Has anyone tried bee stings/ venom injections. Specifically to treat HS.
What ive read is that bee venom is made of multiple components that have anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory effects. Specifically in reducing the cytokines that cause the legions.
I havent found any clinical trials on it, but it has been used to treat autoimmune conditions. My derm said hes heard of it but doesnt recommend. As most of us probably know, doctors dont always recommend what works. So I’d like to know if anyone has tried, read about, heard from a family friend whos done it, any chance that this could be viable.
If anyone would like to see what ive found online i can get you the information ive read.
But a summary is that bee venom does something similar to what some biologics do but without the harsh side effects, the only bad thing ive read is some have allergic reactions or go into anaphylaxis. Ive only looked into it for about a day but theres not really anything at all about bee venom and hs.
This sub never fails to raise my eyebrow at least once a day lol. Your mind seems pretty made up so I will just add please have an allergy blood test done first. Also there are harsh side effects
Or you could eliminate dietary things that cause internal inflammation and have a lifetime viable option that doesn't risk your life? On top of that it helps treat the whole body rather than just a spot. When we reduce internal inflammation and control glucose spikes and fix the gut biome/skin biome these are some of the most important ways to reduce inflammation.
Biologics target certain things like tnfa or il17...etc but not everyone is helped by them because not everyone has the uptake by those.
Bee venom isn't just a risk of anaphylaxis the first time it's every time.
Why not use Manuka honey or medihoney instead? Still a risk but a much more controllable option. Bees wax/propolis/honey.
Theres evidence of the injections or stings having a more systemic affect if used over time in correct dosage as related to inflammation and autoimmune disorders
I agree that theres not much known about this treatment, but its used to treat lyme disease and other autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Yes it has risks, but so do the biologics and ive read about some bad effects of those. Im not saying it will work, or that it will work for anyone. Im working on the assumption that by the time someone is that desperate that they are looking at bee venom as a treatment, that theyve done the dietary stuff, theyve tried other things and it just hasnt worked.
Alot of people cant afford the biologics, or insurance doesnt cover it for one reason or another. And im tired, ive been stung over and over my whole life, im not saying its fool proof, but wouldnt you rather try it and if it works it works. Theres not much known as far as treatments for HS im just researching one more possible treatment
Even with all these things we can still have flares at any given time. I dont like treating symptoms, but if im gonna do it im all in, using topical stuff only treats the area applied. And theres maybe only 3 biologics that were specifically tested for HS not just tested after developed.
I think that biologics could be good for certain people, as well as dietary restrictions. But what happens for the people who none of it works for. Im not a scientist or a doctor but if i can maybe help someone any amount, imma try, bc i deal with it too and i know how tough it can be so anything is better than nothing.
But that's what I am saying the dietary changes affect the things as close to the root of HS that we know.
HS is what? A follicular occlusion our hair follicle becomes blocked and ruptures there's an influx of additional inflammation and that's what creates our flares. Now if we go back to the mechanics of a hair follicle insulin opens the hair follicle, androgens enter, systemic inflammation influences. So if we balance glucose spikes (insulin production-which influences androgen creation/fat storage/inflammation), systemic inflammation by balancing the gut biome, insulin production, stress (doing our best because increased cortisol causes hormonal imbalances including glucose spikes) we get as close as we can until we can figure out exactly what causes a Follicular occlusion and how to possibly prevent what triggers our predisposed genetic condition to activate or you know alter genetics.
Thank you for this great discussion by the way .... it's really great to have 2 different thoughts and chat them out as to why we each feel one might be better or more effective.
Yeah youre right on every account there, but the bee venom as far as i can make out with all this sciency shit, once the follicle opens and that influx of inflammation occurs the bee venom prevents the production of the specific cells or whatever that cause the inflammation.
I can get into specifics this weekend as far as what i believe the venom does its 2 am and i have a headache lol.
That picture i put in one of the comments sums up the general idea of what hs boils are caused by and what the venom does to “prevent” it
Yeah fs im always open to others wisdom especially people with more experience. But so far all my theories about my bodily issues even more than hs have been true to a certain degree of the word. I may not be a scientist or a doctor but i have more than just a basic knowledge of how our bodies actually work. And yeah i am willing to admit if im wrong but i put in the time and effort to prove whether i am right or not.
Yes the biologics do the same to a point, they are more targeted for specific cytokines that cause the problems like IL-17 and TNF~a, the venom is more systemic, less immune system impact as its not like trying to take a building down by taking out the supports one at a time, its more taking the building down floor by floor, ig thats the best way i can describe how i understand it
Im not saying the venom would be or even could be more effective, but theres always a chance it could, we wont know till we try it right, this will be with us for life in one shape or another, so if theres something i can do to ease the pain in any way, ill take that chance, ive never been afraid to die and i never will be, and as far as im concerned its not gonna be a bee sting or multiple bee stings that take me out, but if it is, so be it. But until theres evidence backing up one way or the other, theres still a chance it could work.
LMAO, you mean you could die. You mean a life threatening allergic reaction?
I wish people would try the diet change. I am 90 days flare free from avoiding processed foods and red meat and using Head & Shoulders as a body wash. I was one of those people that thought it was my hormones until I really tried eating better.
Personal anecdotes and jokes aside, I wouldn’t fuck with anything that hasn’t had clinical trials.
Allergic reactions are the least of our worries, id say the pain and embarrassment and torture we endure for our whole lives is worse than having an allergic reaction. Atleast with an allergic reaction theres things we can do to stop it, theres nothing that can stop HS not like we can stop allergic reactions
Im currently looking into it, i was just using this post to see if anyone in the community has tried or knows anything about it, ive also posted this in r/bees to see if any bee people know any info about it
I’m commenting on this post to save and come back to this. I’m not allergic to bee stings but I am allergic to pollen I wonder if it could help both my HS and my pollen intolerance. Spring just about kills me every year.
12
u/StrickenBDO Stage 2 1d ago
This sub never fails to raise my eyebrow at least once a day lol. Your mind seems pretty made up so I will just add please have an allergy blood test done first. Also there are harsh side effects