Reader Emails - A Penny for Your Bee Sting?

Something arrived in my inbox this week that had the ring of an old wives' tale -- one of those tried and true remedies passed by word of mouth. NJM included me in her list of friends and relatives to whom she forwarded an email that said taping a copper penny to a bee or hornet sting takes the pain, redness, and swelling away.

So many women I know (including my neighbor across the street) spend endless hours gardening; it's one way to unwind. So I had to find out for myself and others -- does this really work?

My go-to guy on all things forwarded via email is David Emery, About.com Urban Legends Guide. He has the full email that's been circulating on the internet since August 2006, and the details on whether or not it works. Thanks NJM for passing this along.

For me, reader emails are just as much fun as a package from home during summer camp. (You never know what you're going to get, and if the contents are really good, you feel compelled to share.) If you've got something interesting to relate, or a story I should pass along to other readers, here's how you can email me.

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