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Home Remedies & Prevention:
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Summer's the time for outdoor barbecues, picnics, or relaxing out in the sunshine enjoying nature.
But when bees or wasps sting, find out how to cool the pain and itch with home remedies using ingredients direct from the kitchen pantry, medicine cabinet.
Note: Severe pain, high swelling, breathing problems, dizziness, vomiting, or difficulty swallowing are major symptoms that occur in those who suffer from severe allergic reactions to bee stings. If this is the case, forgo any homemade treatments and SEE A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY, especially if a bee attack results in stings numbering 10 more more.
First, inspect the area around the bee sting and remove the stinger IMMEDIATELY.
Note that wasps, hornets and yellow jackets have stingers that are smooth and saber-like, and therefore cannot become imbedded - unlike the common barbed honeybee stinger, which remains inside the skin.
NEVER pull the stinger out with tweezers or by squeezing. Simply scrape it away with a flat stick (a credit card works best) until all traces of the bee stinger are removed.
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How to prevent bee or wasp stings
Lighten up - A common rule of thumb for not attracting bees or wasps is to wear light-colored clothing, which generally attracts fewer stinging insects than does dark clothing.
Skip the perfume - Bees and wasps naturally are attracted to foral smells, so don't overdo perfumes or strong smelling colognes, aftershave, hair spray or suntan lotions.
Homemade remedies for bee or wasp stings:
Traditional remedies for bee or wasp stings include salt, baking soda, vinegar, tobacco, meat tenderizer, toothpaste, common clay, garlic, onions, or even application of copper pennies. Here are some of the most popular:
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Vinegar - The remedy used by even some beekeepers to reduce pain and swelling. Apply with a cotton swab and dab around the area of the sting for quick relief.
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Baking soda - The classic cure-all for pain and itch can be applied by simply mixing 3 teaspoons of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of water until a thick paste forms, and apply.
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Onion - The homemade cure with the most anecdotal evidence for fighting off the discomfort of insect stings. Simpy cut a thin slice and hold it to the sting for several minutes, or apply with masking or surgical tape.
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Antiperspirant - A common ingredient in most antiperspirants is aluminum chlorohydrate, which is believed to reduce the effect of bee venom.
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Unseasoned meat tenderizer - The remedy often recommended for jellyfish stings also seems to work for bee and wasp stings in the same way. The secret ingredient? Papain, which helps to break down the protein found in bee and wasp venom.
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Copper coins - Also mentioned in Chinese medicine folklore, this home remedy is said to eliminate pain and swelling around the area of sting with one application. Just make sure you clean the coin thoroughly before applying to the effected area. Or keep it on overnight with surgical or adhesive tape.
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Pain relievers - Simple aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen will help keep the pain to manageable levels and help you get some sleep.
More about bee stings around the Web:
Doctors Book of Home Remedies - Bee stings
WebMD - Bee and Wasp Sting Treatment
also see -> Jellyfish sting remedies | Lyme disease bullseye rash
Poison ivy itch remedies | Sunburn remedies
How to get the itch out - mosquito bites
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