So, what should you do for a wasp sting? And what could you put on a bee sting to stop the pain? Luckily, there are some everyday household items, which could help.
Almost everyone has become victim to the wrath of a bee or wasp sting in their lifetime. You’ll know then how painful this can be along with the irritating itch which always follows.
Fortunately for those lucky enough to not suffer from a severe allergic reaction from insect stings there are some home remedies for bee stings and remedies for wasp stings to help reduce swelling, ease the pain, and help with the mind numbingly irritating itch.
If, however, you are allergic to wasp stings and/or bee stings the best course of action is to contact a hospital straight away.
8 Home Remedies for Wasp Sting
Unlike bee stings, hornet and wasp stings are actually alkaline. Using home remedies which include products which are quite acidic is the best way to treat wasp stings as it will help neutralise the wasp and hornet venom. hat home remedies can you use for wasp, hornet and bee stings? Find out below:
- Ice: Ice is a great way to help reduce the swelling from a wasp sting as well as both bees and hornet stings. This is because the cold temperature helps slow down the blood flow to the insect sting. Simply take an ice cube, ice pack, or even a bag of frozen peas and place it on the wasp sting for around 20 minutes. This will help with the pain and reduce the swelling. If using an ice cube make sure to protect the infected area with a paper towel or cloth.
- Garlic: Garlic is a great pain relief for bee and wasp stings. For this home remedy simply crush a clove of garlic and lather it on the sting, making sure all the juices from the garlic are applied to the area. Place a plaster on top and let the garlic do its magic.
- Onion: Another cooking ingredient which is great for treating wasp and bee stings is onions. Cut an onion in half and place it, flesh side down, on the bee or wasp sting and press gently until the pain has disappeared.
- Cucumber: You may have used cucumber on your eyes to help with wrinkles; well they can also be used to treat wasp and bee stings. This is because cucumber is a natural astringent (a natural chemical that tends to shrink or constrict body tissue) and cooler. For this home remedy rub a slice of cucumber on the wasp sting until the pain has reduced.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Soak a small bit of cotton wool in apple cider vinegar and place it on the wasp sting applying a small amount of pressure until the pain goes away. The acidity of the vinegar helps neutralise the wasp venom.
- Vinegar: Much like apple cider vinegar, the best treatment option for this wasp sting home remedy is to apply it to a cotton pad and hold on the sting area. Alternatively, you could use a cotton swab instead and rub the infected area or apply a few drops of vinegar to your skin.
- Lemon Juice: Slice a lemon in half and squeeze out as much juice as you can. Dab either a cotton swab or cloth in the lemon juice and apply it to the hornet or wasp sting. You could also use your favourite bottled lemon juice that you use on your pancakes, however, fresh lemon juice works more effectively.
- Lemon: If you don’t want to use lemon juice you can also use a fresh lemon instead. For this home remedy for wasp stings slice a fresh lemon in half and place one of the segments, flesh side down, to the sting.
2 Home Remedies for Bee Sting
Would you know what to put on a bee sting? Find out how to treat bee stings with items found around your home:
Bee sting venom is naturally quite acidic. To help with the pain and swelling you can use home remedies which include using something with is quite alkaline as this will help neutralise the venom.
- Baking Soda: For this bee sting remedy create a thick paste out of baking soda and water and apply it to the stung area. This will help reduce the swelling from the bee sting as well as ease the pain.
- Salt: Just like our previous home remedy, make a thick paste by mixing the salt with water and apply it to the bee sting.
Hornet Stings
Although some of the home remedies on this list can help to treat hornet stings, they are not a definite cure. Compared to wasp and bee stings, hornet stings (especially one from a giant Asian hornet – should you add a photo?) can be much more painful, and deadly. This is because hornet venom is a lot more powerful than that of a bee and wasp as it contains a large amount of acetylcholine which is a powerful pain stimulant. This is what makes hornet stings so painful.
The strength of hornet venom does differ between each species. Some hornet stings are just like that from a bee or wasp, whilst others can be extremely painful. It is mainly the stings delivered from non – European hornets which contain the most venom thus being the most deadly.
The most infamous of all the hornet stings is that from a giant Asian hornet. This stinging insect is reportedly the cause of 30-50 human deaths in Japan every year, and 42 in China. The toxicity of a giant hornet’s venom is extremely nasty causing severe reactions such as melting skin and organ failure.
Do you have any pest problems? Contact us today or call 1890 666 444 for immediate assistance and expert advice on how to get rid of them quickly
Leave a Reply