Homeopathy & Apis mellifica
A wee case study
A case of allergic skin eruption.
Axle, was a two and a half year old dog suffering itching skin eruptions on two separate occasions after running in long grass. Ten months’ prior, Axle was stung by a bee and given a shot of the antihistamine Chlorpheniramine maleate by the vet due to tremendous swelling ‘looking like a Shar Pei.’
Selected Rubrics
Rubric 1 – AETIOLOGY – Referring to use of the antihistamine Chlorpheniramine Maleate.
Rubric 2 – AETIOLOGY – Axle ‘looked like a Shar Pei’ after being stung by a bee.
Rubric 3 – Physical GENERAL - Relates to the bee sting, slight swelling around face and neck during this second skin eruption and swelling of the right eye (Rubric 5).
Rubric 4 – MAIN COMPLAINT – Hectic itching after running in long grass.
Rubric 5 – Physical GENERAL – Right lower eyelid swollen with skin eruption.
Rubric 6 – EMOTIONAL – Axle barks a lot more than usual at dogs and people when out and about.
APIS MELLIFICA.[2]
Apis effects the skin, manifesting urticaria caused by allergy, with swelling. Apis can be an important remedy for the bad effects and consequences of acute eruptions and exanthema that have been suppressed or never properly developed – a strong feature and likely aetiology of this case, antihistamines have a powerful suppressive effect upon the whole system.
Does not want to be touched, physical or psychological – this may tie in with Axle’s desire to be in bed under the table ‘hiding’ and ‘not open to or initiating affection’ ‘is usually on the couch with us.’ Oedema – swollen face. Eyes look like water bags. Swellings under the eye.
May react aggressively and quarrel for insignificant reasons (Axle has been barking a lot more than usual at dogs and people when out and about) which can arise after a grief or as a result of some other cause for unhappiness – there was household turmoil prior to the eruption. Right side primarily affected (right lower eyelid – this could have been cause by a scratch from the prickle bush, but it features.
Prescription: APIS MELLIFICA 200C; one dose.
Reaction to the remedy
‘We see the disease in a state of progress and must be able to see it in the beginning. As was the disease in the beginning so was the remedy in the beginning. Things that have similar beginnings may have similar endings.’
Dr. James Tyler Kent on Apis mellifica, which originates from common honeybee poison.[4]
The Law of Similars: like cures like
MUST be stated here
The whole system (of homeopathy) is based mainly upon the principle that the cure of a disease is accomplished by drugs that are capable of producing, in a healthy individual, similar symptoms (suffering) to those of the disease to be treated.
Some essential homeopathic theories complementing “the Law of Similars”
There are no diseases as such, but only diseased individuals.
The indicated remedy should fit the symptoms of each individual case and not of the disease.
The necessary amount (dose) of the remedy needed to bring about a cure is the smallest possible one, indeed an infinitesimal one.
The symptoms of a disease, during the process of a cure disappear in the reverse order of their coming.
Homeopathy & Hahnemann
Being in the midst of World Homeopathy Awareness Week (April 10-16) requires an explanation of what homeopathy actually is!
Homeopathic Treatment of a Lower Leg Edema-A Case Report [5]
‘A 54-year-old man presented with recurrence of a swollen left ankle and lower leg, which had previously been treated by conventional medicine. After case taking, a homeopathic treatment with Apis mellifica 200c led to a fast improvement. The patient was free of symptoms within 24 hours and has remained so for 3 years.’
Severe Acute Thromboinflammation: Case Report of Individualized Homeopathic Treatment [6]
‘Homeopathic treatment was started with the earliest clinical manifestations, resulting in rapid and drastic reduction of inflammation and hypercoagulability within the first 12 hours, and full recovery on 10-day follow-up assessment. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of homeopathy in a severe acute disorder, and points to the need to include laboratory testing in homeopathic clinical assessment to achieve an accurate picture of disease, and to avoid the risk of passing over life-threatening disorders.’
An integrated approach with homeopathic medicine and electro-acupuncture in anaesthesiology during breast cancer surgery: Case reports [7]
‘This study investigates the effect of a combination of homeopathic medicine and electro-acupuncture in two patients with breast cancer and severe liver disease who could not receive standard anaesthesia therapy due to liver problems.’
