Can't get pregnant? Bee stings may help

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Ida Ismiadah, 33, felt a pang of sorrow when her only son begged her for a little brother or sister. In fact Ida had desperately been trying to get pregnant and she felt that time was running out.

"I was anxious because I didn't get pregnant, even though my husband and I didn't use contraception. What's more, I had heard that as you get older the risk of complications in pregnancy is higher," said Ida, a resident of Rejodadi village in Sariharjo district, Sleman regency, Yogyakarta.

She later learned that her cervix was narrow.

Thanks to apitherapist Hendro Wardoyo, her womb returned to normal, after six sessions of bee sting therapy, or apitherapy.

"I am so grateful as finally our greatest wish has been granted," said the six-month-pregnant Ida as she put her hands on her belly.

Ida is just one of Hendro's thousands of patients. The apitherapist opened two practices in Sumber Rahayu subdistrict, Moyudan district, Sleman regency, Yogyakarta, and in Klender, East Jakarta.

According to Hendro, bee stings can be greatly therapeutic. They were used in ancient Greece for a variety of purposes.

"But at that time, bee therapy was only performed by the royal family," said the man who earned a honorary doctorate degree from the Northern California Global University in the U.S. in 2002.

Hendro believes that basically any disease can be cured. People are often sick because they suffer from nerve dysfunction due to a lack of exercises or unbalanced diet.

The toxin contained in the bee sting, in this case, has the function to normalize the function of the nerves.

"If the nerves work normally, the disease will be healed," he said.

The way the toxin works in the human body is quite simple. When it is "stung" into the patient, the poison becomes part of the bloodstream and travels through the patient's whole body. In this way, the dysfunctional nerves are gradually normalized.

"God willing, the disease will be cured, or at least alleviated. But this depends on God's blessing. I am only the medium." said Hendro, the father of three children.

Quoting a 1993 World Health Organization report, Hendro explained that the benefit of the toxin depended on its potency. The more powerful the sting the better. Honey bees from Australia apparently have the most powerful stings, Hendro says they are four times stronger than those of local bees.

"That's why I use honey bees from Australia for my therapy," he said.

To achieve optimum results, the patient's skin should be pierced at certain points and a specific dose of poison released, depending on the disease. The more serious the disease is, Hendro claims, the more powerful the sting needed.

According to Hendro, only people who really understand the anatomy of the human body can accurately locate the places to sting.

"It is similar to acupuncture. The difference is, acupuncture stimulate the nerves, while bee therapy normalizes their function," he told The Jakarta Post.

Born in Yogyakarta on Oct.1, 1954, Hendro said that his interest in bees begun in 1983. At that time he was selected to represent Yogyakarta at a bee workshop in Jakarta.

"I was not selected because I was particularly knowledgeable about bees. At that time I was afraid of being stung. When I was a kid, I always ran away when I saw a bee, or any other insect with a sting," he said.

From learning about bees at the workshop, Hendro widened his knowledge by attending informal forums and reading anything he could on the subject. His enthusiasm for bees took him to China, Japan, America and Australia.

After five years, Hendro, who once taught at Muhamadiyah Junior High School in Moyudan, understood the nature of different types of bees, their characteristics and the power of their stings.

Even though he graduated from Yogyakarta Teachers' Training Institute (IKIP), now Yogyakarta State University (UNY), Hendro says he has a good grasp of the anatomy of the human body and is one of a handful of Indonesians who really understand bees.

"Indeed, there are other people who practice bee therapy, but they do not specialize in it." he said.

Because of his rare expertise, Hendro is often overwhelmed by his great number of patients. He practices only three times a week, on Wednesday and Friday in Yogyakarta, and on Sunday in East Jakarta.

At least 180 patients visit his practice every day. On Sunday or on holidays, the number of visitors could reach as high as 250.

His patients come from all over the country, from Central Java to West Nusa Tenggara. They also come from all walks of life. Some arrive by public transportation, others in luxury cars.

Hendro claims he has cured various diseases. Salma Maheswari, 6, from Magelang, Central Java, contracted cytomegalo virus (CMV), which affected her growth. Now, he says, her growth rate is normal and she has regained her strength, exhibiting a cheerful disposition and a good appetite.

Darmadi, 54, who previously suffered from asam urat (gout) and other problems, said he owed his health to bee-sting therapy.

"I have had 25 treatment sessions, I think. The treatment agrees with me," he said.