The Treatment of Lyme Disease with Bee Venom

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The Treatment of Lyme Disease with Bee Venom

by Dietrich K. Klinghardt, M.D., Ph.D.

Introduction

Lyme disease has become, after AIDS, probably the fastest spreading

infectious disease. “Classical†Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused

by a

spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, which is passed to the patient by a tick

bite.

Since several other infections that cause similar symptoms can be transmitted

by the same tick bite, and other infectious agents not transmitted by a tick

can cause similar symptoms, the term “New Lyme Disease†is used by most

holistic physicians. Lyme disease is not only a frequent underlying causal

factor in

chronic human illness, but also extremely common in pets, especially in dogs

and horses.

The following microorganisms have to be considered when making the diagnosis

of “New Lyme Disease. "

Borrelia burgdorferi;

Babesia microti (a protozoan intracellular invader);

Ehrlichiosis;

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (associated with MS, ALS, Chronic Fatigue and

Fibromyalgia);

Chlamydia pneumoniae;

Bartonella henselae;

Rickettsia rickettsiae. The following symptoms can be caused by Lyme disease:

Chronic Fatigue (more severe in the early afternoon);

Lack of endurance;

Non-healing infections in the jaw bone, devitalized teeth, dental pain;

Fibromyalgia;

Joint pains (especially in the spine);

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity;

Cranial Nerve Problems:

Facial nerve: Bell’s palsy (60 % are caused by Lyme disease, 30 % by one of

six common viruses from the herpes family, such as EBV, Herpes simplex type

I,

type II, type 6 etc);

Trigeminal nerve: sense of vibration in the face, TMJ and facial pain,

headache, tension and cramps in the face/skull/jaw;

Ears (VII, VIII): tinnitus, vertigo, and hypersensitivity to noise;

Eyes (II, III, IV, VI): decreasing and changing eye sight (fluctuates during

the day), light sensitivity, floaters;

Vagus (X), Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) and Hypoglossus (XII): difficulty

swallowing, faulty swallowing, reflux, hiatus hernia, heart palpitations,

supraventricular arrythmias.

CNS problems:

Physical: epileptic seizures, insomnia, tremor, ataxia, movement disorders

(torticollis, etc.);

Emotional: irritability (key symptom in children), depression, bi-phasic

behaviour (manic-depression), bouts of anger, listlessness;

Mental: confusion, difficulty thinking, poor short term memory, increasingly

messy household and desk, difficulty finding the right word, feeling of “

information overload;â€

Mixed pictures: can resemble or imitate any known psychiatric illness.

Peripheral nervous system problems:

Paraesthesia, burning, vibration, numbness, shooting pains.

Pelvis: interstitial cystitis, prostatitis, sexual dysfunction, loss of

libido, pelvic pain, menstrual disorders.

Immune system failure: with all known secondary illnesses such as herpes

virus infection, intestinal parasites, malaise.

General symptoms: hair loss, loss of zest for life, sensitivity to electric

appliances.

Laboratory Testing

Until recently laboratory testing has been unsatisfactory with a detection

rate of probably below 30 %. In the past it was believed the laboratory

evaluation of the spinal fluid was a reliable way to confirm or refute the

diagnosis

of Lyme disease. This has been proven wrong. The test with the broadest

detection rate, the Western Blot ELISA test, has low specificity. The test

with the

highest specificity but with a fairly low detection rate was the PCR test.

The

B. burgdorferi is a master at evading the body's immune system and evading

laboratory detection by modulating and changing its surface antigens. It can

form

a cystic stage, which is resistant to antibiotics, evades laboratory

detection, and gives birth to healthy spirochetes once the antibiotics are

discontinued.

A new test has become available recently: the C6 Lyme Peptide ELISA test (BBI

Clinical Laboratories, Tel.: 1-800-866-6254 or 860-225-1900, test code: 556 -

C6LPE. The test is based on the discovery of six (6) peptides on the surface

of the spirochete, which are consistently present and do not evade detection

by the laboratory as many of the other surface antigens of B. burgdorferi do.

This test detects all B. burgdorferi strains and genospecies. It is highly

specific and more sensitive than conventional tests for chronic Lyme disease.

It

is also sensitive in early Lyme disease (which used to be problematic) and

can

be used for accurate antibody results for Lyme vaccinated patients.

Treatment

Treatment has often been unsatisfactory in spite of correct diagnosis.

Multiple antibiotic regimes have been tried with varying successes. The

cystic stage

responds only to one antibiotic: metronidazole (Flagyl). This drug should be

given intravenously. The oral version is less effective and hard on the

liver.

It should always be given together with the herb “milk thistle†because of

its liver-protective effect. A less toxic alternative is tinidazole, a

Flagyl-derivative that is available in compounding pharmacies.

