A bee sting is an uncomfortable and very painful experience. Bees are mostly active during the warmer month and people spend more time outdoors during this month and suffer from the bee sting. Bee uses their sting as a means of self-defense. The stinger contains poisonous venom that causes reaction in your body. Bee venom is a colorless liquid composed of protein. Bee only injects roughly 0.1 mg venom. People experience different symptoms, ranging from temporary pain and discomfort to allergic reactions. Burning pain, swelling at the sting site and a whilte spot at the center are the minor symptoms of a sting. Minor symptoms go away within a couple of days but moderate symptoms tend to resolve over 5 to 10 days. You can treat a bee sting discomfort using these remedies.
Ways to Treat a Bee Sting:
1.) Remove the Stinger
The first thing you should do is immediately remove the stinger penetrated in your skin because it just takes a few seconds for all the poisonous venom to enter your body.
- Pull out the sting with a fingernail or use a pair of tweezers to remove the stinger.
- Wash the affected area with antiseptic soap and water.
- Apply some antiseptic ointment. Or you can also apply calamine lotion to cure itching and swelling.
2.) Lavender Oil to Cure Bee Sting
You don’t need to first dilute the essential oil. Lavender oil is very effective for soothing and it can ease discomfort and reduce the itching and swelling. If you are not feeling comfortable using oil neat, feel free to dilute. You have to make sure that your skin doesn’t irritate by the essential oil.
- Use this remedy twice a day and one time on next day.
- If you want to dilute it mix it with other oil or water.
- Make sure stinger is completely out before doing so.
- Apply one drop of lavender essential oil directly on the affected area.
3.) Apply Ice to Treat a Bee Sting
Directly apply ice on the affected area to get relief from the pain and various symptoms of a bee sting. Cold temperature slows the distribution of inflammatory substance to the affected area. It also helps to reduce the pain and swelling.
- You can use another method. Hold frozen vegetables or cold water bottle on the affected area.
- Use this method every hour until the swelling and pain are gone.
- Hold the pack of the ice cube on the affected area for 10 minutes.
- Put some ice cubes in a thin washcloth or you can directly apply this.
4.) Baking Soda to Get Rid of Bee Sting
Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate in medical terms. It is a very effective remedy to a bee sting. Baking soda is an alkaline product that helps to neutralize the acidic venom so that it provide quick relief from the swelling itching and pain.
- If you still feel the discomfort repeat the remedy after a few hours.
- Wash the area with lukewarm water.
- Apply this paste on the affected area for 10 minutes.
- Mix one teaspoon of baking soda in enough amount of water to make a thick paste.
5.) Apple Cider Vinegar to Treat a Bee Sting
Apple cider vinegar not only helps to treat bee sting but it also helps to treat many diseases. It also eases pain and reduces swelling and itching.
- Dip a cotton ball in undiluted apple cider vinegar.
- Hold the cotton ball over the affected area for five to ten minutes.
- Use this remedy until you get the relief from pain and swelling.
- If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, so you can use white vinegar.
6.) Honey to Cure Bee Sting
Honey is a very good remedy to treat a bee sting. It helps to dilute the infection of venom and its antibacterial nature reduces the risk of infection. Honey has a soothing property which helps to alleviate symptoms quickly.
- Apply a little pure raw honey on the affected area.
- Let it for a few minutes then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
- Use this remedy few times a day.
- Or you can mix a small amount turmeric with raw honey to make a paste.
- Apply it on the affected area few times a day.
7.) Peppermint to Treat a Bee Sting
Peppermint helps to disinfect a bee sting and soothes the itching. It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce the swelling pain and inflammation.
- Apply 2 drops of peppermint oil on the affected area few times a day. You can mix the peppermint oil with coconut or olive oil if you have sensitive skin.
- Or you can extract the juice of peppermint leaves and apply it on the affected area.
- Allow it to dry on its own.
- Then rinse it off with cool water.
- Use this remedy one or two times a day.
8.) Aloe Vera to Treat a Bee Sting
Aloe Vera is another very good remedy for bee stings. Its anti- inflammatory and soothing property will help to ease swelling pain and itching.
- Take an Aloe Vera leaf.
- Cut it into two pieces and extract the gel from it.
- Apply this gel on the affected area.
- Reapply few times a day for the positive result.
9.) Bee Balm to Cure Bee Sting
Bee balm is very effective to treat a bee sting. You can carry it in your purse, pocket and can be readily utilized moment you get stung.
- Take two to three teaspoons of beeswax and mix it with one tablespoon coconut oil and four drops of coconut oil.
- Mix them and heat them in a container.
- Apply this on the affected area to treat a bee sting.
10.) Aspirin to Treat Bee Sting
Aspirin is a very effective remedy to neutralize the venom and promote quick recovery. Its anti-inflammatory properties can help to control the swelling and pain.
- Crush an aspirin tablet into a powder.
- Add a few drops of water to form a thin paste.
- Apply it on the affected area and allow it to sit for a few minutes.
- Wash it off with warm water.
- Repeat as needed.
11.) White Toothpaste to Cure Bee Sting
White toothpaste can help to treat a bee sting. It helps to neutralize the acidic venom and reduce the pain and swelling.
- Apply white toothpaste on the affected area.
- Allow it to sit for a few hours
- Clean it off with a washcloth
- Don’t use colored toothpaste.
- Repeat as needed
12.) Witch Hazel to Treat a Bee Sting
Witch hazel is another effective natural remedy for a bee sting. It has anti-inflammatory and astringent properties which help to ease the pain, swelling, and itching.
- Apply little witch hazel on the affected area and allow it to dry on it own.
- Use this remedy until you get the positive result.
13.) Use an Epinephrine Pen
Using the epinephrine pen quickly will help you to stop the life-threatening symptoms of a sting. Make sure you follow the instruction of the doctors exactly when using epinephrine
- Only a doctor can prescribe an epinephrine pen, without consulting the doctor don’t buy it.
- Ask your doctor when you should use and about the dose of epinephrine pen.
- People with severe allergies should buy epinephrine pen and always carry that pen when they are outside the home.
- If you begin to feel the following things like tightness in the chest, swelling of the eyelids, lips, or throat, hives, wheezing, dizziness or fainting, vomiting, confusion, difficulty breathing, or rapid heart rate, use your epinephrine pen as soon as you can and get to an ER immediately.
14.) Treat the Wound
Apply over-the-counter antihistamine creams to the affected area. Using a simple cold compress or putting ice on the area can bring relief as well. Apply over-the-counter antihistamine creams to the sting area. Using a simple cold compress or putting ice on the affected area can bring relief as well.
- Don’t scratch the area, even if it itches because scratching will only further irritate the sting and make the swelling worse.
- Put an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or ointment on the affected area twice a day for a few days. If the area is swollen or itchy, take an oral antihistamine such as Zyrtec or Benadryl. Don’t use both topical and oral antihistamines together.
- For any pain, try using painkillers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen.
- Or you can add a tablespoon of baking soda for every quart of water and soak in that cool water.
15.) Be Vigilant
Look for any hives when you go outside. Insect hives may be hung in trees or dug out from the ground. Pay attention to areas that you see insects swarming or flying around.
- If you see a threat, avoid that area.
- Don’t Disturb a nest because it will induce an attack.
- Call professionals to remove wasps, hornets, or other stinging insects.