>
>
> > presumably by denaturing the venom; plenty on the Internet
>
Ah, the internet : )
I took the time to read the three citations. The first  suggests that at
least one jellyfish toxin can be partially denatured in only five minutes
at a surprisingly low temperature (50C, 122F).  Since a bee in flight runs
a body temp of around 105F, I would suspect that its venom is likely more
heat stable.

The second citation was quite trenchant: "Yes, snake venoms are enzymes
(proteins) and can be denatured by heat. Of course, all your cells are
dependent on enzymes and other proteins that can be denatured by heat. So
can you denature the venom proteins without denaturing your own proteins
and creating a large mass of burned, necrotic tissue where the bite was?"

The third citation noted that " Swelling, pain, and pruritus are the most
relevant symptoms after insect bites/stings  Locally administrated
concentrated heat leads to fast amelioration of symptoms."

So depending upon the venom involved, what are the symptoms -- the our
reaction to a sting is the *perception* of "pain," coupled with
inflammation due to histamine release, and possible cellular toxicity due
to the venom.  Heat treatment, by altering our perception of relative
"pain," and causing histamine dumping, may, depending upon the venom or
irritant involved, simply be addressing the symptoms, rather than
detoxifying the venom.


-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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