I use proteolytic enzymes for the purpose of breaking up the cyst wall and

making the dormant form of B. burgdorferi inside the cyst vulnerable to both

the

host's immune system and the medications given for treatment.

Dosage: Wobenzyme, 8-10 tablets three times/day between meals and first thing

a.m.

Treatment protocols using antibiotics are outlined in the web-site of J.

Borrescano, MD: www.lymenet.com. I use, in selected cases, a combination of

azithromycin or clarithromycin 250-500 mg two times/day in combination with

trimethoprim 100 mg twice/day for 6-8 weeks.

My preferred treatment is a combination of enzymes, herbs, specific transfer

factors and the injection of honeybee venom.

Herbs

I follow the recommendations of Dr. Zhang, MD, LAc of New York

(http://www.dr-zhang.com). His special garlic extract with a high

concentration of Allicin:

2 mg Allicin/kg of bodyweight per day for 6 months; HH (Houttuyniae Herba): 3

tablets three times/day for 6 months.

His special Artemesia (wormwood) combination: 1-2 tablets three times/day for

6 months (usually recommended when Babesia is involved).

In addition I use the specific herbal combinations from the Monastery of

Herbs in Los Angeles (Tel.: 818-360-4871). These are very effective 18-day

programs. I use Autonomic Response Testing to determine the most effective

combination. I rotate different regimes over the 6-month treatment period.

Specific Transfer Factors

When a pregnant cow is infected with a certain illness, her first milk

(colostrum) after the calf is born contains specific peptides that prevent

the

illness in the calf. Based on this principle, specific transfer factors have

become

available for the treatment of B. burgdorferi, Babesia, Mycoplasma pneumoniae

etc. Most readily available are oral capsules with dried peptide extracts

(Chisolm Biological Laboratory, Tel.: 803-663 9618 / ext. 9777). By adding

the

specific transfer factors into the treatment regime, the success rate can be

dramatically increased.

Bee Venom

The pain relieving effect of bee venom in the treatment of clinical

conditions similar to Lyme disease has been established a long time ago. Bee

venom contains a number of potent peptides which are responsible for its

healing effect ( " Bee Venom Therapy for Chronic Pain,†Dietrich Klinghardt, J.

of

Neurol and

Orthop. Med and Surg., Vol. 11, Issue 9, Oct 1990, pp. 195-197). Recent

research proved that one of the peptides in bee venom, melittin, has a strong

inhibitory effect on the Lyme spirochete at very low doses (“Bee Stings as

Lyme

Inhibitor†by L. L. Lubke and C. F. Garon, J. Clin. Infect. Diseases, July

1997, 25

Suppl. 1, pp. 48-51). When the spirochete is inhibited it does not multiply

and is vulnerable to the host's own immune system and to medication.

The dosage and frequency of treatment is determined by the patient’s clinical

response. Patients with Babesia or Mycoplasma infections require higher

dosages then those with only B. burgdorferi infections.

Different bee venoms are on the market. I use the product VeneX, which comes

in two different strengths: VeneX-10 and VeneX-20 (Table 1.). VeneX-20 is

twice as concentrated as VeneX-10. VeneX-10 contains 1.0 mg of bee venom per

1.0

ml. A 0.1 ml of this solution delivers approximately the same amount of bee

venom as a natural bee sting. The content of melittin in bee venom is

dependent

on where it is collected on the hive; the season and the pollen source the

bees

have access to at the time. Generally between one third and one half of the

venom is melittin. Because of these variables the symptoms seen on

administration of the venom can also vary. Bee venom is used for

desensitization and is approved with the FDA for this purpose. There is an

official

monograph in the

Homeopathic Pharmacopoea of the United States (HPUS), also recognized by the

FDA.

Table 1. Comparison of Venom Solutions.

Product

Vial Size (ml)

DVSE*/vial

DVSE*/1.0 ml

DVSE*/0.1 ml

DVSE*/0.05 ml

VeneX-10

9.0

90

10

1

0.5

VeneX-20

12.5

250

20

2

1

* Dried Venom Sac Equivalent (DVSE): 0.1 mg bee venom

The average maintenance dosage is 1.0 ml of VeneX-10 (or 0.5 ml of VeneX-20)

mixed with 2.0 ml preservative free buffered procaine (available from

ApotheCure in Dallas, TX) injected subcutaneously, given between one and

three times weekly for 6-12 months. Even though much of the venom’s effect is

systemic,

independent of the location where it is given, additional benefits are

observed

by injecting the venom in specific target areas.

