Bee sting. Bee sting on the hand of a patient undergoing bee venom therapy (BVT). It is thought that BVT can help alleviate the symptoms caused by rheumatism, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other diseases. Live bees are ordered from bee breeding centres. After testing for potential allergies, patients are able to self-administer venom by holding the bee in a pair of tweezers and allowing themselves to be stung at specific points on the body. The bee dies after it has stung the patient, leaving behind the sting and venom sac. The medicinal use of honeybee products, such as venom, honey, royal jelly and beeswax, is known as apitherapy. Photographed in Pebadale apiary, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, UK.