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Apis mellifica is a homeopathic medicine prepared from the Western or European honeybee Apis mellifera (Apidae).
Homeopathic medicines containing Apis mellifica have been used for centuries by people suffering from symptoms associated with bug bites or stings. The process of preparing the homeopathic medicine Apis mellifca involves significantly diluting its animal-based raw material, the honeybee. Learn more about the dilution process and why homeopathic medicines should not be confused with their raw materials.
Symptoms Treated
Symptoms Treated
More specifically:
Nasal congestion, Stinging & burning then itching pain, Swelling from insect stings or allergies improved by applying something cold
Common Products
- Boiron®
- Hyland’s®
- Similasan®
Dosing Information
Homeopathic medicines containing this active ingredient have different purposes, dilutions, and directions. That is why it is always important to read and follow the Drug Facts label. The Warnings section indicates the maximum number of days you should use the product. If symptoms persist or worsen, stop use and ask a doctor.
A Note to Families:
1. Scientific and medical authorities around the world recognize acetaminophen as the only analgesic considered safe for use throughout an entire pregnancy when used according to the Drug Facts label.
2. There are no studies showing that acetaminophen use in children or during pregnancy causes autism.
3. Autism has many known risk factors, including genetics, but there is no clear, single cause.
4. Major health authorities like the FDA, CDC, and healthcare organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) do not have warnings against acetaminophen use during pregnancy based on any known risk of autism and all recommend acetaminophen as the safest analgesic to use during pregnancy for short-term pain relief.
Frequently Asked Questions:
In fact, the Autism Science Foundation (ASF), a non-profit organization funding scientific autism research, specifically states that: it is disingenuous and misleading to boil autism's causes down to one simple thing," as there are hundreds of genes linked to autism in addition to other complex environmental factors.
Additionally, the most recent and rigorous research on this topic does not show a causal link to autism. The 2024 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) analyzed nearly 2.5 million children using the gold-standard sibling comparison method, which controls for shared genetics and family environment, and found no association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy or infancy and neurodevelopmental issues such as autism.
- CDC Yellow Book (Current as of April 23, 2025): “Acetaminophen remains the non-opioid analgesic of choice during pregnancy.”
- FDA’s Acetaminophen Page (Current as of August 14, 2025): “To date, FDA has not found clear evidence that appropriate use of acetaminophen during pregnancy causes adverse pregnancy, birth, neurobehavioral, or developmental outcomes.”
Additionally, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Health, a professional organization for obstetricians with subspecialty training in maternal-fetal medicine, stated on September 25, 2025 that it: "...continues to advise physicians and patients that acetaminophen is an appropriate medication to treat pain and fever during pregnancy…the weight of scientific evidence that acetaminophen use during pregnancy causes an increased risk for autism or ADHD is simply inconclusive…”
Safety Guide
Safety Guide
Most over-the-counter (OTC) homeopathic ingredients are dilutions of the raw material. The level of dilution is identified on a homeopathic medicine’s Drug Facts label. The Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS) establishes the first safe dilution level for adults and children. For Apis mellifica, the first safe dilution level is the homeopathic base tincture. This tincture is made up of the raw material (honeybee) and a water/alcohol mixture that breaks down the raw material. The tincture is used to prepare OTC homeopathic medicines containing 2X and higher dilutions of Apis mellifica. Therapeutic claims for Apis mellifica are based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence.
Homeopathic products are not evaluated by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Ask a healthcare provider before use if:
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Do not use if:
- Do not use more than the Drug Facts label indicates unless instructed by a healthcare provider.
Stop use and ask a doctor if:
- Your condition gets worse or if symptoms persist for more than the duration displayed on the Drug Facts label, usually 3 to 7 days.
- Your symptoms clear up and return again within a few days.
- You have an unexpected reaction. Get medical help right away.
- You develop new symptoms.
- You take too much. Immediately contact a healthcare provider or the Poison Control national helpline at 800.222.1222.
Resources
The Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS) is the official guidebook that outlines standards of identity and purity that homeopathic medicines must meet. Materia Medica (or “materials of medicine”) contains information about the specific symptoms of disease and the homeopathic medicines used for their treatment.
