Originally published November 10 2010
How to Take the Sting and Itch Out of Insect Bites
by Maddie Ellison
(NaturalNews) Insect bites can be painful and itchy. It's hard to find something to put on them to relieve the discomfort. But there are common things you may have lying around in your home that can help. Let's look at some everyday items that you can grab the next time you're bit or stung by an insect.
If you get stung make a paste using a teaspoon of baking soda and a little bit of water. Put the paste on the sting (after you've removed the stinger) and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. The alkalinity in the baking soda paste will help to neutralize the acid of the sting. This remedy is also great to use on pets.
The next time you get stung by a bee or bit by a bug reach for a papaya, banana, or a pineapple. All three contain enzymes that break down the protein toxins that cause pain and swelling. Just cut open the fruit and rub it on the sore area.
Olive oil isn't just for cooking. It's also found to have anti-inflammatory and pain relief powers similar to those in ibuprofen. Put a little on a cotton ball and rub on the insect bite. And while you're rummaging around in your pantry reach for the vinegar. Vinegar is great for bug bites because it lowers the PH level of the skin. This will help lessen the venom's toxicity. Researchers at the University of Philadelphia say to pour a little vinegar on the affected area as quickly as possible; this will relieve the pain and stop it from getting any worse.
And lastly you can try the good ole stand by - ice. Put a small bag of ice or frozen vegetables on the bug bite. This will decrease the blood flow in that area which will prevent the venom from spreading. Plus it eases the itch by numbing the skin.
The next time you get stung by a bee or bit by an insect try one of the above tips. They might just work better than those products you buy at the store that claim to relieve bug bites but never seem to work like we need them to.
References
http://www.health911.com/insect-stings-&-bit...
http://www.mosquitoinfo.info/home-remedies-f...
http://www.mybugbites.com/antiperspirant-may...
About the author
Maddie is a health and fitness enthusiast who likes to research and write about all health and green living topics. She writes about herbal remedies for Sassafras Station, a health and fitness website, and edits the blog at http://www.sassafrasstation.com/blog/ .
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