These areas include:

All tender areas in the body, transition areas in the body, where soft tissue

meets bone, the occipital nuchal line, above and below the zygoma, around the

mastoid and jaw bone, the para-sternal area, the spinous processes of the

vertebrae;

The kidney and adrenal area (often palpation reveals significantly tender

areas);

The thymus (upper end of the sternum);

Painful joints (in the most tender areas);

Acupuncture points (Bladder 23 for stimulating the adrenals, Gallbladder 1 to

improve Lyme related problems with vision, Bladder 10 and Gallbladder 20 to

stimulate melittin uptake into the brainstem (cranial nerve problems), Kidney

3

to improve Lyme related kidney dysfunction, etc.);

Neural therapy points: over the mastoid to improve Lyme related hearing and

balance problems (for more information on Neural Therapy: call American

Academy

of Neural Therapy, Inc., at 206- 749 9967);

Over the vagus nerve: to treat Lyme related dental and jaw problems (infected

jaw bone, cavitations, Lyme related chronic pulpitis/sensitive teeth);

enhauser points: to treat Lyme related bladder problems,

pelvic/prostate/sexual dysfunction.

Procedure

Distribute the 2.5–3.0 ml bee venom and procaine mix over 10 areas, using

0.25 ml to 0.3 ml per injection. The injection is given with a 30 g ½ “

needle.

The needle is advanced just deep enough for the needle tip to barely reach

beyond the sensory skin nerves. If it burns, the needle is not deep enough.

If it

never burns, most likely the injections are given too deep, where the

medication will be quickly flushed away by the blood stream and lymphatics,

without

having the much-desired local effect. For a ½â€long needle this means that the

needle is inserted into the skin less than half way.

These injections should be painless and well tolerated. There is a welling

up, itchiness and aching after 10 minutes or so, which becomes less with an

increasing number of treatments. The discomfort may increase during the first

four

or five treatments and then lessen over time. The initial response determines

the treatment frequency. The first injection often triggers an increase in

well being and a decrease of pain levels after a few hours; sometimes as late

as

24 hours after the injection. The initial improvement may last between 12

hours and several days. This determines if the patient needs to be treated

once a

day or as little as once/week. If the improvement is less than desired a

higher dose of bee venom may be needed.

I start with a low initial dose of 0.3 ml VeneX-10 or 0.15 ml VeneX-20 to

ride out the often strong initial reactions. Over the next treatments I

increase

the dose, depending on the response, rather rapidly to the full treatment

dose

(Table 2. and Table 3.). It is wise to wait with injecting around the head

until the patient no longer has strong local reactions (redness, swelling).

Table 2. VeneX-10 and Procaine Calculation Table.

Session

Procaine(ml)

VeneX-10(ml)

Procaine &

VX-10(ml)

DVSE

*( " bee sting " )

Administration

Injection / Dose

1st

0.6

0.3

0.9

3

3 x 0.3 ml

2nd

1.0

0.5

1.5

5

5 x 0.3 ml

3rd

1.4

0.7

2.1

7

7 x 0.3 ml

4th and ...

2.0

1.0

3.0

10

10 x 0.3 ml

Dried Venom Sac Equivalent (DVSE): 0.1 mg bee venom

Table 3. VeneX-20 and Procaine Calculation Table.

Session

Procaine(ml)

VeneX-20(ml)

Procaine

& VX-20(ml)

DVSE

*( " bee sting " )

Administration

Injection / Dose

1st

0.6

0.15

0.75

3

3 x 0.25 ml

2nd

1.0

0.25

1.25

5

5 x 0.25 ml

3rd

1.4

0.35

1.75

7

7 x 0.25 ml

4th and ...

2.0 0.5

2.5

10

10 x 0.25 ml

* Dried Venom Sac Equivalent (DVSE): 0.1 mg bee venom

We have taught many patients to treat themselves with this procedure. It is

far less painful than the use of live bees. However, treatment with live bees

does not involve the use of technical supplies and is often the only

practical

alternative.

If live bees are used I recommend reading the textbook by Mraz and

the other literature supplied by Apitronic Services (Tel.: 604-271-9414). I

also

recommend using the Multi Treatment Mesh (MTM) or SoftSting devices by the

same company that allows the bee to not loose its stinger, survive the

procedure

and return to its hive.

Caution: Everyone who uses bee venom on domestic animals or humans must have

an Anakit, Epipen or other medically approved “bee-sting kit,†within

immediate reach. The Anakit contains a pre-drawn syringe with epinephrine, an

oral

antihistamine and instruction sheet. The Epipen contains epinephrine in a

self-injecting form.

Recommendation: should the patient experience a systemic reaction (usually

within minutes) with airway restriction, I recommend to inject one third

(1/3rd)

of the epinephrine subcutaneously into the palmar (soft) side of the forearm

(same depth as the bee venom injection). The wheezing will stop at the price

of an agitated feeling in the patient. Now he/she should take the

antihistamine

(swallow the pill), which takes 15-20 minutes to work. During this time, a

second injection with epinephrine may be needed. In 20 years of using bee

venom,

I never needed to use this procedure. However, I have always combined bee

venom with procaine, which prevents most allergic reactions.

