Home remedies for a wasp sting
introduction
The skin reactions that arise in the context of a wasp sting mainly arise from the fact that the poison transmitted by the sting is distributed. That is why the wisdom has been valid for centuries that the puncture site should be sucked out immediately after the bite to prevent as much of the poison from spreading as possible.
When making statements with the mouth, however, there is a risk that the poison will be absorbed through the oral mucosa and thus also enter the organism. That is why there are special insecticide removers in pharmacies or drugstores. How useful and effective vacuuming really is is, however, controversial. The effectiveness of numerous other home remedies in treating wasp stings has also not been proven with certainty.
The only certain knowledge is that patients with an insect venom allergy have a significantly increased risk of allergic shock, so the use of emergency medication should always be considered.
These home remedies can help against wasp stings
Below is an overview of the home remedies that can be used for a wasp sting. How these work and what should be considered is then explained individually.
- Local application of heat (approx. 50 ° C)
- Local application of cold
- onion
- Baking powder (baking soda)
- Ribwort plantain
- vinegar
- Aloe vera
- honey
- Lemon juice
- Lavender oil or other essential oils
Also read: Wasp sting - first aid and emergency measures
Essential oils
Some essential oils are said to have a soothing effect after wasp stings. These include, for example, lavender oil, clove oil or tea tree oil.
A few drops, which are applied to a cotton ball and then applied to the affected skin area, are sufficient.
You can find more information about essential oils here: Aromatherapy
lavender
Home remedies that are recommended for treating the skin symptoms of wasp stings include lavender oil.
Lavender oil is one of the essential oils. To treat a wasp sting, a few drops should be applied directly to the relevant skin area. Alternatively, a few drops can be placed on a cotton ball, which can then be rubbed into the affected skin area.
Read more about the effect of here lavender
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is also one of the essential oils. Tea tree oil has a relatively strong antibacterial and antifungal effect (against fungi). Tea tree oil is used for the alternative medical treatment of various diseases, including the treatment of acne, neurodermatitis and psoriasis (psoriasis vulgaris).
It is also occasionally recommended for the acute treatment of skin symptoms in a wasp sting. Due to its antibacterial and antiseptic effect, it is said to have a disinfectant effect and also relieve the skin symptoms such as pain and itching locally. A few drops on a cotton ball are sufficient.
Also read the article on the topic: Home remedies for wasps
Clove oil
Clove oil also belongs to the group of essential oils. This oil is also said to have an antibacterial and antiseptic effect (against germs).
Accordingly, in addition to lavender oil and tea tree oil, clove oil can also be used to treat wasp stings. A few drops are also sufficient for this.
lemon oil
Lemon oil is one of the essential oils. It is obtained from the peel of lemons. It is said to have a slight antibacterial effect.
For the acute treatment of painful skin complaints after a wasp sting, however, the use of other essential oils such as lavender, tea tree or clove oil is recommended. Local application of lemon juice is also used as a home remedy after a wasp sting.
vinegar
The topical application of vinegar is also recommended for the treatment of wasp stings. The vinegar is said to have a soothing effect on the irritated area of the skin and also has a soothing effect on itching.
It can be used neat with a few drops of apple cider vinegar, which is applied to the skin with a cotton ball. You can also add a few drops of vinegar to a bowl of water. A cloth should then be soaked with the mixture, which is then wrung out and placed on the appropriate skin area. Vinegar compresses can also be made with the water-vinegar mixture.
Onions
Onion is one of the most popular home remedies for the acute treatment of skin symptoms after a wasp sting. Onions are said to have an anti-inflammatory effect. They have a disinfecting and also soothing effect on itching.
We recommend cutting an onion fresh in half and placing one half on the affected skin area. It can be left there for 10-30 minutes. Light circular rubbing is also effective.
More information: Use and medicinal properties of onions
honey
Honey is also said to have a certain antibacterial effect. In addition, honey is said to partially alleviate the itching caused by the wasp sting.
The honey can simply be applied to the puncture site and left for a few minutes.
