Faculty Sponsor

Jana Stedman

College

College of Nursing & Health Professions (CONHP)

Department/Program

Physician Assistant Program

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Symposium Date

Summer 7-22-2026

Abstract

Objective: Bee venom acupuncture (BVA) has been used in Asia for its anti-inflammatory effects for hundreds of years, and recently it has proposed anti-cancer effects. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects of bee venom to determine its use in future medical practice.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using the databases PubMed and Google Scholar with search terms including bee venom therapy, BVA, pain, cancer, and melittin. Inclusion criteria were studies investigating bee venom in the context of pain or cancer. Exclusion criteria were studies with no evaluation of bee venom and endpoints not including pain or cancer.

Results: BVA showed an average 20-30 mm reduction on the visual analogue scale for pain and bothersomeness when used in conjunction with existing therapies for chronic pain, however additional data showed no difference between BVA and placebo. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies established that melittin, a component of bee venom, has apoptotic properties, however it was not tumor specific. When used in conjunction with current therapies, melittin increased natural immune activity and therefore worked synergistically with current biologic immunotherapies.

Conclusion: The evidence for the anti-inflammatory effects of BVA is mixed; patients should be aware of limited benefit prior to treatment and the risk of anaphylaxis. The preliminary data showed potential for anti-tumor effects of bee venom, however there is not enough human data to support current use in cancer treatments.

Key Words: bee venom, BVA, melittin, cancer, pain relief

Biographical Information about Author(s)

Anna Speckhard is expected to graduate from the Valparaiso University Physician Assistant program in July 2026. She became interested in researching non-traditional therapies because of social media posts with bold claims. She combined this interest with cancer therapies during her pediatric oncology clinical rotation, which prompted her to research bee venom’s anti-cancer properties. She plans on pursuing a career in interventional radiology following graduation where she will continue to implement evidence-based practice.

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