A bee was found flying through the store today and I could not believe the reactions people had to it. Some of the folks were borderline hysterical. I couldn't really cope with all the freaked out people, so I caught the poor bee, who was half dead anyway, and got her to sting me in the arm. When you've been stung several times, it's always a good idea to get stung periodically to keep your body's histamine response to the bee venom in line.
Anyway, about twenty people saw me sting myself with this bee and, I shit you not, one of them fainted. I think I'll be shunned for life by some of the folks at work, and have gained some sort of quasi-hero status with others. C'mon folks. It doesn't hurt THAT much.
Anyway, for all you curiosity seekers, glamour hounds, and naysayers, here's a little info on bee venom, which is commonly used to treat diseases such as rheumatism, arthritis, and Multiple Sclerosis (alright, it's almost 3 in the morning and I'm dead tired. Please forgive the grammar. I'd like to think that you would figure out that the bee venom and not the info is used in disease treatment, but the way that sentence reads it's kind of ambiguous. . . I'm definitely shutting up now).
Have you hugged a bee (or a beekeeper) today?
Apitherapy, the medicinal use of honey bee products, has been practiced since ancient times. In the modern world honey bee venom has found wide uses in treating arthritis and other inflammatory and degenerative diseases. The world scientific literature contains more than 1500 articles on bee venom. The French and Russian equivalents of the N.I.H. have been involved in clinical studies of honey bee venom, and in the U.S. the Army has looked extensively at the chemical compounds in bee venom.
Honey bee venom contains at least 18 active substances. Melittin, the most prevalent substance, is one of the most potent anti-inflammatory agents known (100 times more potent than hydrocortisol). Adolapin is another strong anti-inflammatory substance, and inhibits cyclooxygenase; it thus has analgesic activity as well. Apamin inhibits complement C3 activity, and blocks calcium-dependent potassium channels, thus enhancing nerve transmission. Other substances, such as Compound X, Hyaluronidase, Phospholipase A2, Histamine, and Mast Cell Degranulating Protein (MSDP), are involved in the inflammatory response of venom, with the softening of tissue and the facilitation of flow of the other substances. Finally, there are measurable amounts of the neurotransmitters Dopamine, Norepinephrine and Seratonin.
Ooooooooooooh. Bee Venom contains "Compound X." Creepy.
Anyway, about twenty people saw me sting myself with this bee and, I shit you not, one of them fainted. I think I'll be shunned for life by some of the folks at work, and have gained some sort of quasi-hero status with others. C'mon folks. It doesn't hurt THAT much.
Anyway, for all you curiosity seekers, glamour hounds, and naysayers, here's a little info on bee venom, which is commonly used to treat diseases such as rheumatism, arthritis, and Multiple Sclerosis (alright, it's almost 3 in the morning and I'm dead tired. Please forgive the grammar. I'd like to think that you would figure out that the bee venom and not the info is used in disease treatment, but the way that sentence reads it's kind of ambiguous. . . I'm definitely shutting up now).
Have you hugged a bee (or a beekeeper) today?
Apitherapy, the medicinal use of honey bee products, has been practiced since ancient times. In the modern world honey bee venom has found wide uses in treating arthritis and other inflammatory and degenerative diseases. The world scientific literature contains more than 1500 articles on bee venom. The French and Russian equivalents of the N.I.H. have been involved in clinical studies of honey bee venom, and in the U.S. the Army has looked extensively at the chemical compounds in bee venom.
Honey bee venom contains at least 18 active substances. Melittin, the most prevalent substance, is one of the most potent anti-inflammatory agents known (100 times more potent than hydrocortisol). Adolapin is another strong anti-inflammatory substance, and inhibits cyclooxygenase; it thus has analgesic activity as well. Apamin inhibits complement C3 activity, and blocks calcium-dependent potassium channels, thus enhancing nerve transmission. Other substances, such as Compound X, Hyaluronidase, Phospholipase A2, Histamine, and Mast Cell Degranulating Protein (MSDP), are involved in the inflammatory response of venom, with the softening of tissue and the facilitation of flow of the other substances. Finally, there are measurable amounts of the neurotransmitters Dopamine, Norepinephrine and Seratonin.
Ooooooooooooh. Bee Venom contains "Compound X." Creepy.

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tryptamine_____:
check out the "seattle bowl-a-rama of doom" thread in hookup. it should be fun fun fun. 

jupiter6:
i can't help but be reminded of the eddie izzard "i'm covered in bees!" bit.