Is bee venom pharmacopuncture safe?

Key points in 30 seconds

1. If you've ever had major swelling or shortness of breath after a bee sting, you shouldn't have it.
2. We first test the skin reaction with a very small amount.
3. After treatment, you stay at the clinic for twenty to thirty minutes.
4. If hives spread or you're short of breath, tell us right away; if you're at home, call 119 (Korea's emergency number).
5. We don't say "it's natural, so there are no side effects."

What we often hear

• "When I heard 'bee venom,' I got scared."
• "I heard bee stings can be dangerous. Is it okay?"
• "I have allergies. Can I still have it?"

⚠️ First, an important note

If you've ever had severe swelling or shortness of breath after a bee sting, you shouldn't have it. In rare cases, this treatment can cause a life-threatening reaction.

That's why we first test the skin reaction with a very small amount. If there's no problem, we increase it slightly next time. We never skip this step.

After treatment, we have you stay at the clinic for twenty to thirty minutes, because reactions usually appear within that time. We give the treatment with the medicines and preparations needed for an emergency response on hand.

What is bee venom pharmacopuncture?

It's a treatment in which components obtained from bees are purified and a very small amount is injected near the painful spot. It's thought to act in the direction of calming inflammation.

It's different from being stung by a bee. The amount is incomparably smaller than what goes in with a sting, and we use a preparation with the irritating components filtered out.

When is it used?

For long-standing inflammatory pain. We consider it as a next step when progress with acupuncture and regular pharmacopuncture is slow.

We don't use it from the start. Because it's a treatment with risks, we use it only where it's needed.

What reactions can occur?

The injected spot may swell, itch, turn red, and feel sore for a few days. Up to this point, these are common reactions.

What needs to be seen differently is this — hives spreading over your whole body, swollen lips or tongue, difficulty breathing, or feeling dizzy, breaking out in a cold sweat, and feeling faint. In these cases, tell us right away, and if you've already gone home, call 119.

For a few days after treatment, it's best to avoid strenuous exercise and drinking alcohol.

Are there people who should avoid it?

People with bee allergies, people who are pregnant, people taking immune-related medications, and people with serious heart conditions.

We're also more careful with people who have other severe allergies. If you've ever had bee venom elsewhere and felt unwell afterward, be sure to tell us.

What are the limits of this assessment?

We don't say this treatment is better than others. Because it carries risks, we first weigh whether it's really needed for that spot.

One more note. We don't use the phrase "it's natural, so there are no side effects." Being natural and being safe are two different things, and this treatment really does carry risks.

We check your reaction before using bee venom. We start with a small amount, check that there's no problem, and increase it gradually.

If you've hesitated because you're worried about allergies, just ask us. We'll start by checking whether it can be used for you.

Whether it can be used differs from person to person depending on their constitution and reactions.