Herbal Remedies - Bites And Stings

There is a downside to everything, even warm summer days and nights. As the temperature creeps up millions of insects will hatch, presenting both a nuisance and possible danger from insect bites and stings. As with most things prevention is better than cure.


Although it is tempting to disrobe to catch as much sun as possible, there are good reasons why you should be careful. Not only would you subject yourself to an overdose of potentially hazardous ultra violet light, but you would more readily attract the unwanted attention of insects, including wasps, bees and midges. So the sensible thing to do is to wear light clothing, to cover up, and not to present yourself as a target and possible meal to the insect world!


Lavender is a natural alternative to chemical preparations for treating insect bites. You could obtain lavender oil from a retail source, or learn how to prepare your own, as lavender is easy to grow, and lavender plants might assist also in keeping some insect pests out of your garden. Although some insects avoid lavender it has the advantage of a pleasant aroma, that human beings find pleasant.


Garlic is well known for its culinary uses, but it may also assist those who take it to resist insect bites. Insects don't seem to like the smell. Crushed garlic is useful for treating mosquito bites and bee stings. Once smitten, lavender oil can also help in treating stings, as well as being a deterrent.


Plaintain, also known as ribwort, and pig's ear, is a common weed that can be found growing in lawns, and even driveways. It can be useful in treating insect bites, and in an emergency the plaintain leaves could be chewed to mash them up, and spit out to use as a poultice.


Insofar as flying insect are concerned, wasps are possibly public enemy number one! At times wasps seem to sting, for the sheer joy of inflicting pain on humans. Again lavender oil is a recommended natural treatment, but at the wasp time of the year it is obviously better to avoid getting stung. The advice regarding covering up should be heeded. You should also be alert to where wasp's nests might be situated. Multiple wasp stings, are much more serious than an attack by a lone wasp. So if you see many wasps in close proximity, give them a wide berth.


Some people may be allergic to particular stings and bites, from the likes of wasps and bees. Bees though, seem not to be naturally aggressive, and do not normally sting unless provoked. There are reports of people who have been stung suffering from anaphylactic shock. This could cause a severe reaction and even prove to be fatal. Fortunately such occurrences are rare, but it is better to be safe than sorry, and if any reaction from a bite or sting seems particularly severe medical attention should be sought, without delay.