Camomile tea
Chamomile tea is not one of the typical home remedies for treating wasp stings.
However, some sources recommend using a hand-warm chamomile tea bag to soothe the areas of skin that have been altered by the bite.
Read more about the effect here: chamomile
Vitamins
Vitamins do not play a role in the acute treatment of wasp stings.
However, there are numerous other home remedies available that can be used to treat the skin symptoms after a wasp sting.
cold
There are different opinions on the question of whether it is helpful to apply cold or rather to heat immediately after a wasp sting. The application of cold inhibits itching and reduces the inflammatory process. The swelling caused by the inflammation is also contained by the application of cold.
Typically, ice packs can be used for cold applications. However, these should not be placed directly on the skin, but rather wrapped with a cloth so that the skin does not get too cold.
In addition to the application of cold, the local and short-term application of heat is also discussed for the acute treatment of a wasp sting. The proteins contained in wasp venom, which cause the acute inflammatory reaction, are destroyed by the local application of heat. The local inflammatory reaction is clearly contained by the immediate application of heat. Such an application of heat can be realized, for example, by a spoon heated in a water bath. Care must be taken here to avoid burns. Temperatures between 45 and 50 degrees should be aimed for. It only needs to be used for a few seconds.
Nowadays there are also so-called stitch healers to buy. These briefly generate a correspondingly high level of heat and are activated by a button. You must then be held on the appropriate spot. Probably the most effective is the application of heat immediately after the sting followed by the application of cold.
Home remedies for the swelling
Most of the home remedies mentioned here have a soothing effect on the skin. This usually also means a slight decrease in the swelling that has arisen as part of the wasp sting. However, there are two home remedies that have the greatest effects on swelling.
The first thing to be mentioned here is the local application of heat. This leads to the destruction (denaturation) of the proteins contained in the wasp venom and thus prevents or reduces the development of swelling.
The second is the application of cold in the form of a cold accumulator or in the form of ice cubes. The local cold reduces the swelling that is or has arisen. In the best case, the local application of heat takes place immediately after the stitch, followed directly by the application of cold.
Also read: Swelling after a wasp sting
Home remedies for the itching
Due to the soothing effect that the home remedies mentioned here have on the skin, most of them also have a soothing effect on itching.
In particular, the immediate application of heat followed by a local application of cold is effective. But rubbing the puncture site with an onion freshly cut in half, applying a few drops of essential oils, applying a vinegar solution directly or in the form of compresses, or using honey in the area of the puncture site all lead to slight relief of the itching.
These home remedies can be used repeatedly until the itching has completely subsided.
You might also be interested in this topic: These could be the long-term effects of a wasp sting
These home remedies can help preventively
The most effective way to avoid wasp stings is preventive measures.
Inside, insect screens on windows and doors can prevent wasps from getting in at all. Outside there are several measures to keep wasps away: Sweet drinks or food should be covered.
Windfalls in the garden should be removed as soon as possible, as they attract wasps. Perfumes and creams can attract wasps and should therefore be used sparingly or not at all if you are outdoors for long periods of time.
Another common measure when there is a high number of wasps and a barbecue evening outdoors is to offer the wasps an "alternative meal" at a sufficient distance from the dining table. This could be sweet fruit waste or sweet drinks, for example.
There are also special anti-insect candles that give off an intense lemony scent. Areas with this scent are avoided by wasps - and also by other insects.
A spray bottle with water can also help. A puff of spray in the direction of the wasp suggests that it is starting to rain. Usually she then visits her wasp nest to protect against rain. But be careful: spraying the wasp can also lead to the animals becoming more aggressive.
In addition to the measures mentioned, there are also some home remedies that are supposed to scare away wasps. These include, for example, cloves placed in water or on lemon which are placed in a bowl on the table, copper coins on the table or in a bowl, incense (incense sticks), scented candles and essential oils such as lemon oil, a few drops of which are placed in a bowl with water which is then heated.
Overall, there are numerous possible measures to effectively prevent a wasp sting.
Also read the article on the topic: Home remedies for wasps
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