I have used bee stings for many years on my hands and fingers. There
was a time when I couldn't touch a joint on my one index finger.
After a few bee stings it was about 90% better by the next morning. I
had to put many stings in over months but has been pain free for many
years now. Now my left had and fingers are hurting. I don't bother
the bees much in the winter time and the pain builds up. There are
times when I can't close my hand. 5 or 6 stings and things are better
the next day. There is a book entitled " Bees Don't Get Arthritis" by
Fred Malone; written several years ago. I always tell new beekeepers
that they have to get stung twice. Once to see how bad it is and the
second to see if it gets better or worse.
>
> I asked a medical doctor who was involved with apitherapy, to
explain to me in simple terms why bee venom worked. He said that the
body's reaction to the bee venom was why it worked. As the immune
system came to attack the bee venom it also attacked the arthritis. I
have since learned that it also causes the body to produce its own
corticosteroids without the side effects of synthetic corticosteroids.
>
> We all get some form arthritis to some degree. Some worse than
others. It seems logical to me that if you keep bees this would be a
free benefit. It is hard to keep bees without getting stung once in
awhile; maybe to just keep up your immunity. Don't think that one or
two stings is going to do the trick.
>
> I was surprised to see that there was not many responses to the
post. Maybe that is because us beekeepers are getting stung enough
that we aren't suffering from arthritis. I feel around my fingers to
find out where it hurts the most and that is where I place the bee
sting.
>
> Billy Bee
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