Arthritis is one of the world's leading cripplers in both young and old. A vast majority of the world's population will suffer from this affliction at some point in their lives. Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints that often causes intense pain, restricted movement and disfigurement.  The diagnosis and treatment of arthritis represents a major cost to the medical community.  There are many direct and indirect causes of arthritis.  It can occur in response to an injury, general wear and tear of joints when aged or when joints are abused through impaired circulation.

All these can result in inflammation and thickening of joints’ linings, erosion of cartilage, brittle bones and fused joints. Inadequate supply of oxygen destroys tissues while impairing the lymph system — the body's filtering system —  resulting in dead cells accumulation, leading to narrowing of blood vessels causing calcareous, bony overgrowth in joints which is seen as arthritis in X-ray.

Many drug therapies are employed from the use of gold salts to anti inflammatory drugs both non-steroidal like painkillers such as aspirin ibuprophen or any other analgesic or steroidal such as cortisone, prednisone and dexamethasone. All these drugs are associated with side effects affecting the adrenal and pituitary glands. 

Continuous use of steroids may be fatal. Arthritis rarely kills the patients but steroids often do.

Bee venom was first linked to arthritis as a possible treatment as the result of a chance observation. Beekeepers noticed that their aches and pains and creaky joints seemed to improve after having been stung by bees repeatedly.

Complex mixture

Bee venom is a complex mixture of proteins (enzymes and  peptides) with unique pharmacological activities.  Enzymes are proteins that catalyze the chemical  reaction in living systems.  The main enzymes in bee venom are hyaluronidase and phospholopase.  Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid and the intestinal fluid that holds cells together allowing the venom to spread faster among cells. Peptides are proteins that   possess specific biological activities. There are three major peptides in bee venom like melittin, apaonin peptide 401 which stimulates the body's adrenal and pituitary gland to produce cortisol which is a natural steroid  which doesn't cause medical complications like the induced steroid.  Bee venom is a powerful anti inflammatory agent more effective than cortisone when administered in small doses.

Traditional therapy involves the application of bee stings on the affected area of the patient over a period of time.  Gradually the frequency and number of stings are increased until desensitization  is achieved.

A single dose of bee venom administered subcutaneously was found to effectively  suppress the development of arthritis. Bee venom administered to rats and dogs three times per week beginning for two weeks showed swelling lesions and inflammation noticeably decreased in rats treated with venom.  

Despite these encouraging results, more research is necessary, especially with human models before the medical community will embrace bee venom as a possible cure for arthritis.  Investigation and research is required to study the pharmacological activity of bee venom. As the  matter stands right now, the jury is still out with apitherapists and beekeepers saying 'yes'  and  the medical community saying "may be"  but "prove it".

Dr A Nagarathna
The author is the Principal S R N Adarsh college and can be
contacted at nagarathnaamresh@rediffmail.com