From mosquitoes and black flies to wasps and bees, there are all kinds of biting and stinging insects waiting in the wings to spoil your summer fun. Should you have an unfortunate encounter with any of the above (and if you go out it’s inevitable that you will), just use one of the recipes I’ve provided below and you’ll be out of the woods in no time. itching and bumping are gone. . Okay, the worst has happened: you were bitten or stung. What now?
First, seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- difficulty breathing
- swelling of the throat and tongue
- a weak, rapid pulse
- nausea, digestive problems
- dizziness
If you don’t experience any of these symptoms, it should be safe to start soothing the site of the bite or sting with a remedy drawing compress made from the following:
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon French green clay
- ΒΌ teaspoon activated charcoal or baking soda
- vinegar, witch hazel, calendula or plantain tincture
Instructions:
- Combine the clay and charcoal with enough vinegar, Calendula or plantain tincture to moisten into a spreadable paste.
- Spread the paste liberally over the bite and allow to dry completely (about 10-15 minutes) before gently rinsing with cold water. The tightening and pulling action of the compress is especially useful in removing the sting from the skin (also useful for splinters).
*Alternatively, if you are outside when the bite/sting occurs and see a plantain growing nearby, you can chew a plantain leaf and apply the pulp directly to the sting site for immediate comfort.
*In a pinch, a chilled tea bag (green tea or chamomile is best) or a paste made from baking soda and water can also be applied to the bite as a compress to soothe swelling.
The compress can be repeated twice daily for bites or stings until the swelling subsides.
To soothe the subsequent itching of the bites, the following topical mixture has often proven invaluable in my household. To make this, mix the following in a 2 oz. spray or dropper bottle:
Ingredients:
- 30 ml witch hazel or rose water
- 15 ml Calendula succus or tincture
- 15 ml Echinacea or burdock tincture
- 20 drops of lavender essential oil
- 20 drops of mint essential oil
Instructions:
- Shake well before use and apply directly to the skin as often as necessary to soothe itching and irritation. These herbs also support a healthy inflammatory response and promote a rapid healing process.
If you’re particularly unlucky and get bites all over your body (say, after a camping trip next to a swamp), an oatmeal bath can be an absolute dream. Simply fill an old sock or cheesecloth with a handful of oats, secure the top, and toss the bundle into your bathwater, along with a few drops of lavender essential oil. Gently squeeze the oat bundle to release the soothing polysaccharides into your bathwater. You can also squeeze the oat juice directly onto your skin. The soothing and free radical scavenging effects soothe itching, speed healing and leave your skin feeling renewed.
Writer Danielle Charles Davies has a BSc in Herbal Sciences from Bastyr University and completed the two-year clinical training program at the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism in Montpelier, VT. Her articles have appeared in Taproot, The Journal of the American Herbalist Guild, and Kindred Magazine, among others. She lives in Northern Michigan with her husband, two dogs and eight ducks. She blogs at www.bluemoonkitchen.com.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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