I’ve had more than my share of bee stings already in my life. So having instant relief for the pain and swelling that a bee’s venom causes are a necessity for me. The next time you, or someone in your family, get attacked by one of these insects, try these homemade treatments for bee stings!
Allergic or severe allergy and anaphylaxis
First, most people are allergic to a bee’s poison. However, it’s estimated that one to two million Americans are severely allergic to it. For these people, suffering from anaphylactic shock is a serious medical problem. Anaphylactic shock happens when the entire body reacts to a bee sting resulting in difficulty breathing, stomach cramps, vomiting, and/or diarrhoea. If not immediately treated, it can result in death. If you are one of these people, then follow your doctor’s advice when it comes to treating bee stings.
Removing the stinger
No matter what homemade treatment for bee stings you use, the first step is to remove the bee’s stinger if it’s still in your skin. The faster you remove the stinger, the less amount of venom will be injected.
Don’t try to grab it with your fingernails or a pair of tweezers because you can squeeze the venom sack and inject more of the bee’s poison into your skin. Instead, use your fingernail or a flat object to scrape the stinger off.
Then clean the wound with lots of soap and water. Continue to keep the wound clean for the next couple of days until it’s completely healed.
Treating the area
Baking soda to relieve bee stong
The next step is to mix up a thick paste of baking soda and water and apply it liberally to the bee sting. The soda will help draw the poison out of the wound and relieve the pain and swelling.
Using meat tenderiser for bee stings
Or, another effective homemade treatment for bee stings is to mix up a paste of meat tenderizer and water. Be sure to use a tenderizer that contains Papain, such as Adolph’s brand. Papain is a natural enzyme that’s found in papaya. It has been proven to neutralize the protein in the bee’s venom, thus relieving pain and swelling.
A word of caution here- If you have sensitive skin, don’t leave the meat tenderizer to paste on for more than thirty minutes. Otherwise, it could irritate your skin.
Apple Cider vinegar for bee stings
Applying a liberal amount of apple cider vinegar is yet another useful homemade treatment for bee stings. You can also apply an ice pack to the affected area to help relieve the swelling.
Antiperspirants for bee sting relief
Antiperspirants that contain aluminium chlorohydrate have long been the centre of medical controversy. However, anytime a bee stings you, you can rub or spray the affected area with an antiperspirant that contains this chemical to bring relief.
Plants to relieve pain from a bee sting
If you have “Hen and Chicks” growing around the outside of your home, you can use this plant as a homemade treatment for bee stings too. Its real name is “Stone-Rose,” but no matter what you call it, applying the juice of a leaf directly on the wound will bring relief.
Essential oils for bee stings
You can also mix together a couple of drops of natural Lavender Oil and Tea Tree Oil and apply that to a bee sting with a sterile cotton ball. This homemade treatment is also quite effective at relieving the pain and swelling of a bee sting.