Bee Venom Has "Botox-Like Effect," Is Worth 7 Times As Much As Gold 248
dryriver writes "The BBC reports that cosmetic products using bee venom as an ingredient are a new 'hot seller' in the cosmetics market. Bee venom is said to have an effect on female skin similar to Botox injections, tightening the skin and making wrinkles and other signs of aging appear less pronounced than before. Unlike Botox, however, bee venom does not need to be injected, and can be absorbed through the skin naturally as an ingredient of cosmetic skin creme. Now comes the kicker: A special electrified device that causes bees to sting a synthetic membrane and release their venom can harvest about one gram of bee venom from 20 bee hives. That one gram of bee venom is worth a whopping 350 dollars. This makes bee venom almost seven times more valuable than gold, which, in comparison, is worth only about 53 dollars per gram."
Re:Botox (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Botox (Score:5, Insightful)
Why female skin is a more apt question.
Does it not work for guys or is it an assumption that guys aren't interested in looking younger?
Re:Botox (Score:5, Insightful)
This is Slashdot. We have a proud tradition of not reading the articles, summaries, or even headlines, and then spouting inaccurate, misinformed idiocy and feeling smug about what "experts" we are.
Correct me if I'm wrong (Score:3, Insightful)
price comparison (Score:5, Insightful)
"This makes Bee Venom almost seven times more valuable than Gold, which, in comparison, is worth only about 53 Dollars per 1 gram."
So it costs the same as ink for my printer, data for my cellphone, gas for my car (soon), and clean drinking water (later).
Re:Correct me if I'm wrong (Score:2, Insightful)
I believe they only die if their stinger breaks off. One would assume that the membrane is designed to leave the stinger intact.
What does gold have to do with this? (Score:4, Insightful)
Gender-specific venom action ? (Score:4, Insightful)
to have an effect on female skin
Male skin is not affected, thusly.
A small correction (Score:5, Insightful)
Botox injections, tightening the skin and making wrinkles and other signs of aging appear less pronounced...
Botulinum toxin does not tighten the skin - it paralyses muscles, and since many wrinkles are aggravated by muscles in the skin, paralysing them can make the wrinkles less pronounced. This paralysis is very evident on the faces of many aging celebrities - they simply struggle with producing facial expressions.
It's a strange thing, isn't it? Instead of accepting their age, people mistreat themselves so they look 'younger', at least when you're not too close. I think it is deeply sad; and it only makes you look less attractive.
Would that be considered cruel ? (Score:4, Insightful)
I can't say I know how the bees feel when electricity is applied to them so that they can produce the venom, but I can tell you that it wouldn't be pleasant.
In China and in Vietnam people "harvest" bear gall bladder juice by tying up live bears and inserting a tube into the bears - and that practice is deemed "cruelty to animal".
Should electrocuting bees be considered as cruel, as well?
Re:Would that be considered cruel ? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Would that be considered cruel ? (Score:3, Insightful)
Does it matter? It's wrong anyway, and especially so since it's not even necessary. Doing this kind of thing should be illegal if it's for cosmetic purposes and/or to make people look/feel better.
Re:Correct me if I'm wrong (Score:4, Insightful)
Praise be (Score:5, Insightful)
Colony collapse disorder? Failure of crop pollenation worldwide? The possible end of agriculture and mass starvations and food riots worldwide? None of that was important enough to save the bees.
But now, shit, the bees might be able to keep aging Baby Boomers looking young! Nothing can compete with that, the bees are SAVED!
Re:Most men arn't so vain and insecure... (Score:5, Insightful)
No, men are vain and insecure in completely different ways, because they have spent their lives being judged for things other than their beauty.
Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)