Woman who started using bee sting's to relieve pain 'spirals into a full-blown addiction'

Those who suffer from chronic pain would probably try just about anything to alleviate it - but what do you think about stinging yourself with bees?

A US woman called Margaret claims it's the only solution she's found to be effective at giving her a bit of light relief from her arthritis, which otherwise leaves her struggling to move and complete daily tasks.

And if she'd rather purposely prod her own skin with one of the winged insect's stingers instead of dealing with the agonising aches and pains in her joints, I think that says a lot about how much discomfort she's in. Don't you?

Margaret, from Morningview, Kentucky, explained it's much more than some kind of 'folk medicine' to her, as injecting herself with bee venom helps her pain, improves her mood and boosts her sex life.

Margaret said stinging herself with bees has been the only thing which has relieved her arthritis. (TLC)

During an appearance on TLC's My Strange Addiction back in 2013, she explained: "I brought it into the house and stung myself. The next day I was able to move easier... it was a surprise that it actually worked.

"The first time I stung myself, it didn't hurt as bad as I thought it would and it just got easier every time."

At the time of filming, she revealed she had been stinging herself with bees for the last decade and was doing it up to 100 times a week to make use of the venoms 'anti-inflammatory' and 'pain-relieving' properties.

Margaret told the cameras: "I'm addicted to stinging myself with bees. I sting myself on my hip, elbows, on a finger, on my ankle, my forehead or the tip of my nose. The most I've ever given myself was between 15 and 20 in my left hip.

"I really love stinging myself with bees!"

Although the bee-stinging saga started off with medical motivations, it quickly turned into an addiction for Margaret - so much so, that she even carries bees around in her purse incase she fancies a dose while she's out and about.

The Kentucky-based woman was doing it 15 times a day at her height. (TLC)

One a day escalated into a hefty 15 a day, prompting her husband J.D to raise concerns about his wife's reliance on them.

Speaking of the feeling she experiences, Margaret explained: "It doesn't take very long for it to turn into that peppery burn and then it actually feels good. There's a little bit of swelling, a little bit of itching, but there is good stuff happening."

Margaret does admit that 'gets sad' watching the bees die after she stings herself with them, as she believes that each and every one of them are precious - but if she can, she'll grab an older one as it 'makes her feel less guilty'.

Discussing her addiction with J.D, she added: "They make me feel better and when I haven't had a sting for a while, I get cranky. They relieve my anxiety and relieve so many other symptoms.

"And you've got to admit, when I've had at least 10 stings, the sex is great."

She even has hives in her garden to ensure she's got a constant supply of bees. (TLC)

But her husband wanted a professional to weigh in on what Margaret's bee stinging habits were doing to her body.

In the episode of My Strange Addiction, she visited Dr Dain Wahl to discuss her arthritis treatment, who warned that it could have fatal consequences - and even though she isn't allergic to bee venom now, she could be later.

The medic said: "With bee stings, we're not sure of how much of a dose is toxic. So my biggest fear is that one day suddenly she'll swell up, her throat will close and she'll die.

"Would I recommend that she stops? Yes I would."

Although Dr Wahl urged her to ditch her habit, Margaret said that she 'seems to thrive on the bee stings'.

She admitted: "I don't think there is anything wrong with me stinging myself with bees and I don't plan to stop.

"I've heard a lot of those concerns before you know from a lot of people. Bee stings are not for everybody, but they work for me. I need to continue stinging but I don't think I'll be increasing my numbers - I'll just proceed with caution."

Although bee stings can lead to allergic reactions, infections and potentially death, Margaret isn't the only one who has tried out this bizarre method in the hopes of health benefits.

Gwyneth Paltrow revealed she'd tried it out in an interview with the New York Times back in 2016, saying: "I've been stung by bees. It's a thousands-of years-old treatment called apitherapy.

"People use it to get rid of inflammation and scarring. It's actually pretty incredible if you research it. But, man, it's painful."

Gerard Butler also said he tried the method in the hopes of reducing inflammation he had acquired due to his stunt work, however he ended up being hospitalised after being injected with the venom of 23 bees.

The actor said he felt like his heart might 'explode' and as if he had ants under his skin.

Researchers warn that stinging yourself with bees or any bee venom treatments are 'unsafe and unadvisable'.