FAQ

What is the history of Bee Venom?
What is Bee Venom?
What is Manuka Honey?
How can Manuka Honey with Bee Venom help with Arthritis, MS and Migraines?
Important: Can anyone take Manuka Honey with Bee Venom (Actiflex)?

Information about Arthritis:
What is Arthritis?
What are the Symptoms of Arthritis?
Can anyone get Arthritis?
What treatments are available for Arthritis?
Are weather conditions related to Arthritis?

Information about MS:
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
What are the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis?
Can anyone get Multiple Sclerosis?
What treatments are available for Multiple Sclerosis?

Information about Migraines:
What is Migraine?
How are migraines treated?
What are the symptoms of Migraine?
What happens in the body during a migraine attack?

Bee Venom History

Bee Venom Therapy has been practiced for more than twelve centuries and is part of clinical therapeutic treatments in Eastern Europe and Asia. Bee Venom Therapy also plays an important role in Chinese Acupuncture. Traditionally Bee Venom Therapy involves applying bees directly to the patient's affected area, and building up a number of stings over time, to achieve maximum therapeutic results for Arthritis and possibly Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

In 1928, bee venom injections were developed by Ketschy, thus eliminating the painful stinging process by live bees! More recently, Bee Venom Therapy has increased in Western Society as an alternative to the use of synthetic drugs in the treatment of arthritis, other rheumatoid inflammations and multiple sclerosis.

What is Bee Venom?

Bee Venom is a water-soluble blend of proteins (enzymes and peptides) containing over 18 components of pharmacological activities. The major allergic components are the enzymes. The major bioactive substances are the peptides. Melittin and Apamin found in bee venom have been shown to stimulate the pituitary gland in humans and animals, releasing a hormone that causes the adrenal gland to produce cortisol, one of the body's major anti-inflammatory agents. MCD peptide found in bee venom has been shown to produce an anti-inflammatory effect in animals 100 times stronger than the common anti-inflammatory drug hydro-cortisone! The effect is in addition to the cortisol effect. Also, bee venom is not accompanied by the typical side effects normally associated to cortisone.

What is Manuka Honey?

Actiflex combines the two natural ingredients, Bee Venom and Manuka Honey into one effective product. Honey has been used as health product for centuries and adds a special value to Actiflex. Manuka Honey is rare, precious honey from the tea tree bush in New Zealand and is known for its medical purposes.

How can Manuka Honey with Bee Venom (Actiflex) help with Arthritis, MS and migraines?

Bee Sting Therapy has increased in Western Society as an alternative to the use of synthetic drugs in the treatment of arthritis, other rheumatoid inflammations, multiple sclerosis and migraine. The idea is simple, the process hurtful, but very effective. Bee venom needs to get into the patient’s body. A live bee is applied directly to the affected area where it stings the patient thereby releasing the bee venom into the blood stream. A more recent way is an injection of bee venom that the patients has to receive several times throughout the day. However, this process is usually not more pleasant.

Bee Venom Therapy is based on the principle of homeopathic medicine, that whatever substance can cause the symptoms of a disease can also be the cure for the same disease. That means in the case of bee venom therapy that any disease that causes the same symptoms as a simple bee sting can also be cured with a simple bee sting. The symptoms of a bee sting are swelling, pain and inflammation. In fact there are many diseases that cause the same symptoms as a bee sting, such as rheumatoid diseases, MS or migraine. The simulated bee sting (injected bee venom or more convenient, Actiflex, taken orally) causes the immune system to relieve the inflammation that was caused by the simulated bee sting. That consequently might at the same time relieve the symptoms of arthritis, MS or migraine.

Actiflex is a great alternative to the hurtful process of bee stinging or injection. Actiflex works different. The bee venom that would normally get into the body through the bee sting can now be taken orally with the same effectiveness.  No sting, no pain.

By taking Manuka Honey with Bee Venom (Actiflex) you can avoid the hurtful bee stinging process and/or injections, and may experience the same kind of effectiveness. You can also avoid taking chemical medications and now finally relieve the pain the natural way without side effects. Manuka Honey with Bee Venom is ideal for people that suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid inflammations, multiple sclerosis and migraine.

