Home and Herbal Remedies for Bites and Stings

but unless you suffer from allergic reaction,

the best course of treatment is to soothe the pain and reduce the swelling.

The following are some great home and herbal remedies for bites and stings.

Herbs

• MARIGOLD: Rub the petals on the insect bite.
• PLANTAIN: Cover bites or stings with a wet macerated leaf. when it dries, replace with another wet leaf.
  Recipe: Plantain Lotion-Finely chop sufficient fresh plantain leaves to fill a small jar. Add sufficient glycerin to cover the leaves. Stand for 2 weeks, stirring from time to time. Strain and store in a dark bottle. Makes a soothing and healing lotion for weeping itchy rashes and insect bites.

Aromatherapy

• CLOVE OIL: Dab a tiny amount on insect bites.
• PEPPERMINT OIL: Dip a Q-tip in peppermint oil and apply to center of insect bite.
• TREE TEA OIL: A powerful antiseptic. 1 drop can be rubbed into an insect bite. I have found another excellent use for tree tea oil. I had a tick bite the other day (don't know why they call them "bites"--they sure do more than "bite" you!) and the next day after removing the tick it was red and swollen and itched like the dickens! I rubbed a drop of tree tea oil on it before I went to work and it didn't bother me all day! The next morning it started itching me again and I put another drop it (all the redness and swelling was gone!) and it never bothered me again!
• LAVENDAR: Apply to bites and stings to reduce swelling and discomfort. (Very gentle essential oil…but some hay fever or asthma suffers may be allergic)

Traditional Home Remedies and Natural Solutions

• STEEPED TEA BAGS: Astringent properties make it useful in treating insect bites.
• CIDER VINEAGAR: Apply to wasp stings to reduce swelling and ease discomfort.
• GARLIC, ONION, CUCUMBER, POTATO, TOMATO, OR LEMON: Apply slice to soothe and draw out venom.
• CINNAMON and HONEY: For insect bites,take one part honey to two parts of lukewarm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder, make a paste and massage it on the itching part of the body slowly. The pain should recede within a minute or two.



• ALOE VERA: Apply to bites and stings to soothe, it also has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
  Recipe: Aloe Gel-Wash the leaves, cut into 2" (5cm) lengths, slice each piece in half to expose the largest amount of gel. Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and date. To use: remove plastic, and apply the gel side of the leaf to the skin, smear over the affected areas or hold in place with a bandage.

• More Home Remedies

**Notice: If you are outside or out in the woods and get stung...bruise a dock leave and apply or if nothing else is available...slap some mud on it.

*NOTE: If you are pregnant, please consult your doctor before trying any natural remedy.

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