A recent, small clinical study indicates that bee-venom acupuncture can improve Parkinson’s disease symptoms in some patients.
Acupuncture has been growing in popularity in parts of Asia in recent years to relieve some PD symptoms. Other clinical studies have shown that acupuncture may be helpful to protect nerve cells that are similar to ones that the disease damages. Research also has been done on bee venom’s potential for reducing inflammation in some nerve cells. This recent study was one of the very first to see if bee-venom acupuncture can help PD patients.
Typical PD symptoms – tremors, difficulty in moving – develop when the brain cells that produce dopamine are either damaged or destroyed. Scientists still do not fully understand why this happens.
Researcher Seong-Uk Park, MD, believes that acupuncture can help to boost levels of dopamine in the body. Acupuncture may also increase the positive effects of L-dopa, one of the most common PD drugs used to treat symptoms. Acupuncture may also help to reduce side effects of PD drugs.
The results of this bee venom study are critical; about 70% of people in some countries use alternative therapies to treat PD.
How Does Bee Venom Help?
Bee venom is injected beneath the skin at a certain acupuncture point. This could help to boost the effects of acupuncture point stimulation. The bee venom might behave like the toxin in Botox, which causes some area muscles to be temporarily paralyzed. Bee venom may help to relax the muscles that cause many PD symptoms, including muscle spasms and twitches.
The clinical study had 35 patients with the disease who were on a regular dose of PD medication for at least 30 days. They were assigned to three different groups: One received acupunture; another got bee venom acupuncture; and the third got nothing. The treatments were given two times per week for eight weeks.
People who received regular acupuncture and bee venom acupuncture saw a reduction of symptoms. No serious side effects were noted.
Park noted that the results of the bee venom study are very encouraging, but that more research has to be done before any firm conclusions can be reached. Another clinical study is being conducted this year, and results will be released in 2015.
Parkinson’s Disease Products
While treatments for PD are improving, there still is a long way to go. The Wright Stuff offers a full line of helpful PD products that make living with the disease easier. Our writing aids allow your loved one to more easily maintain her independence:
A wonderful writing aid and arm support for people with hand and arm tremors.
Has an attached base that makes the hand steadier to improve writing.