Clinical observations: many cases of chronic fatigue, MS, ALS, memory loss,

jaw problems, etc. are really undiagnosed Lyme disease. With the new Lyme

laboratory test many of these cases can be appropriately diagnosed. The

treatment

outlined here is in my experience very gentle and yet the most successful

approach.

RESOURCES

Acupuncture charts -- Apitronic Services, Tel.: 604-271-9414

Dried peptide extracts -- Chisolm Biological Laboratory, Tel.: 803-663-9618 /

ext. 9777

Herbs -- Monastery of Herbs, Los Angeles, Tel.: 818-360 4871

Herbs protocol -- Dr. Zhang, MD, LAc of New York, web site: www.dr-zhang.com

Lab test -- C6 Lyme Peptide ELISA test -- BBI Clinical Laboratories, test

code: 556 - C6LPE, Tel.: 1-800-866-6254 or 860-225 1900

Multi Treatment Mesh (MTM) or SoftSting -- Apitronic Services, Tel.:

604-271-9414

Neural Therapy and Autonomic Response Testing workshops and resources --

American Academy of Neural Therapy, Inc., (AANT) 410 East Denny Way, Suite

18,

Seattle, WA, USA, Tel.: 206-749-9967, Fax: 206-723-1367, E-mail:

neuralt@...,

Web Site: www.neuraltherapy.com

Procaine (preservative free) -- ApotheCure Pharmacy, Tel.: 1-800-969-6601

VeneX-10 and VeneX-20 -- Tel.: 604-271-9414

RESOURCES FOR INFORMATION

Books, Booklets and Literature

Beck, B. F., MD (1997) The Bible of Bee Venom Therapy. Health Resources

Press, Inc., Silver Spring, MD, USA, book, ISBN 1-890708-03, pp. 238. Reprint

of

the original 1935 edition of Dr. Beck: Bee Venom Therapy - Bee Venom, Its

Nature, and Its effect on Arthritic and Rheumatoid Conditions. (available

from

Apitronic Services: Tel.: 604-271-9414)

Broadman, J., MD (1997) Bee Venom - The Natural Curative for Arthritis and

Rheumatism. Health Resources Press, Silver Spring, MD, USA, book, ISBN

1-890708-01-3, references, index, glossary, foreword by Harold Goodman, DO,

pp. 224

(available from Apitronic Services: Tel.: 604-271-9414)

Klinghardt, D. K., MD (1990) Bee Venom Therapy for Chronic Pain. The Journal

of Neurological & Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 195-197

Klinghardt, Dietrich, MD (1999) Treatment Protocol for Bee Venom Therapy.

Apitherapy Education Service - Apitronic Services, Richmond, BC, Canada,

booklet,

11 pp.

Lubke, L. L. and Garon, C. F. (1997) Bee Stings as Lyme Inhibitor. J. Clin.

Infect. Diseases, July, 25 Suppl. 1, pp. 48-51

Marinelli, Rick, ND and Klinghardt, Dietrich, MD (1999) Methodology for

Injectable Bee Venom Therapy. Apitherapy Education Service - Apitronic

Services,

Richmond, BC Canada, 12 pp.

Mraz, (1994) Health and the Honeybee. Queen City Publications,

Burlington, VT, USA, ISBN 0-9642485-0-6, pp. vii+92 (available from Apitronic

Services: Tel.: 604-271-9414)

Organizations

American Apitherapy Society, Inc., 5390 Grande Rd., Hillsboro, OH 45133 USA,

Tel.: 937-364-1108, Fax: (937) 364-9109, e-mail: aasoffice@..., web

page: www.apitherapy.org/aas

American Academy of Neural Therapy, Inc., 410 East Denny Way, Suite 18,

Seattle, 98122 USA, Tel.: 206-749-9967, Fax: 206-723-1367, e-mail:

neuralt@...,

web page: www.neuraltherapy.com

Internet Resources

American Academy of Neural Therapy, Inc.

www.neuraltherapy.com

Bee Venom Therapy Supplies and Books

www.beevenom.com

Apitherapy Bookshop

www.apitherapy.net

Apitherapy Reference Database

www.saunalahti.fi/~apither/

Bee Venom Therapy Supplies and Books Bee venom products and therapy related

books, literature and Apitherapy Education Service.

Apitronic Services

9611 No. 4 Road

Richmond, BC

Canada, V7A 2Z1

Ph./Fax: 604-271-9414

e-mail: msimics@...

www.beevenom.com