Many different cultures use bee venom as a therapy. Nowadays, it is really popular for treating inflammatory diseases. Before, however, bees were saved by the beekeeper with a special purpose. When needed, people applied them to the affected areas by provoking them to sting the patient.
Today, the venom is usually used as a cream or by injection. The peptide inside, called mellitin, is the one that deals with the inflammation. Aside from this, mellitin can decrease the inflammatory genes that are provoking swelling in the case of rheumatoid arthritis.
The bee venom improves the effectiveness of the liposome-encapsulated target drugs that are used in cancer treatment. This was the result of a recent research.
How do they extract the venom from the bees?
Farmers in India have been taught by the zoologist how to use local resources in order to construct hives. Besides this, they are taught how to create venom extracting equipment. They believe that this a craft that will bring more money to the local poor people.
A modern technique contains passing a small electric current across a mesh frame. This is placed in the brood of the hive. Doing so, they are provoking the bees and they start stinging the mesh. Hence, they are releasing their precious venom, that is very useful and helpful for us. Although the bees in the hive remain agitated for a few days afterwards, this technique does not harm them.
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