A 55-year-old woman in Spain has died after undergoing live bee acupuncture, a form of apitherapy promoted by Gwyneth Paltrow. The woman had been receiving the treatment monthly for two years at a private clinic to alleviate muscular contractures and stress.
During a session, she developed wheezing, shortness of breath, and lost consciousness immediately after a bee sting. She was given steroids but no adrenaline was available, and an ambulance took 30 minutes to arrive. Doctors reported severe anaphylaxis led to a massive stroke and permanent coma with multiple organ failure.
Researchers from University Hospital in Madrid, who published the case in the Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology, called the practice 'unsafe and unadvisable'. They noted this is the first known death from the treatment in a patient previously tolerant of bee stings.
Apitherapy uses honeybee products, including venom from live bees, for conditions like arthritis and multiple sclerosis. However, the Multiple Sclerosis Trust stated there is no research showing its effectiveness for MS. Gwyneth Paltrow has endorsed the therapy on her website Goop, saying it helped her inflammation and scarring.
The report's authors recommended that patients be fully informed of risks, that sensitised patients be identified before treatment, and that practitioners be trained in managing severe reactions. They also stressed the need for adequate facilities for anaphylaxis management and rapid access to intensive care.