Treatment of pain due to unwanted lactation with a homeopathic preparation given in the immediate post-partum period [8]
‘Dopaminergic agonists, such as Parlodel((R)), are now widely used to inhibit lactation. However, some countries, such as the United States, no longer use these drugs in this indication because of their sometimes serious adverse effects. In this context, the authors tested a homeopathic treatment designed for parturients unable or not wanting to breastfeed.’ (Double-blind placebo-controlled study)
The homoeopathic treatment of otitis media in children--comparisons with conventional therapy [9]
‘In a prospective observational study carried out by 1 homoeopathic and 4 conventional ENT practitioners, the 2 methods of treating acute pediatric otitis media were compared. Group A received treatment with homoeopathic single remedies (Aconitum napellus, Apis mellifica, Belladonna, Capsicum, Chamomilla, Kalium bichromicum, Lachesis, Lycopodium, Mercurius solubilis, Okoubaka, Pulsatilla, Silicea), whereas group B received nasal drops, antibiotics, secretolytics and/or antipyretics. The main outcome measures were duration of pain, duration of fever, and the number of recurrences after 1 year, whereby alpha < 0.05 was taken as significance level.’
‘In contrast to frequent claims, the available Meta Analyses of homoeopathy in placebo-controlled randomised trials for any indication show significant positive effects beyond placebo.
Compared to other medical interventions, the quality of evidence for efficacy of homoeopathy was similar or higher than for 90% of interventions across medicine.
Accordingly, the efficacy evidence from placebo-controlled randomised trials provides no justification for regulatory or political actions against homoeopathy in health-care systems.’ [11]
Thank you very much !
[1] Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
[2] Vithoulkas, 2009. Materia Medica Viva, Volume 2 Ammoniacum gummi to Argentum nitricum. International Academy of Classical Homeopathy, Alonissos.
[3] Vithoulkas, G. 2017. Levels of Health, The second volume of the Science of Homeopathy, revised edition. International Academy of Classical Homeopathy, Alonissos.
[4] Kent, J T. 2004. Lectures on Homeopathic Materia Medica, reprint edition. B Jain Publishers Ltd. New Delhi. (Originally published in 1905)
[5] Pannek & Pannek-Rademacher, 2021 Homeopathic Treatment of a Lower Leg Edema-A Case Report. Homeopathy. Aug;110(3):194-197. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33930903/
[6] Waisse S. 2021. Severe Acute Thromboinflammation: Case Report of Individualized Homeopathic Treatment. Homeopathy. May;110(2):132-136. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33618380/
[7] Bosco F, Cidin S, Maceri F, Ghilli M, Roncella M, De Simone L. 2018. An integrated approach with homeopathic medicine and electro-acupuncture in anaesthesiology during breast cancer surgery: Case reports. J Pharmacopuncture. 2018 Jun;21(2):126-131. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6054085/
[8] Berrebi A, Parant O, Ferval F, Thene M, Ayoubi JM, Connan L, Belon P. 2001. Traitement de la douleur de la montée laiteuse non souhaitée par homéopathie dans le post-partum immédiat [Treatment of pain due to unwanted lactation with a homeopathic preparation given in the immediate post-partum period]. J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris). Jun;30(4):353-7. French. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11431615/
[9] Friese KH, Kruse S, Lüdtke R, Moeller H. 1997. The homoeopathic treatment of otitis media in children--comparisons with conventional therapy. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. Jul;35(7):296-301. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9247843/
[11] Hamre HJ, Glockmann A, von Ammon K, Riley DS, Kiene H. Efficacy of homoeopathic treatment: Systematic review of meta-analyses of randomised placebo-controlled homoeopathy trials for any indication. Systematic Rev. 2023 Oct 7;12(1):191. https://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13643-023-02313-2#Abs1
Great article thanks. I'd love to try this on a regular basis; one day maybe.
This confirms my own anecdotal evidence. Lots of pain for the last decade, but the one time I got stung by a bee (foot, sorry bee), the pain in that area disappeared for a few hours. And that was a BIG thing at the time. Still would be.
I'm going to try and find someone locally who can do this.
As this had become a chronic case, I think I would have used a 1M potency. 200C is known as "The Holy Handgrenade" as it often provokes an over-reaction.