Natural Remedies For Relief of Itchy, Painful Insect Bites

INSECT BITES

Many bites and stings are defensive. Insects sting to protect their hives, nests, or themselves against a perceived threat.

Bites and stings from insects are common and cause small reactions limited to the area of the bite. Most of these bites are a mere nuisance.

A sting or a bite by bees, hornets, wasps, ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, spiders, and fire ants, will be accompanied by a small amount of venom that causes most of the itching and pain associated with sting.

Sometimes a bite or a sting may cause an allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock. In this case, you need immediately a clinic treatment.

Insect bites and stings may be a serious problem in case the insect carries infectious agents or diseases, such as Malaria, Lyme disease, or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Symptoms

Insects, inject by biting or stinging the venom into your body. Mostly, the body may feel the attack immediately. The immune system reacts and emerges in the affected area with the following symptoms:

• Redness.
• Rash.
• Swelling.
• Itching.
• Numbness.
• Soreness.
• Heat (on the affected area and around).

In some cases, the reaction of the immune system is severe following by symptoms such as:

Fever, difficulty in breath, muscle spasms, vomiting, loss of consciousness, rapid heartbeat, swelling of the lips and throat.

Caution: These symptoms require immediately medical treatment.

Recommendations

• Pull out the stinger immediately if it is lodged in your skin.
• Wash the affected area with soap and water.
• Apply an ice pack or a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling.
• Apply anti-itch creams to prevent uncomfortable symptoms.
• Take an antihistamine tablet to prevent or reduce swelling.
• Avoid scratching the bite because it will cause further swelling and it can become infected.
• Rub a cut onion on the affected area to provide an antioxidant cure.
• In case of blisters don’t burst them because they can become infected.
• If you believe a spider of the black widow or brown recluse variety has bitten you, seek for a medical treatment immediately.

When you are spending time outside

• Avoid alcoholic drinks.
• Avoid wearing bright colors.
• Avoid perfume and other cosmetics.
• Use citronella candles as repellent.
• Keep food and drinks covered.
• Avoid sugar.

Beneficial Herbs