The Buzz on Apis
A quick and positive response to homeopathy can often open the door for people to discover further benefits of this marvelous modality.
Last fall, we were at a gathering and somebody mentioned having been stung by a bee the day before. She had a hard, hot, red, painful lump on her leg, just above the knee.
Well, I always have homeopathic remedies with me, so I offered a dose of Apis mellifica. Not long after, the site was a little softer and a little less painful. We repeated the Apis. She was pleased.
I sent her away with the tube of Apis. A few days later I heard from her that she had been stung again. “Those little bee pellets of yours really work. I’m impressed! The bees have been vicious and I’m keeping this nearby.”
Is Apis the only remedy for a bee sting? Nope. For further information on what other homeopathic remedies may help if you’ve been stung or bitten: Summer Fun #3: Flying Things, Wasp attack 1 & 2
Apis mellifica is a homeopathic remedy made from a crushed honeybee and processed or, potentized into being a medicine which can help bee stings. Technically, in this instance, Apis would be considered Isopathy, not homeopathy. Homeopathy is “like cures like” and Isopathy is “same cures same.” Click HERE for more information.
Isopathy, from the Greek, “equal or same suffering.” Isopathic remedies are made from the actual substance which is causing the allergic reaction or illness.
We saw the example of Apis for the relief from the physical complaints of a bee sting, other possible isopathic uses would be potentized (for the sake of this discussion, potentize will refer to turning a substance into a homeopathic remedy) substances to help relieve allergies, e.g. potentized cat hair to lessen the effects of cat hair on a person allergic to cat hair. The Journal of Asthma has a study evaluating isopathic treatment of allergic mice.
For further basic information on Isopathy, click here. https://homeopathyplus.com/what-is-isopathy/.
Where else does the potentized honeybee (the homeopathic remedy Apis mellifica) come in handy?
The quick way of remembering how Apis can help is to think about what happens when one is stung by a bee: swelling, fluid-filled, hot (sensation as well as feeling worse from hot), burning pain, stinging pain and redness.
Back to homeopathy (as opposed to isopathy)… when you have a condition resulting in one or more of those symptoms, Apis mellifica may be helpful. For example:
the stinging pain of a bladder infection or UTI (see also: When it Hurts to Go)
edema, swelling, general puffiness
allergic reactions, in general
arthritis
stings of insects, jellyfish, etc.
eyes: burning pain, inflammation, redness, stinging pain, swelling of the eyelids
hives
fever blisters
swelling feet or the sensation of the tips of toes swelling
One other very important thing that may possibly happen when one is stung by a bee is an anaphylactic reaction, resulting in swelling of the airway, tongue or throat, causing trouble breathing. If you find yourself in this position, get to the hospital immediately and administer Apis frequently while waiting for the ambulance or while on the way to the hospital.
The blossoms are blooming, the bees are busy collecting pollen and I will catch you next time with another homeopathic nugget.
Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath
#wellnessawaits