I had a similar concern. The first month I had my bees I was stung 5 or 6 times, no reaction at all. Then I got one in my palm, a little puffiness, slight swelling. The next one was on my ear, it swelled to twice its normal size, swelling in my cheek and neck for 6 days, affected my hearing.
The next week I got a sting near my elbow, instant swelling. I was concerned I was becoming allergic to my bees.
I found the following on
http://www.honeybeeworld.com/misc/stings.htmI was not becoming allergic, I was becoming immune. The swelling on my elbow only lasted 3 days. I was stung last Friday, just a little puffiness, was gone in a day.
"What Everyone Needs to Know About Bee Stings
a Beekeeper's Perspective
Immunity to Bee Stings
Seasoned beekeepers experience virtually no reaction to stings and generally ignore occasional stings in their daily work. Beekeepers still feel the sting the same as anyone else, but since they are not worried about stings, the sensation is soon forgotten. Normally good beekeepers wear a veil to prevent stings to the face, but work with bare hands and receive occasional stings to the wrists and hands.
People who have never been stung by a bee often have no itching or swelling at first. After a number of stings most people begin to itch more and swell at the location of the sting. Sometimes the swelling can be quite extreme (and comical if it occurs on the face), however swelling is a normal reaction in someone who is developing immunity, and only lasts until immunity is developed.
Immunity to bee stings builds up fairly quickly in most people. After several weeks of occasional stings, the reactions diminish, itching is no longer a problem, and swelling is much reduced.
Immunity can fade over periods of time without stings such as over winter. Some sensitivity is not uncommon for the first few stings after such a period, even for beekeepers with immunity."
I use several species of plants on stings, most are in the Plantago genus, common name is plantain.