A venom victory over MS? Q: The other day I read something online about bee stings being a remedy for MS. That sounds a little far out to me, but I have a dear friend who has just been diagnosed, and I think she would be interested in learning about anything that might help. Should I mention this to her, or would I just be inviting false hope? Dr. Wright: There are some real challenges and concerns about bee venom therapy, particularly as there is an underground of patients who are routinely practicing self- stinging to get relief. The high incidence of allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, makes this particularly dangerous. The inability to control dosage also makes it clinically difficult to track and predict the effectiveness of the treatment. Many MS patients are passionate about their results, however, and it is clearly gaining more and more notice as a possible treatment option. If you'd like to learn more about the topic, and gather some specific research to give to your friend, visit the following "Bee Venom Therapy References" webpage: http://www.corp.direct.ca/beevenom/bvtReferences.htm. This information might be helpful when approaching a physician with this idea as well. | 
