, the bee venom therapy in arthritis patients could be compared with the practice of ‘Agnikarma’ (thermal cauterisation) in ayurveda. “This method has been proved to be effective when patients do not respond to conventional medical care.

The combination of all the ingredients in bee venom could help the body release natural healing compounds in its own defence. However, a comprehensive research is required to establish the healing power of bee venom in treating other diseases.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Aadarsh  / September 02nd, 2014