Most of us would run a mile if we're about to be stung by an insect, but one woman says she's developed a 'full-blown' addiction to bee stings as a form of pain relief.
Margaret, from Kentucky, first started getting stung by bees (on purpose) in order to alleviate the excruciating pain she suffered from arthritis.
But it soon became an addiction, with Margaret now opting to sting herself up to 15 times a day.
Advert
Margaret, whose arthritis leaves her struggling to move or even complete daily tasks, claims that the venom from bee stings alleviates her pain and even boosts her sex life.
While appearing on My Strange Addiction back in 2013, Margaret explained that the stings don't hurt as much as she first feared, and now she's pretty much used to it.
Speaking of her first encounter, she said: "I brought it into the house and stung myself.
Advert
"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 the show was filmed, Margaret claimed to sting herself up to 100 times a week, explaining: "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 it didn't seem to be an issue at first, Margaret explained that once she started stinging herself up to 15 times a day, her husband, J.D, became concerned.
Discussing the unusual addiction with him, Margaret said it even boosts her sex life, with J.D agreeing that the sex had been 'great'.
Advert
She explained: "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. 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."
It's important to point out that multiple bee stings can actually be considered a medical emergency, so it's best to visit your doctor and stick to standard pain-relief options.
Mayo Clinic explain: "If you get stung more than a dozen times, the accumulation of venom may induce a toxic reaction and make you feel quite sick.
Advert
"Multiple stings can be a medical emergency in children, older adults, and people who have heart or breathing problems."
During the episode, Dr Dain Wahl warned Margaret about her addiction, explaining she could develop an allergy.
"With bee stings, we're not sure of how much of a dose is toxic," he said. "So my biggest fear is that one day suddenly she'll swell up, her throat will close and she'll die.
Advert
"Would I recommend that she stops? Yes I would.
Of course, there's also the fact that being stung by a bee causes the insect to die.
While Margaret says that it does make her sad, she tries to grab an older one as it 'makes her feel less guilty'.
Lucy Devine