Bee Stings Work, But...

Q:  I've heard that bee stings can relieve pain and other symptoms of arthritis. Is this true?

A:  You've heard right. As far back as around 400 B.C., Hippocrates - the Greek physician called the "father of medicine" - used bee venom to treat joint pain and swelling. Many people still find the stings of honeybees useful for medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), skin disorders and multiple sclerosis.

Honeybee venom contains at least 18 active substances known to be potent anti-inflammatory agents. These substances stimulate the body's release of the hormone cortisol as well as neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin, all of which can help relieve the pain, stiffness and swelling of arthritis.

Bee stings are by no means a cure-all. Nor are they pleasant or easy to administer. For those reasons, I personally don't recommend bee stings to my patients. Nevertheless, I have two patients who are using bee stings with great success. They made a choice to be treated "more naturally." If they stop responding, then they know I have biologics and other medications waiting for them.

If you decide you would like to try bee stings, speak with your doctor. Like all complementary medicines, bee stings are best used in conjunction with medical diagnosis and advice. It's important that you be prepared for a severe allergic reaction by having a bee sting allergy kit on hand - even if you've never reacted negatively to bee stings in the past. Although the side effects of bee-venom therapy usually are mild, an allergic reaction to a sting could potentially be deadly.

JAMES MCKOY, MD
Rheumatologist

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