Scrape or pinch off a sting? It doesn't matter!

[eivindm]

Hi!

I have always been told not to pinch off a beesting as it could increase the amount of venom injection.  The right thing was to scrape it off.  I read  Allen Dick's //www.honeybeeworld.com from time to time, and he had a link to this research paper which proves that it doesn't matter whether you scrape or pinch the sting off.  The only thing that matters is how long it takes before you remove it.

Maybe all you other guys knew it already, but it was new to me :-)

eivindm

[Beth Kirkley]

Never heard that. hmm
Speaking of stings..... what are some things others do to deal with (or minimize) the effect of the sting? Myself...... when possible... I use moistened tobacco on the sting, and take some benadril right away.

Beth

[asleitch]

I've seen that research, despite the long held theory about scraping rather than any other method to remove a sting, the severity is based only on the amount of time the sting is in you.

It's just one of those thing beekeepers refuse to believe. They insist that scraping is better!

Adam

[hobbee]

Beth,

I have seen this product in Dadant catalog: Sting-Kill is quick relief from stings in most cases. Fights secondary infection. For most persons, relief occurs within 30 seconds to one minute.

http://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=67&products_id=573

Vlad

[Robo]

Most of the sting relievers are just ammonia, which does work quite well.

An easier alternative is Plantain,  a common road weed.  Not only does it work well,  but you don't have to worry about carrying it with you, you can usually find it everywhere. At least here in the NorthEast.

[beemaster]

I can never disagree with Allen Dick - anyone here who has NOT followed any of his beekeeping adventure, Allen is a Canadian Commerical Beekeeper who has documented unimaginable info on his daily adventures with his THOUSANDS of hives, numerous employees and incredible list of equipment.

Allen has been retiring over the few years, a slow and torturous process at times, but his log entries are fascinating to read and very addictive.

I'm a scrapper, not a squeezer - it just makes more sense, but knowing the diameter of the stinger and muscle reactions necessary to pump the vemon, I agree that the REAL ISSUE is getting rid of it as fast as possible.

I've don't Bee Venom therapy http://www.beemaster.com/beebbs/viewtopic.php?t=542&highlight=apitherapy and I must say that after a few thousand stings (on purpose stings) and a few hundred by accident or by careless handling while trying to master hive interaction: bee stings are never fun and there are plenty of times I wish I had a hood on, but JUST AS MANY TIMES that I was glad I DIDN'T have a hood on - nothing is more painful than having a bee trapped in your protective equipment and you JUST CAN'T get at the sting.

Mentally wearing is having a bee in your protection and it ISN'T STINGING YOU - that "Anticipation of getting stung, but not knowing when or where" is worse than getting stung most of the time. That really makes using the least amount of protective gear that you are comfortable wearing very important.

I'll say Dick is probably right, this goes to show you too that people will study anything - of course if the US Feds backed this experiment, it would have cost about $20 Million and taken 3 years and 4 college campuses (campi - lol) to preform.

[debay]

hey, your the crazy guy on youtube!!!  cool. my kids think your nuts for not wearing your gear while installing your bees. I was all pumped about installing mine, but alas I have been thwarted. I arranged for my bees to arrive on my day off. then my boss sent me out of town. so now I have to get my buddy to install my bees for me. takes all the fun away.  :-x

[Michael Bush]

I'll keep scraping mine off just the same.  Of course WAITING to scrape it instead of just pulling it is a bad idea, but I always have fingernails handy. :)

And plantain:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#plantain

And the plantain makes it instantaneously better.  AND it's free.

[jimmyo]

I'd like to hear more about the plantain.
what does it look like?  (photo?)
how do you apply it?
I use an amonia based product that works great. But I don't always have it with me and free is better than cheap any day.
Jim 

[JP]

Scraping just makes more sense.


...JP

[Robo]

I'd like to hear more about the plantain.
what does it look like?  (photo?)

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=10763.msg71415#msg71415

how do you apply it?

Just mash it up or chew it and apply. 

[Jerrymac]

This started way back in 2004.

I heard that after 20 seconds all the venom was pumped out so it didn't matter. AND.... If bee venom is suppose to be good for what ails you, why not get it all while you can.

[Michael Bush]

>>And plantain:
>> http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#plantain

>>And the plantain makes it instantaneously better.  AND it's free.

>I'd like to hear more about the plantain.

Click on the link and read.

>what does it look like?  (photo?)

Click on the link and then click on the thumbnail and look at the photo.

>how do you apply it?

Read the text at the link. :)

[jimmyo]

Thanks fo the info.  We have that plant all over my part of Indiana,
Jim