Natural Remedies for Bug Bites and Stings

During the warmer summer months we spend more time enjoying the outdoors. Bugs are also having fun, but may feel threatened when we’re in their territory. Avoid insect bites and stings or treat them naturally if they do occur with these tips.


Prevention An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So before treating bites and stings, try keeping the bugs at bay. Eating a clove or two a day of garlic a few days before going outside or using blend of citronella, geranium, thyme, lavender and eucalyptus natural oils will keep some of the most stubborn pests away. Avoid wearing perfume and brightly colored clothing, and keep sugary drinks and food covered. Insect bites and stings If you get a sting by something like a bee or wasp that leaves its stinger behind, scrape the stinger out with a credit card, knife or fingernail. Do not use tweezers or try to squeeze it out as this will inject more irritating venom into your body. To remove the stinging, itching and swelling, try some of these natural remedies: Vinegar: Dip a cotton ball in white or apple cider vinegar and apply to the sting area. Baking soda: Mix with water, apply with a cotton ball and leave on for about 20 minutes. Onion: Rub a sliced onion over the sting. The enzymes in onions reduce itching and swelling by breaking down inflammatory compounds in the body called prostaglandins. Plantain:Plantago major is a common weed that can be chewed up or crushed with a pestal and mortar and applied directly for relief from mosquito bites and wasp stings. Treating a tick bite If you've been in an area with ticks remove your clothes and check your body from head to toe (have somebody help check parts of your body you can't see). If you find a tick that isn't latched on to your skin, grab it with a napkin or toilet paper and flush it down the toilet. If you find a tick attached to you, grasp it by the head with tweezers as close to your skin as possible. Slowly and firmly pull it straight out of the skin. If you yank it off, the head may break off in your skin and cause infection. Keep any tick that has been embedded in your skin in a closed container. If you develop a rash, which can appear from three days to a month later, your doctor can analyze the tick to see whether it carries any disease. When to seek help Call a doctor immediately if you've been bitten by a spider. If you have trouble breathing, feel faint, or have swelling in your mouth or throat, a rapid pulse, or hives after being stung by a bee or wasp, get to an emergency room. You may be having anaphylaxis - a possibly fatal allergic reaction. If you are bit by a tick and develop a bull's-eye rash, muscle aches, fever, and headache within three weeks see your doctor. These could be signs of Lyme disease, which can lead to mental confusion and arthritis if not treated. Related articles: Beat Spring Allergies, Family Exercise, Green Family Activities