live bee venom apitherapy · BVT

the sting,
on purpose.

Bee Venom Therapy is a clinical apitherapy protocol using live stings to deliver melittin, apamin and adolapin — the most potent natural anti-inflammatories known. Used for decades for Lyme disease, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic pain and autoimmune conditions.

find an apitherapist →read the protocol

Important: BVT must be performed by a trained apitherapist after a supervised allergy test. Anaphylaxis is a real risk. This page is education — not medical advice. Talk to your doctor.

the protocol

step-by-step
BVT process.

  1. 01

    intake + screening

    A 45-min consult: medical history, current meds, prior sting reactions, EpiPen on file. Anyone with a known anaphylactic allergy to Hymenoptera is excluded.

  2. 02

    supervised allergy test

    A single sting on the forearm, observed for 20 minutes with epinephrine, antihistamines and a crash kit at hand. Local swell + itch is expected; systemic reaction means stop.

  3. 03

    build-up phase

    Sessions 2–3× per week. Start at 1–2 stings per session, increase slowly. Stings placed with sterile tweezers on acupuncture or symptom-mapped points by a trained apitherapist.

  4. 04

    therapeutic dose

    Most protocols reach 10–20 stings per session, 3× per week, for 3–6 months. The Pat Wagner Lyme protocol can run longer. Dosing is patient-specific — your apitherapist decides.

  5. 05

    monitoring

    Symptom journal, inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR) and Lyme/co-infection panels reviewed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Protocol is adjusted, paused or extended based on response.

  6. 06

    taper + maintenance

    Once symptoms remit, dose is tapered to a weekly or monthly maintenance schedule. Some patients stay on a low maintenance dose for years.

what to expect

during,
after, beyond.

during the sting

A sharp pinch, then a hot, throbbing burn for 30–90 seconds. The stinger stays in for 10–15 minutes to fully release venom. You will feel each one.

first 24 hours

Local redness, warm swelling, hard knot at each site. Itching peaks at 12–24 hours. This is the immune response doing the work — it's the point, not a side effect.

days 2–4

Swelling softens, itch fades, a faint bruise may stay. Many patients report a clear symptom shift — less joint stiffness, brain fog lifting, neuropathic pain quieter.

herx reaction (Lyme)

If you have Lyme or co-infections, expect a Jarisch-Herxheimer flare in weeks 2–6 as die-off accelerates. Fatigue, headache, body aches. Your apitherapist will slow the dose if it gets unmanageable.

aftercare

how to recover
like a pro.

ice + elevate

Cold compress for 10 min after the session to blunt swelling, then let the reaction happen — don't suppress it with antihistamines unless instructed.

hydrate hard

1L of water in the hour after. Venom processing is metabolically expensive. Add electrolytes if you herx.

topical raw honey

Smear raw honey directly on sting sites once the stinger is out. Pulls swelling down, prevents infection, speeds skin repair.

no alcohol · no NSAIDs

For 24 hrs. Alcohol amplifies histamine. NSAIDs blunt the anti-inflammatory cascade you just paid for.

rest

Treat each session like a hard workout. Sleep 8+ hrs. Light food, no heavy training same day.

EpiPen on you

Even after a clean test, carry two EpiPens for the entire course. Sensitivity can shift. Non-negotiable.

apitherapist locator

find a trained
apitherapist.

Every practitioner below is trained in BVT, carries emergency epinephrine, and operates under the American Apitherapy Society (AAS) / Pat Wagner protocol lineage. Vetted by hey honi.

Asheville, NCAAS trained

Heartwood Apitherapy

BVT · Lyme protocol

heartwoodbvt.com
Durango, COPat Wagner lineage

Wagner Method Clinic

BVT · MS + autoimmune

(970) 555-0144
Beacon, NYAAS · LMT

Hudson Valley Hive Med

BVT · arthritis + pain

hvhivemed.com
Oakland, CAAAS · ND

Bay Area Apitherapy Co-op

BVT · Lyme + chronic inflammation

bayapi.org
Tucson, AZAAS trained

Sonoran Bee Medicine

BVT · neuropathy

sonoranbee.com
Portland, ORAAS · RN

Cascade Sting Clinic

BVT · MS + RA

cascadesting.com
Austin, TXAAS trained

Lone Star Apitherapy

BVT · Lyme co-infections

lonestarapi.com
St. Petersburg, FLAAS · DO

Sunshine State Bee Med

BVT · autoimmune

flbeemed.com
Burlington, VTAAS · ND

Green Mountain Hive

BVT · Lyme protocol

gmhive.com
Ann Arbor, MIAAS trained

Great Lakes Apitherapy

BVT · MS + RA

glapi.org
Bozeman, MTAAS · LAc

Big Sky BVT

BVT · chronic pain

bigskybvt.com
Atlanta, GAAAS · RN

Peachtree Hive Clinic

BVT · Lyme + fibromyalgia

peachtreehive.com
Seattle, WAAAS trained

Cascadia Sting Works

BVT · autoimmune

cascadiasting.com

are you a practitioner?

list your practice →

AAS-trained apitherapists can apply to be added to the directory. We verify training, insurance, and emergency protocols.

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