If you’re like most people, getting stung by a bee is not on your list of things to do. If you happen to find yourself at the business end of a bee, make sure to remove the stinger quickly. Scrape the stinger off the skin with a credit card, do not grab it. If you grab the stinger you will be squeezing the sack of venom and injecting more of the toxin into your body. Clean the area with soap and water to remove any bacteria. To help relieve the pain or itching here’s a few home remedies to help you…
- Ice – Apply ice to sting for 20 minutes to numb the pain and the slow blood flow to reduce swelling.
- Honey – Yes you read that right, honey is excellent for healing wounds. Apply a small amount of honey to the wound and cover with gauze for 30 minutes to one hour.
- Lavender essential oil – Put a drop or two on the wound to help neutralize the venom immediately.
- Crushed garlic – Crush garlic cloves to release the juices and press it against the wound and cover with a moist rag and let sit for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Baking soda and vinegar – Make a paste using baking soda, a few drops of vinegar and water and apply it to the wound for 30 minutes. Baking soda and vinegar helps neutralize the acid in bee stings and bug bites.
- Toothpaste – Apply the toothpaste to the wound for 20 to 30 minutes. Like baking soda, toothpaste will help neutralize the bee sting or bug bite reducing the pain and swelling.
- Meat tenderizer – Make a paste using meat tenderizer and water and apply it to the wound for 20 minutes
