How bee venom therapy offers pain relief in Tanzania, but safety risks remain

However, in a treatment known as apitherapy, certain bee products, including its venom, are used under a special procedure aimed at stimulating a specific response from the body.

A practitioner of medicine using bee products (apitherapist), Mr Musiba Kitema, speaking to The Citizen’s sister newspaper Mwananchi, on Friday, September 4, 2026, by telephone, stated that apitoxin contains a mixture of various chemicals which can have different effects in the body.

“Apitoxin, which is bee venom, contains many components inside it. There is a chemical called melittin, whose main function in the body is to stimulate those human cells,” he stated.

Mr Kitema said that apart from melittin, apitoxin contains enzymes such as phospholipase A2, proteins and other chemicals with differing properties.

He stated these chemicals are what cause the response that can be observed after a person is stung by a bee, including pain and swelling.

“That is why it is called bee venom. Often it can cause a person to suffer adverse effects or swell, even leading to death. Those are chemicals which, when abundant in the human body, cause harm,” he stated.

However, a major difference exists between being stung by a bee accidentally and using that venom in a controlled environment.

Mr Kitema stated the amount of venom entering the body is a critical matter because the reaction can be mild in one person and severe in another.

“Being stung by a bee is not simply that a bee stung you. That venom contains distinct chemicals and each chemical has its own property in the human body. When excessive, it causes harm,” he stated.

Can assist pain

Scientific evidence indicates that the use of bee venom can play a role in reducing certain pain, especially involving the muscular system, bones, joints and severe headaches (migraines).

A study published in 2025 in the journal BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies examined 20 randomised controlled trials involving 1,399 people.

Among them, 817 people received a treatment known as bee venom acupuncture (BVA), whilst 582 were in control groups.

Results showed that in 16 out of 20 trials, those receiving BVA experienced a greater reduction in pain compared to control groups.

However, researchers did not conclude that bee venom is a proven cure for all types of pain.

They noted evidence remains limited due to variations in pain types, dosages and venom quantities used, alongside certain study quality challenges.

Apart from treatment, Mr Kitema stated bee venom can also serve as bodily immunity against various attacks it encounters.

Allergy risk

Despite that potential, using bee venom can be dangerous for certain people, especially those with severe allergies.

Mr Kitema stated an allergic person can experience anaphylaxis, an emergency condition that can cause breathing difficulties, facial, tongue or throat swelling, dropped blood pressure and loss of consciousness.

“A person allergic to bee venom can experience anaphylaxis, an emergency condition that can cause breathing difficulties, facial, tongue or throat swelling, dropped blood pressure and loss of consciousness,” he stated.

According to that 2025 study, in eight trials reporting on adverse effects, no anaphylaxis incident was reported.

However, 12 out of 20 trials provided insufficient data regarding adverse effects, hence researchers stated there remains a need for larger studies evaluating the safety of this therapy.

Adverse effects reported in certain trials included itching, rash, pain or burning at the injection site, swelling, headache and dizziness.

Thus, Mr Kitema emphasised that a person considering using this therapy should not inject themselves or wait to be stung by a bee to treat illness.

“A person considering using bee venom therapy should not attempt to inject themselves or wait to be stung by a bee to receive treatment. They ought to be injected by specialists, at a specific dosage suited to the individual,” stated Mr Kitema.