Excerpts from Simics, M.: Apis Mellifica
Bibliography: Honeybee as Homeopathic Remedy - 1658-2000.
Apitherapy
Education Service - Apitronic Publishing, Richmond, BC., Canada,
2000.
The Future of Apis Mellifica
The use of
Apis mellifica, (whole honeybee), as a homeopathic remedy was discovered
in 1835 by Rev. Brauns, in Thuringia, Germany. In 1853, Dr.
Constantine Hering published the proving of Apis mellifica in his
American Provings. The easy preparation and effectiveness of Apis
made it a popular remedy. Throughout the succeeding decades, its preparation
went through several changes to improve its efficacy. These improvements
involved the introduction and use of Apium virus (removed venom sack)
and later Apis Venenum Purum (pure bee venom).
The sting of the honeybee have become a unique alternative form of healing outside homeopathy and known as bee sting therapy. It is administered by way of a live bee sting or by using the removed stinger from the honeybee. In homeopathy the removed stinger from the honeybee, in remedy is termed Apium virus. The current phase of evolution has pharmaceutically prepared pure bee venom, Apis Venenum Purum, used for bee venom therapy.
The growing number of studies that supports the therapy and its references exceed 2,000 titles. Researching the origin of bee venom therapy led to the gathering of the bibliography of the homeopathic Apis mellifica. There is no known reference work compiled by homeopaths or others at this time on this subject. The necessity for this bibliography came in part from the apitherapy community aroused by their success with bee venom therapy and the paucity of fundamental information on it.
Since the introduction of Apis mellifica in homeopathic medicine, the management of bees as the source of the remedy has changed. In the year of introduction of Apis mellifica, and in the middle of the 1800s, bees were kept in skeps and beekeepers seldom interfered with their honey production. The latter part of the 1800s saw changes in the management techniques of bee colonies whereby the moveable frame was introduced allowing the beekeeper to control swarming behavior, select a more gentle breed of bee and enhance the honey production even greater. At the same time a number of factors contributed to beekeepers becoming more sensitive to bee diseases, pests and their treatment. The control of bee diseases resulted in the use of chemicals that were not originally found in the bee hive. Industrialization caused air pollution and increased agricultural production saw the use of pesticides that had a harmful effect on the bees. Bees used as a source of Apis mellifica as a homeopathic remedy are no longer pure and free of contaminants and these contaminants may effect the remedy.
By regulation, the manufacture of a homeopathic remedy requires the proper identification of the source materials to ensure the remedy meets the requirements of the homeopathic pharmacopoeia. With honeybees this cannot be done easily any more. Beekeepers use medications to control bee diseases and pests on a yearly basis and bees come into contact with these medications carrying them on their body surface as well as internally. The medications used in hive health management leave traces in the hive, in bees wax and on bees. Bees and bee diseases are becoming resistant to presently used medications and the introduction of more powerful medications are on the horizon.
The active ingredient in Apis mellifica is the venom of the honeybee. However, the traditional preparation method of the remedy involves the use of the whole bee that is effected by hive management technique and the environment. The use of Apium virus, or the venom sac of the honeybee is less popular due its labor intensive preparation. One of the solutions to these problems is the introduction of pure bee venom, Apis Venenum Purum, that can be obtained easily and provides a pure remedy with exclusively bee venom characteristics. The venom can be obtained in such a way that the bees do not come into contact with the collected venom. It is of pharmaceutical quality, its constituents and quality control measures well documented, standardized and meet the requirements of health authorities for such products. The preparation of this new form of remedy is pioneered by Apitronic Services in Richmond, BC, Canada. Wider use of Apis Venenum Purum will be needed by homeopaths to confirm its position as a valuable sovereign remedy.
Copyright © 2002-2005 Mihály
Simics. All Rights Reserved.
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