NATURAL REMEDIES FOR RELEIF OF INSECT BITES AND STINGS

Homemade Remedies for the Relief of Insect Stings and Bites

July 1, 2012 By Andrea 30 Comments

Insect stings and bites of all different kinds have the potential to be extremely painful, itchy, and uncomfortable.
These days it can be hard to find something we can feel confident in to put on our skin — something that is effective and relieves the discomfort. But the good news is…there are common items you may have lying around your home, in your kitchen cabinets, or even steps away in the backyard that can help!
Let’s take a look at a few common, homemade remedies that any of us can grab the next time we experience an insect sting or bite.
Natural Treatment for Stings and Bites
1. A slice of onion. Cut a slice of onion and put it directly on to the affected area. Onions contain a powerful healing enzyme that can relieve the discomfort and promote healing.
2. Make a compress. After removing the stinger and washing the skin precede to soak a piece of cotton in lemon juice, witch hazel, or apple cider vinegar and apply it directly to the affected area. Repeat as often as needed. These items will help to reduce the toxicity of the venom and relieve the pain.
3. Aloe Vera. Aloe vera gel can also be a great help. If you have a plant growing at home, simply cut it open and rub it on the affected area as often as needed. Don’t have it fresh? I like this aloe vera gel product.
4. Epsom salt bath. If there are multiple stings or bites, an Epsom salt bath can provide a wonderful bit of relief. Find salts here…
5. Raw Honey. Dab on a thin layer of raw honey and reap the benefits of it’s healing power.
6. Make a paste. This remedy is great for humans and pet alike! Make a paste with baking soda and a few drops of water. Put the paste on the area and let it sit for approximately 15 minutes before washing off. The baking soda helps to neutralize the venom from the sting/bite.
7. Aspirin. Add a few drops of water or rubbing alcohol to a crushed Aspirin and apply the paste to the affected area.
8. Banana peels. The inside skins of bananas – when rubbed on itchy bug bites — can provide immediate relief! You’ll need to peel the banana, cut off a bit of the skin, rub the inside of it on the affected area, let it dry (do not rinse), repeat as often as needed.
9. Essential oils. A couple drops of lavender essential oils are sure to reduce pain and inflammation when applied directly to a sting or bite. Tea tree oil is also very soothing. Find your essential oils here…
10. Herbs. Try your hand at making an herbal salve (Click here for my homemade itch relief stick recipe), poultice, or compress using any of the following herbs for amazing results:

• Plantain – My favorite way to use plantain is to tear off a fresh leaf, chew it slightly, and then apply the spit poutice to the affected area.
• Comfrey
• Calendula
• Chickweed
• Lemon balm 
• If they aren’t growing in your backyard…Find these organic dried herbs here…

And lastly you can always apply an ice pack. Doing so will help to constrict the blood vessels, thereby decreasing the blood flow which should help to prevent any venom from spreading – not to mention, itching is relieved by the numbing of the skin.
What homemade remedies do you use to treat insect stings or bites?
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Treatment for Brown Recluse Spider Bites.  By Whitefawn Star
I have had 3 brown recluse spider bites.  The first occurred and I didn't know what it was.  After two weeks a dime shaped bite refused to heal and had a nucleus where the skin was being eaten by the poison, slowly turning black in the center.
I tried honey, creams, aloe, peroxide.  Finally, my inner guidance told me to slice a fresh garlic glove and put the eye of the slice directly over the wound and leave on with a bandaid.  After two days, the black was gone and a huge crater was left.  It took one month at least to heal and left a scar.   I have been bitten twice since and have healed them more rapidly within two weeks by putting the garlic on right away and drawing out the poison that seems to eat the flesh.
I hope you find this treatment helpful.
Whitefawn Star