Treat the Pain and Swelling from Bites and Stings

Most of us like being outdoors but unfortunately so do insects that often love to take a bite out of us or sting us. Most, if not, all of us have been bitten or stung by insects or other animals like dogs. I remember I was stung by a yellow jacket and not only was it painful but the sting grew almost to the size of a tennis ball. Bites and stings are no fun and can be very painful and swell. To treat and reduce the pain and swelling from bites and stings try some of these alternative remedies.

The best herb to take that will quickly heal the pain and itching of a sting or bite is plantain. Plantain has chemicals in it that act as astringents fighting bites and stings by tightening the skin and reducing the swelling, itching, and pain. Plantain is found almost anywhere where the climate is damp and heavy. For quick relief, grab some plantain leaves, rinse them off, chew it to release the juice, and then put the chewed piece on the bite or sting.

This works immediately and you will notice that the pain and itching will stop instantly. If you are not too keen on chewing plants, then you can rub the plant together until the juice comes out and then rub it on the bite or sting. Plantain works great for dog bites also. First, scrub the area with soap and water. Then put a handful of rinsed plantain leaves in a blender, add a few drops of hot water, and blend. Put the mixture directly on the bite and cover with a gauze and then put a heating pad over the gauze. Keep it on the bite for 20-30 minutes.

Another helpful herb is goldenseal to treat the pain and swelling of bites and stings. You can make a powder out of the goldenseal by mixing a small amount of water with the powder to make a paste. Put it directly on the bite or sting and then cover it with a bandage. Goldenseal helps to reduce infections from bites and stings. After some bites and stings go away, there can still be some toxins left in the body. To help remove these toxins, use some bentonite clay paste. To make the paste, mix 2 tablespoons of the clay with just enough water to make a paste. Then cover the bite or sting with a gauze by making a bandage and leave it on for 30 minutes. You should do this twice a day for 4 days.

Olive leaf helps to prevent infections by reducing the swelling and the pain of bites and stings. To reduce the pain and swelling of bee stings, put two pellets of the 12C or 30C potency of Apis Mellifica, which is crushed bees, under your tongue every 3 or 4 hours on the first day of the sting.