COLUMBIANA, MAHONING Beekeepers will swarm to learn about therapy

Some group members practice bee venom therapy.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
COLUMBIANA -- Local beekeepers will learn about how a sting can be put to work in helping people with arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
The Columbiana and Mahoning County Beekeepers Association will meet at 1 p.m. Sunday at The Allen Lodge.
The afternoon will begin with a covered-dish dinner followed by a program by Donald Downs of Akron. John Beilhart, Mahoning County bee inspector and a member of the association, said Downs is a bee venom therapy practitioner and will speak about the practice.
Beilhart said bee venom therapy practitioners believe that intentional beestings in different areas of the body provide relief from symptoms of arthritis and multiple sclerosis. He said there are different points of the body targeted by bee venom therapy practitioners, in much the same way acupressure or acupuncture practitioners work in their therapy sessions.
Popular to help
Beilhart said many beekeepers get involved in the hobby to raise bees for bee therapy. He said two of the association's members keep bees because they are arthritis or multiple sclerosis sufferers and do their own bee venom therapy.
About 40 families are members of the association, which meets monthly from February through September, Beilhart said.
He said 2003 was a bad year for bees because of so many days of rain. The bees could not make and store very much honey, so many did not survive the winter.
A newsletter is available to members and anyone else who would like to know about the association's activities, he said.
Coming up
An upcoming program will feature information from a representative of a beekeeping supply company. The association also has beekeeper games in which beekeepers compete in skills related to beekeeping such as assembling a beehive or using a bee smoker.
XFor more information about the association or Sunday's meeting, call Beilhart at (330) 482-6039.