Actiflex users simply take a teaspoon of Actiflex three times a day and let it dissolve slowly in the mouth. That way the bee venom gets to the parts of the body were it is needed.

As with most natural remedies it is proven that Actiflex is working, however not exactly why or how it is working.
There are several theories that researchers developed over the years. They found chemicals that occur naturally in bee venom (Actiflex) that seem to have anti-inflammatory effects in the body. In fact bee venom apparently helps to produce cortisoles in the body that act pain relieving. The antioxidant property of bee venom also naturally supports the immune system making the body strong enough to fight intruders. 

In 1973 the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology published a study about a certain compound that occurs naturally in bee venom, Peptide-401. The study proves Peptide-401 to be 100 times stronger than hydro cortisone in its anti-inflammatory properties. The other substance that occurs naturally in bee venom is Mellitin. Mellitin obviously stops the production of harmful free radicals in the body. Free radicals can have negative effects on the joints. Another benefit of Mellitin is that it causes the pituitary gland in the body to release ACTH that in turn stimulates the adrenal gland to produce the body’s own cortisol.

Bee Venom positively affects the immune system through the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands. Therefore, as opposed to most other medications, a bee venom therapy supports the immune system and does not weaken it.

Further compounds that can be found in bee venom are apamin, dopamine and adolapin. Apamin helps the synaptic transmissions in the body while dopamine is known to stimulate motor activity. Adolapin seems to have a pain relieving, analgesic effect.

No need to ask “to bee-sting or not to bee-sting?”!

Can anyone take Manuka Honey with Bee Venom?

Important Comment!

NOT everyone can take Actiflex!

Do NOT use Actiflex, if you suffer from

• bee sting allergy
• uncompensated allergies
• cardiovascular conditions
• open tuberculosis
• insulin dependent diabetes
• or use beta-blockers
• or if it contradicts with any other medication you may be taking

Adverse Reactions

Most people react in some way to a bee sting, and as a result many people regard themselves as 'allergic to bee stings'. However, US estimates show that the number of people with some form of allergy to insect stings is only 1-2%. The percentage of total deaths due to bee venom allergies is 0.0008%, or less than 1 in 12 million.

The initial reaction to a bee sting is local redness, swelling, pain and itchiness. However this is not an indication of bee venom allergy, since the medical definition of a stinging insect allergy is sting-induced systemic reactions by the body that occurs somewhere other than the local area of the sting. Pain and redness is a 'normal reaction'.

A larger local reaction can occur in the area of the sting in a radius of 3 inches (10cm) or more, increasing in size over several days, and creating massive swelling. This type of larger local reaction is also not life-threatening, unless the sting and swelling occurs nearby the airway.

Bee Venom allergy can create a systemic allergic reaction that affects the circulatory and respiratory systems!

Reactions include shock, unconsciousness, fainting, difficulty breathing and massive swelling of the throat! Symptoms include nausea, dizziness, an urge to use the toilet, general weakness, itchy palms, soles, eyes and throat. Relaxation and reassurance of the patient should be encouraged in order to prevent panic. Panic can make the condition worse, breathing troubles may follow, and left unchecked could lead to cardiovascular failure and death!

When breathing problems occur, immediate medical attention is required! Intra-muscular injection of epinephrine (adrenaline) is the recognized treatment to alleviate the symptoms of allergy (Barach 1984).

ATTENTION! A person generally does NOT suffer an allergic reaction on their FIRST exposure to insect venom. The first sting causes the body to produce an allergy-causing antibody (IgE). When the person receives a SECOND sting later in time, the venom causes an IgE induced reaction!

Research has shown that there is no link between sufferers of bee venom allergy and sufferers of other allergies such as asthma, hay fever and food allergies. (Settipane 1972, Lockey 1988).

Bee Venom is also incorporated in ointments, inhalations and tablets (Sharma and Singh, 1983) Commercial creams are manufactured that include bee venom,  forapin and apicosan in Germany, apvene in France and immenin in Austria (Krell 1993). The ointments are used in topical applications on inflamed and sore joints.

