Yes, bee venom is effective against arthritis, as well as other types of
joint pain. (In my opinion, probably as much as any other
medicine....remember that arthritis is a chronic disease for which standard
medicine has no cure.  They can only alleviate your pain.)
 
The most recent edition of The Hive and the Honey Bee (chapter 22, "Other
Products of the Hive", the section on Bee Venom) contains information about
clinical tests conducted to verify the efficacy of bee venom.  Among
arthritic patients, something like 60% reported moderate to excellent results
when they used bee venom for their arthritis pain.  When tests where done on
arthritic dogs, the dogs had measurably more freedom of movement when they
received bee venom.  The bee venom section is fascinating.  If you have any
sort of chronic joint pain, or you know someone who does, it is recommended
reading.
 
I use bee venom for repetitive motion pain in my hands (I have
carpal-tunnel-like symptoms, but have never gotten a diagnosis).  When I take
a sting or two on the wrist, my pain is alleviated.  I no longer wear the
wrist braces that I used to wear when I worked at the keyboard.  And I don't
wake up in the middle of the night from the pain in my hands, either.
 
I have a friend with an inflamed knee joint.  He has recently started
experimenting with bee venom therapy, and has had some positive results  (as
he puts it, "Mostly I notice that I don't have trouble falling asleep").
 
Some people are concerned about the possibility of allergic reactions.
 Obviously, you need to watch for any allergic reaction, but only about 1% of
the population has a bee sting allergy.  I suspect that that is a smaller
percentage than the people who are allergic to the drugs doctors prescribe
for inflammation.  And even without an allergic reaction, there are still
serious side effects to the anti-arthritic medicines, including liver damage.
 
The American Apitherapy Association has all sorts of information about bee
venom therapy, and what people are using it for.  I don't have their number
with me, but if anyone wants it, you can e-mail me at [log in to unmask]
 
Shawna Roberts