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Yellow Jacket Sting Made Foot Pain Fade

Q. I got stung on the leg by a yellow jacket nine weeks ago. My plantar fasciitis went away; now it’s back. Is that just a coincidence?

A. It probably is not a coincidence. While yellow jackets are cantankerous and difficult to manage, honeybees are more domesticated. For many years, people have been using honeybee stings therapeutically (apitherapy) for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.

We don’t believe you should go around looking for yellow jackets, but you might want to learn more about bee sting therapy for your painful foot problem. We have discussed this topic in depth with apitherapy experts on our one-hour radio show #661.

People have used bee sting therapy for problems other than simple joint pain. One reader reported that a sting made hand tremors vanish, and ET commented: “I grew up in my father’s store. Over 60 years ago, I remember customers who used bee stings to treat ‘shakes’ and other problems. Some maintained hives for that purpose.”

If you have had a therapeutic experience with a sting, tell us about it below:

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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