All of the following is what I have learned from an apitherapist or from reading. I have recently returned to stinging for tendonitis pain, etc.
I am not familiar with other venoms, but I know bee venom is anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. It is used for many things.....infection, pain, inflammation, anti-cancer, diseases, asthma, etc. It is the body's response to the venom that can cause healing. Venom causes a response by the body that floods the area with blood flow bringing oxygen, warmth, fluids and other chemicals from the body to deal with the venom thus healing. It can waken up the immune system and/or boost it. There are chemicals also in bee venom that are present in the human body/brain. I prefer not to call honey bee venom a poison. It is medicinal. We were also told to take propolis, pollen, royal jelly, honey and "homemade bee bread".
Charles Mraz stung people for over 60 years and wrote a book about it. He was his first "patient". He networked with some medical doctors and some were from Europe.
Areas to sting include:
1. Spine - can be stung 1 inch apart eventually. Sting the area that corresponds to the part of the body you want to benefit from stings. The nerves travel along the spine and branch out to different areas of the body. The upper third of the spine would be for arms, shoulders, the middle spine would be for organs and the lower third would be for legs, hips, etc.
2. Trigger spots. Press firmly along nerve meridians with the thumb and sting the spots that hurt.
3. Sting scars and moles - Sting scars eventually all along it 1 inch apart.
4. Sting location - For example, elbow or knee, or even lungs, etc. There are charts for this.
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In general at one stinging session, keep stings about 2 inches apart. Exceptions are spine and scars.
Make sure you are not allergic. Avoid alcohol 24 hrs. before and 24 hrs. after. Know that bee venom may interact with medications. Know how to use an epi pen and keep it nearby when stinging. Drink water and do not sting on an empty stomach. Keep a log of your stings in a notebook. You will forget. Make notes on progress as well. A person that is stinging may feel a little ill in about a week or two due to the body feeling the stress of pathogens dying off due to venom. This will pass.
Itching and swelling will be present at first, may eventually increase to a great local reaction and then when immunity starts there will be very little itching or swelling. Venom will still be effective even though immunity is achieved.
We ice first, dry the area and apply the bee using a reverse tweezers. Ice eliminates or reduces the punch of the sting. Some areas are still tender.