The healing power of bee stings

Bee venom has long been used to treat conditions from acute tendonitis to chronic back pain and rheumatoid arthritis, but the way it works has been a mystery. Now researchers in South Korea have begun to reveal the properties of melittin, a major component of bee venom and a powerful anti-inflammatory agent.

UPDATE 9 November 2004: The above news has sparked a discussion on Bee_L where a number of seasoned beekeepers are questioning the idea that bee venom protects against arthritis. Here's a site devoted to bee venom, though it hasn't been updated for a few years.