MANUKA HONEY with BEE VENOM & GINGER 'Actiflex Plus' from New Zealand is now available at Manuka Honey USA www.manukahoneyusa.com

TOLL-FREE 1-800 395 2196 Tel: (407) 523 2205

The Anti-Arthritis Effect

The major use of Bee Venom as a therapeutic has been in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease causing pain, restricted movement and disfigurement. The disease can also result in reduced oxygen supply to tissues and impairment of the lymphatic system, resulting in restricted blood flow and calcified over-growth of joints.

There is no known cure for the disease, and current treatment involves the use of drugs and other methods to reduce tissue inflammation around joints. In the US, 12% of the population suffers from arthritis.

In animal studies bee venom has shown to suppress arthritis by stimulating the adrenal gland to produce cortisol, which then inferred with the action of lymphocytes.

Mechanisms involved in this anti-inflammatory effect of bee venom have been reviewed by a number of authors, including Banks and Shipoliini (1986), Rekka and Kourounakis (1990) and Kim (1990)

Most of the evidence for the anti-arthritis effect of bee venom (apitherapy) on humans is either anecdotal or is provided in case studies by doctors. Beck (1935) recorded a number of cases where bee venom significantly improved arthritis symptoms. A hospital used bee venom on acupuncture points and reported significant improvement of symptoms in 66% of cases treated (Potchinkova, 1987) Broadman (1962) also reported that many doctors have used Bee Venom in the treatment of arthritis.

Schmidt and Buchmann (1993) have commented that such testimonials indicate that a beneficial effect certainly exists in relation to arthritis. However, anecdotal evidence does not explain why the effect is occurring, or the clinical relevance of the effect.

A clinical trial on the effects of bee venom on arthritis was conducted by Korner (1938). Small dose venom injections were given to 100 patients suffering symptoms. Over time, 73% of patients showed significant improvement in symptoms.

A total of 326 patients diagnosed by x-ray as suffering from degenerative spinal conditions received bee venom cream treatments using ultrasound. Following treatment, 59.5% of patients reported being free from pain, while 30% said their pain had decreased (Pochinkova, 1973).

Bee venom was applied to acupuncture points on 48 patients suffering from joint inflammation and rheumatism. Following treatments, 70% of patients were free from pain, 28% reported subjective results and 2% showed no change in condition (Giza 1985).

A trial conducted in the US studied arthritic patients with chronic symptoms not responding to drug therapy. Patients received bee venom injections twice weekly for six weeks. Most patients showed significant improvement in symptoms by the 12th treatment, and no patients showed undue side effects (Kim 1992).

Clinical studies are currently under way to study the use of bee venom for people suffering from MS (multiple sclerosis).
 

Information about Arthritis:

What is Arthritis?

Many people think of arthritis as aches and pains that older people get. However, Arthritis can affect people of all ages – children and adults - and is a far more complex health problem.

Arthritis is often mistakably referred to as single disease. However, Arthritis is just the collectible term for 100 different types of Arthritis.

Most types of Arthritis affect the joints, exactly where the bones meet. However, Arthritis is often affecting the whole musculoskeletal system. There are also systemic Arthritis types that affect the whole body. Arthritis can in this case even affect the heart, lungs, kidneys or skin. Arthritis is definitely a disease that has to be taken seriously.

The symptoms of Arthritis are

·        Pain

·        Stiffness

·        Inflammation of the cartilage

·        Weakness of the joints

·        Instability and visible deformities

All these symptoms are turning the most simple daily tasks, such as walking, climbing stairs, computer keyboarding or using knife and fork into torture for millions of Americans. Unfortunately, the number of people affected by arthritis is growing. Moreover, many Americans are soon reaching their 60s, the age when the risk for arthritis gets bigger.

Since 1985 the number of Americans with arthritis has increased from 35 million to over 70 million. At least 300,000 children are among this number.

That means every third adult suffers from this painful health problem. That makes Arthritis the most common chronic disease in the US. Arthritis is leading more and more Americans to disability. Arthritis is more prevalent in women than in men.

There are over 100 different types of Arthritis, among them:

Cartilage:  Smooth but tough tissue that covers the ends of the bones and enables the bones to glide against the other bones.

So far there has not been found a cure for this painful disease. The only hope at the moment is the use of pain relieving medications to keep the disease in control.

What are the Symptoms of Arthritis?

