DIY Remedies for Minor Insect Stings

Some pest just won’t leave your home without a trace; they have to leave something that’ll make you remember them. Most of the time it’s your ruined stuff, or their bite and sting marks on your skin, which are almost as annoying as the bugs themselves! Luckily for you most of these wounds heal on its own, while some may require a few treatments. Some of these remedies you can make yourself, while others are prescribed by doctors. So while pest control is busy eradicating the vermin in your home, you might as well prepare some of these homemade medicines.

Honey

Mosquito bites are among the most common insect stings you’ll ever experience (some of them are probably annoying you and buzzing in your ear even as you read this). It should not be left untreated as it could sometimes trigger anaphylactic reactions or cause certain diseases like malaria and dengue fever. Honey makes an excellent alternative to prescribed ointments, which may not always be at hand in your home. Due to it containing certain anti-bacterial ingredients, it can at least help prevent mosquito bite infection. Be careful, though, as the honey is too sweet for other insects to resist!

Ice Pack

While mosquitoes are out for your blood (it’s their diet), bees and wasps sting you for the sole purpose of hurting you, or for protection; they don’t want you near them under any circumstances. Most insect stings tend to be inflamed and painful. Applying an ice pack on it helps reduce both pain and swelling; keep it on the bitten area for about 20 minutes and you’re good as new! Just make sure to wrap the ice around a cotton or paper towel to at least keep your skin dry. Also don’t sleep with the ice pack on your skin.

Baking Soda

Got no ice in the refrigerator? Another DIY remedy you can try out on painful and inflamed stings is baking soda. Just mix it with a little water and smear the solution on the bitten area. It’s proven to be effective.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar can also do wonders for insect stings and bites, as it has acid content that can neutralize their venom. Don’t worry, that acid isn’t the one that can eat through steel. Anyway, get a small cotton pad, soak it with the vinegar, and apply it on the wound until the pain subsides.

Vinegar

In case you don’t have any apple cider in your kitchen, any other type of vinegar will do! You can either do the same procedure as mentioned above regarding the apple cider, or you can sprinkle the bitten area with a few drops.

Garlic

Garlic has been used for herbal medicine for a very long time; small wonder it’s been used to treat insect bites and stings as well! You can make a poultice out of it: crush a single garlic clove, add ½ teaspoons of salt, apply the mixture over the wound, and cover with a bandage.

Take note that these remedies are only effective against minor insect bites or stings. Better consult your doctor for more severe and dangerous cases.