Apis mellifica
The great remedy for stinging, burning pains with swelling and oedema. Symptoms resemble a bee sting: puffy, rosy, watery swelling with stinging pains. Thirstless, worse from heat.
Source
Prepared from the whole honeybee (Apis mellifica) or its venom.
Available Potencies
Get Personalized Safety Info
Sign in and complete your health profile to see safety warnings personalized to your age, sex, medications, conditions, and allergies for this remedy.
Keynote Symptoms
Stinging, burning pains relieved by cold applications. Oedematous swelling, puffy, waxy, rosy appearance. Thirstlessness with swelling. Right-sided or right-to-left direction. Worse from heat in any form. Jealousy, busy restlessness, clumsiness.
Mind & Emotional Symptoms
Jealousy, suspicion. Busy, restless, hard to please. Awkward, drops things. Whining, tearful, hard to comfort. Cannot concentrate. Apathy alternating with irritability. Dreams of flying. Screaming, shrieking in meningitis.
General Symptoms
Oedema and swelling of mucous membranes and skin. Thirstlessness. Right-sided or right-to-left complaints. Better from cold in all forms, uncovering, open air. Worse from heat, touch, pressure, afternoon (3 PM), right side. Absence of thirst with most complaints.
Physical Symptoms
Head
Meningeal irritation. Brain cry (cri encephalique). Bores head into pillow. Rolling of head. Sudden stabbing pains.
Eyes
Lids swollen, red, oedematous, everted. Styes with stinging pain. Chemosis. Staphyloma. Lachrymation hot.
Face
Waxy, pale, oedematous. Erysipelas with stinging burning. Lips swollen, especially upper lip.
Throat
Swollen, glossy, fiery red, puffy. Uvula hangs like a water bag. Stinging pains, worse from warm drinks. Tonsils swollen.
Stomach
Thirstless. Sore feeling. Vomiting of food. Craving for milk.
Abdomen
Sore, bruised. Tight sensation. Peritonitis. Ascites. Ovarian cysts especially right-sided.
Urinary
Scanty, dark, contains casts. Stinging pain during and after urination. Last drops burn and sting. Suppression of urine. Incontinence.
Female Genitalia
Right ovarian pain, worse from heat. Ovarian tumours. Dysmenorrhoea with ovarian pain. Miscarriage during early months.
Skin
Swelling, puffiness, rosy hue. Urticaria with intolerable itching. Erysipelas. Carbuncles with burning stinging. Oedema. Sensitive to touch.
Fever / Chill / Perspiration
Afternoon chill at 3 PM. Thirstless during fever. Perspiration breaks out and dries up alternately. Desires uncovering.
Modalities
Better From
Cold in any form (cold bathing, cold air, cold applications), uncovering, open air
Worse From
Heat in any form, touch, pressure, right side, afternoon (3 PM), closed rooms, getting wet
Constitutional Type
Busy, fidgety persons. Jealous, possessive. Women and children especially. Plump, rosy but puffy complexion.
Clinical Indications
Allergic reactions, bee stings, urticaria, angioedema, tonsillitis, ovarian cysts, kidney disease, meningitis, erysipelas, oedema, effusions (pleural, peritoneal, pericardial)
Comparative Materia Medica
Arsenicum album also has burning pains but is better from heat and very thirsty. Belladonna has right-sided complaints and redness but more throbbing, dry heat. Rhus tox has swelling and restlessness but is better from warmth.
Safety Information
Carbolic acid, Cantharis, Lachesis, Ledum, Natrum mur, Plantago. Also antidoted by Ipecac.
Bee venom causes local pain, swelling, and in sensitive individuals can cause anaphylaxis. Potentised forms above 6C carry no physical risk.
Find the Right Remedy
Not sure if Apis mellifica is the best match? Our Remedy Finder can help you compare remedies based on your specific symptoms, modalities, and constitutional type.