The symptoms of Arthritis are

·        Pain

·        Stiffness

·        Inflammation of the cartilage

·        Weakness of the joints

·        Instability and visible deformities

All these symptoms are turning the most simple daily tasks, such as walking, climbing stairs, computer keyboarding or using knife and fork into torture for people suffering from Arthritis.

Can anyone get Arthritis?

Yes, anybody can get Arthritis, children and adults.

What treatments are available for Arthritis?

So far there has not been found a cure for this painful disease. The only hope at the moment is the use of pain relieving medications to keep the disease in control.

Natural Remedy to help relieve Arthritis Pain:

Manuka Honey with Bee Venom (Actiflex) is the natural alternative for many prescription pain relievers. This natural product is based on the findings of the bee sting therapy method (apitherapy) that helps relieve the pain of rheumatoid inflammations, like Arthritis or diseases of the nervous system, like MS. Actiflex advantage over the bee sting therapy is that the patient can avoid the hurtful process of being stung by life bees or having to inject the bee venom himself. Actiflex is taken orally. Actiflex advantage over other medications is that it is has absolutely no side effects.

Are weather conditions related to Arthritis?

Theories about the weather’s effect on the perceived pain of Arthritis are rather subjective. Many people state that they feel better in warm, dry climates.

In fact, the symptoms of Arthritis may get worse when the humidity and the barometric pressure increase. Many people feel a difference when they are in vacation in a warm climate, but that may be as well related to other facts. Before you consider moving to a warmer climate you should spend more time in the area to see how you are really doing.
 

Information about MS: 

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease affecting the central nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves). The nervous system is surrounded by a tissue called myelin, acting as insulation for the nerve fiber. Myelin helps nerve fibers to conduct electrical impulses. People affected with MS lose the myelin in multiple areas. The loss of myelin leaves a scar tissue that is called sclerosis. MS can also damage the nerve fiber itself. Since the nerves cannot transmit impulses from and to the brain any longer, this is causing the symptoms (like numbness, pain and vision problems) of MS.

MS is unpredictable and not directly inherited, it is not contagious. Although many people think so, this autoimmune disease does not always lead to death. In fact, the majority of MS sufferers do actually not become severely disabled.

So far there has not been found a cure for this terrible disease. The only hope for patients is a pain relieving medication and drugs that slow down the course of the disease.
 

What are the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis?

• Bladder Dysfunction/Bowel Dysfunction
• Cognitive Dysfunction (Slowed ability to think and remember)
• Dizziness and Vertigo
• Walking Problems
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Numbness
• Pain
• Vision Problems
   

Can anyone get Multiple Sclerosis?

Yes. Most people are diagnosed with MS between 20 and 50 of which more than 50% are women. People with Northern European roots are more often affected than others. Worldwide 2.5 million people have MS. 400,000 of them are Americans.

Since MS is an autoimmune disease, this means that the body’s immune system is not working right. The immune system that usually protects the body against viruses and bacteria is now attacking itself. It attacks its own tissue, myelin.

Research has not figured out yet what causes autoimmune diseases like MS. They suspect genetics, gender or environmental triggers (like viruses, toxic shock) to be responsible.
 

What treatments are available for Multiple Sclerosis?

So far there has not been found a cure for this terrible disease. The only hope for patients is a pain relieving medication and drugs that slow down the course of the disease. Also Chemotherapy is used by patients.

Natural Remedy to help relieve MS Pain:

Manuka Honey with Bee Venom (Actiflex) is the natural alternative for many prescription pain relievers. This natural product is based on the findings of the bee sting therapy method (apitherapy) that helps relieve the pain of diseases of the nervous system, like MS, or rheumatoid inflammations, like Arthritis. Actiflex advantage over the bee sting therapy is that the patient can avoid the hurtful process of being stung by life bees or having to inject the bee venom himself. Actiflex is taken orally. Actiflex advantage over other medications is that it is has absolutely no side effects.
 

Information about Migraines

What is Migraine?

