Important News About Bee Stings

United States
April 11, 2007 7:30pm CST
I received a very interesting note from a friend today. She had been stung by a bee and ended up needing an antibiotic to counteract an infection she got where she was stung. Her doctor told her that the next time she was stung by a bee or hornet to be sure to just tape a penny (yes, our one-cent copper penny) over the sting for 15 minutes. It takes away the pain and the next day you will hardly even see the place where you were stung. Has anyone else ever heard of this? My friend swears it works since she used it on her cousin when she was stung by a hornet.
6 people like this
15 responses
• United States
12 Apr 07
I had hear this before so I checked it out and this cure always seems to come from a friend or a teacher but the truth is it undertermined if this really works or not. Check out the complete article http://www.snopes.com/medical/homecure/beesting.asp
2 people like this
• United States
17 Apr 07
I just hope I don't ever have to try it to find out if it works or not.
1 person likes this
@Gemmygirl1 (2867)
• Australia
12 Apr 07
Well, i dunno about the penny thing - we don't have any copper coins here any more so i dunno what we'd do :) I used to just make sure the stinger wasn't in my foot any more & then clean the area with warm salt water & i never had a problem! I guess everyone has different ways of dealing with things like that, all different remedies & such! I guess as long as you find one that works for you (since everyone reacts different to bee stings) then you should go with it!
2 people like this
• United States
17 Apr 07
I agree with your comment...as long as you find one that works for you, then you should go with it.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Jun 07
I heard that it is good to rub banana peel on them to cut down on the swelling and itching. Hope that helps you out some incase you get stung.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Jun 07
That's one I hadn't heard of, but will also keep that in mind if I ever get stung.
• United States
21 Jun 07
Yes, run for the banana's. LOL
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
12 Apr 07
Thanks, I have never heard this before but I will try it sometime this summer. I'm sure the tip will come in handy. Hope it works!!
2 people like this
@kbkbooks (7022)
• Canada
12 Apr 07
That's one of those interesting little pieces of advice that I hope I remember when I need it.
2 people like this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
2 Jun 07
hmm, never heard of that one before, interesting. was this recently? our pennies have become even cheaper than one cent now. I do not think there is even a trace of copper in them anymore. They are zinc through and through - unless there is a thin electroplating of copper over top of the zinc/
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Jun 07
Modestah, now I've got to check that out. So many changes have been made in the composition of our coins over the years that it does bear checking out. Thanks for pointing it out.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
12 Apr 07
When I was a kids a good number of years ago I steprd on a bee. My mom put a poultise on it made of bread and milk. It was to draw the stinger out. I don't remember if it worked or not. I do remember it hurting for along time though.
• United States
17 Apr 07
Some things you just don't forget, right???
1 person likes this
@matlgal (1686)
• United States
12 Apr 07
I had never heard that! What an interesting concept! Wonder what the mineral reaction is with the bite? you can bet I will keep a penny in my gardening gear. Last year I got stung right on my temple, The darn bee got right between the arm on my sun glasses and my temple and man or man did that smart! SO now I have a new weapon. THanks for the info.
1 person likes this
• United States
6 May 07
It is interesting, and my friend said it worked for her. It won't hurt to try it if you get stung again.
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
12 Apr 07
Yes, I have heard of this, but can't remember where. After someone went through a lot of treatments and antibiotics on their child, a doctor told her to "next time" try this. Well...gosh...why couldn't they tell you before you spent all of the money and time on trying out the antibiotics?
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Apr 07
Because he makes more money the other way???
1 person likes this
@babystar1 (4233)
• United States
2 Jun 07
I never heard of the penny. But the next time I get stung by a bee I will try it. Last summer I was stung by a bee and did it hurt. In the summer we have a lot of bees around our house.But I sure hope I dont get stung again.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Jun 07
I hope you don't either, babystar1.
@onabreak2 (1161)
• United States
13 Apr 07
I havent heard of that one but I have heard to lick an aspirin and put it on the sting of any insect and it takes the itch and hurt out. Works with bee stinks and insect bites. I used it on a bee sting once. Took the redness and hurt out.
• United States
17 Apr 07
Now you gave me something else to try and remember. Thanks for your tip.
1 person likes this
@elisa812 (3026)
• United States
12 Apr 07
Wow, I've never heard of that before! I've had some bad reactions to bee stings before, so i will have to keep that in mind the next time. Thanks for the information! :)
1 person likes this
@lightningMD (5931)
• United States
12 Apr 07
That is very interesting.I had never heard of this before.If we get stung this summer I'm going to give it a try.Thanks for passing on the tip.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Jul 08
it worked for me 3 times in the last month and i still dont believe it. bumble bee, big black wasp and one unknown that hurt like the devil. pain was gone in just over 20 min. just a little tenderness the next day but no sign of the sting. still hard to believe but it WORKED for me
• United States
27 Jul 08
i just heard of this about a month ago. have been stung 3 times since then. bumble bee, big black wasp, one unknown yesterday. i still dont believe it but dang it i has worked 3 times in 4 weeks. pain was gone in just over 20 min. just a little tenderness the next day but no sign of the sting. no i still dont believe it but it WORKS for me. jughead in tenn.