Minor Bites, Stings & Swellings
Some insects such as mosquitoes, bees, wasps, flies, fleas, ants and so on can bite or sting you in an act of protecting themselves from possible sources of danger. Bites and stings can feel painful and itchy. There are different types of bites and stings depending on the animal, bug or insect that bit you.
Symptoms
What To Expect
Bites and stings can feel uncomfortable. Depending on the bite or sting you can expect to have different outcomes such as small, round, red itchy bumps on your skin or maybe swollen red spots that may burn.
Made Worse By
Bites and stings are often itchy and people feel the pressure to scratch the spot, but scratching makes it worse and can lead to bleeding if scratched too hard.
Diagnosed By
Bites and stings can easily be identified by yourself especially if you see the insect biting you. If bitten by a spider or venomous insect or animal its good to know what type of animal it was so the doctor can easily diagnose your symptoms.
Caution Seek immediate professional attention if signs of extreme allergic reaction, or if the sting starts to swell. Some bites and stings can be poisonous and need immediate medical attention.
Products that may help Minor Bites, Stings & Swellings
Herbs that may help Minor Bites, Stings & Swellings
Remedies that may help with Minor Bites, Stings & Swellings
Lemon Juice for Stings & Swellings
The itching and an incipient swelling can be relieved by lemon juice.
- Apple neat lemon juice on the affected area if you have nothing else available at home.
Herb Juice for Itchy Bites & Stings
Bites and stings can be annoyingly itchy. The juice of the listed herbs are an amazing remedy to ease irritation ans soreness.
- Squeeze out the juice from one of the herbs.
- Apply freshly squeezed juice to affected area.
Soothe Stings & Swellings
All the listed herbs have a cooling and soothing effect on burning stings and swellings.
- Apply either aloe vera gel, marigold ointment, cream lotion or tincture, or St John’s wort oil.
- To make the marigold lotion, infuse 2 heaped tbsp of marigold in 150 ml of water.
- Strain, cool, then apply
- Option: Add 5 drops each of lavender and German chamomile essential oils to 1 tsp of one of the above preparations.
Caution Do not apply chamomile oil in pregnancy.
Lavender to Treat Bites & Stings
Lavender takes away pain and itching, has a healing and decongestant effect. Lavender oil accelerates healing and relieves discomfort from existing bites.
- Rub fresh leaves, neat tincture or essential oil on and around the bite or sting.