Migraine is often thought to be a simple headache. However it cannot be compared to a headache because the pain of migraine is by far more intense than a headache pain and it also lasts much longer. Migraine headaches are characterized by a pain on both sides of the head. Also the causes of migraine are different. A headache can most likely be directly related to an obvious trigger like a cold or flu, sometimes stress and lack of food, or a hangover. Migraine however is a neurological abnormality in the brain due to a genetic mutation. That also means that migraine can be inherited from generation to generation.  Migraine is referred to as vascular headache because it affects the brain’s blood vessels, also called vascular system. The pain starts when the blood vessels in the brain overreact to certain triggers. People that suffer from migraine get attacks quite regularly, as often as several times a week. Migraine can even be accompanied by nausea or vomiting. People with migraine also report an unusual sensitivity to light and sound. Patients often relate that before having a migraine attack they perceive difficulties in their vision.

A migraine attack can occur at any time, however some patients seem to be able to predict the occurrence of a migraine attack due to certain triggers. Possible triggers for an attack are stress, lack of sleep or food, certain food, most likely foods containing tyramine, longer exposures to light or hormonal imbalances.

Many women report migraines during their menstrual cycle. In fact, women suffer from migraine more frequently than men. Some women have their first migraine during pregnancy or when they first start taking the birth control pill. In connection with the birth control pill, women that are already affected by migraine seem to suffer from more frequent attacks.

Migraines are generally divided into common migraine and classic migraine (see symptoms below).
 

How are migraines treated?

Unfortunately, migraine can not be cured at this point, but there are quite a few treatments available both to prevent or relive the pain of a migraine attack. A good way to prevent attacks seems to be the intake of anti-depressives. During an attack patients tend to use triptans, a drug that seems to relieve the pain. Women that are affected by migraine due to their menstrual cycle have reported some success with the usage of hormones. As with all medications, they can be accompanied by unwanted side effects. People suffering from migraine have to keep in mind that migraine is an ailment that will most likely accompany them all their life. However, is it really recommendable to take medication and pain relievers for such a long period of time? Especially the stomach can suffer from that. Therefore more and more people affected by migraine are looking for natural remedies that have no side effects and are mild, yet efficient. In the past 11 years more and more migraine patients have discovered Actiflex as reliable and mild pain reliever during migraine attacks. Actiflex has no known side effects and is 100% natural. Some patients have also reported amazing success in preventing migraine attacks with Actiflex.

During an acute attack some patients press cold packs onto their head to ease the pain.

Stress management can also be beneficial in preventing migraine attacks. Good ways to manage stress are regular exercise, relaxation, such as yoga, and other therapies that were designed to relieve stress.

Sometimes it also helps to cut out certain foods from the nutrition in order to prevent migraine attacks. 
 

What are the symptoms of Migraine?

There are two types of migraines that are most prevalent, the classic migraine and the common migraine. The common migraine is more common among patients.

Symptoms of the classic migraine:

• perceiving an “aura” (flashing lights, loss of vision, zigzag lines) about 10-30 minutes before the pain starts

• intense, pounding pain that starts in the forehead, ear or around the eye of one side of the head and eventually also spreads to the other side

• weakness of an arm or leg

• tingling of face or hands

• speech difficulty and confusion

• the pain can last for up to 2 days
   

Symptoms of the common migraine:

• sometimes perceiving light confusion, mood changes or fatigue before an attack

• possibly diarrhea, increased urination, nausea or vomiting during attack

• the pain can last for up to 4 days
   

What happens in the body during a migraine attack?

As mentioned above migraine is caused by a neurological abnormality in the brain that affects the blood vessels (vascular system).

The abnormality changes the blood flow and causes biochemical changes in the body. The nervous system of the body reacts to certain triggers (e.g. stress) by causing spasms of the arteries in the brain. This spasm blocks the blood flow into the brain. This blocking of the arteries also causes blood clotting. This process releases the chemical serotonin that will even constrict the arteries more. Due to the lack of blood supply, the brain is lacking oxygen which causes the mentioned symptoms of disturbed vision and speech deficiencies.

As consequence of the reduced oxygen in the brain, the arteries have to open wider to provide the brain with its energy needs. This widening will now also affect the arteries located in the neck and scalp. When the arteries widen our body produces a substance called prostaglandin, as well as chemicals that cause inflammation, swelling, and sensitivity to pain. All these substances and the widening of the arteries cause a throbbing, severe pain in the head.