Quick anti-sting guide: 8 insect bites and how to treat them

They are annoying, sometimes even painful, and can lead to fear of field trips. But they can be prevented and treated with effective natural remedies.

Good weather and long hours of light encourage you to enjoy leisure in contact with nature.

However, the most fun excursion or those longed-for days of vacation in a camping can be overshadowed by the annoying sting of a wasp or a horsefly.

Insects are not used to attacking people if they are not in danger, but we often unknowingly bother them. They then use their natural defenses and attack by stinging the “enemy”.

If you are going to go on an excursion, it is advisable to prepare properly to prevent insect bites:

• Cover your feet with thin cotton socks and comfortable but closed shoes. Wearing sandals it is easy to step on, without realizing it, an insect that reacts by biting.
• The pants must be light to avoid sweat, but better long than short, especially if you are going to cross wooded areas.
• Light colors attract insects. It is advisable to avoid especially yellow or orange t-shirts, as well as flowery garments.
• Soak exposed areas of skin with some insect repellent essential oil, especially if it is hot, since hot skin is more prone to bites.

Good weather and long hours of light encourage you to enjoy leisure in contact with nature.

However, the most fun excursion or those longed-for days of vacation in a camping can be overshadowed by the annoying sting of a wasp or a horsefly.

Insects are not used to attacking people if they are not in danger, but we often unknowingly bother them. They then use their natural defenses and attack by stinging the “enemy”.

If you are going to go on an excursion, it is advisable to prepare properly to prevent insect bites:

• Cover your feet with thin cotton socks and comfortable but closed shoes. Wearing sandals it is easy to step on, without realizing it, an insect that reacts by biting.
• The pants must be light to avoid sweat, but better long than short, especially if you are going to cross wooded areas.
• Light colors attract insects. It is advisable to avoid especially yellow or orange t-shirts, as well as flowery garments.
• Soak exposed areas of skin with some insect repellent essential oil, especially if it is hot, since hot skin is more prone to bites.

HOW TO ACT WHEN AN INSECT BITES YOU

In our latitudes, the bite of any insect does not go beyond a local pain that disappears in a few days.

However, there is a small percentage of the population that is allergic to insect poisons and that, when faced with a simple wasp sting, reacts with convulsions and vomiting.

If not acted on quickly, the person may experience anaphylactic shock: an acute and immediate response that triggers many dangerous and sometimes fatal functional disturbances.

Therefore, it is important to know what to do when a sting occurs, since the prompt application of a remedy saves many disorders.

WASP STINGS

Its sting is characterized by the sudden appearance of an edema with stabbing pain and sensitive to the touch. The stinger must be removed carefully so that it does not break.

As a natural remedy, a compress soaked in a mixture of wine vinegar and cold water in equal parts, or lemon juice, can be applied to the area. A clay plaster is also helpful.

A homeopathic remedy indicated is Apis mellifica in 9 or 15 CH. 5 granules are taken every 10 minutes, spacing the doses depending on the improvement.

BEE STINGS

It is similar to that of wasp, so the initial action, as well as the homeopathic remedy, are the same.

However, in this case, it has been found that, instead of vinegar, it is more effective to apply sodium bicarbonate diluted in water.

HOW TO ACT WHEN AN INSECT BITES YOU

In our latitudes, the bite of any insect does not go beyond a local pain that disappears in a few days.

However, there is a small percentage of the population that is allergic to insect poisons and that, when faced with a simple wasp sting, reacts with convulsions and vomiting.

If not acted on quickly, the person may experience anaphylactic shock: an acute and immediate response that triggers many dangerous and sometimes fatal functional disturbances.

Therefore, it is important to know what to do when a sting occurs, since the prompt application of a remedy saves many disorders.

WASP STINGS

Its sting is characterized by the sudden appearance of an edema with stabbing pain and sensitive to the touch. The stinger must be removed carefully so that it does not break.

As a natural remedy, a compress soaked in a mixture of wine vinegar and cold water in equal parts, or lemon juice, can be applied to the area. A clay plaster is also helpful.

A homeopathic remedy indicated is Apis mellifica in 9 or 15 CH. 5 granules are taken every 10 minutes, spacing the doses depending on the improvement.

BEE STINGS

It is similar to that of wasp, so the initial action, as well as the homeopathic remedy, are the same.

However, in this case, it has been found that, instead of vinegar, it is more effective to apply sodium bicarbonate diluted in water.

AROMATHERAPY AGAINST INSECTS

The aroma therapist Dominique Baudoux proposes, for bee stings, wasps, mosquitoes, spiders, scorpions and fleas, apply locally two or three drops of this preparation every three minutes until complete improvement:

• 3 drops of lavender essential oil
• 1 drop of tea tree essential oil
• 1 drop of Egyptian rose geranium essential oil.

For wasp stings, lavender essential oil is considered almost miraculous.

The atmospheric diffusion of oil rose geranium from Egypt with an electric diffuser or a burner is effective to drive away mosquitoes, often associated with the essential oil of lemon Java, which is used for a long time to ward off insects.

If the Java lemon irritates the skin, it can be substituted for the less “aggressive” but also effective lemon eucalyptus.

Every day, two drops on the neck of the pajamas or on the pillow keep away the biting insects on summer nights.

THE BEST PLANTS AGAINST INSECTS

Plants are good allies to ward off insects and relieve bites.

• Lavender. Antiseptic, healing and anti-inflammatory. It can be applied in compresses with the infusion of the plant or in the form of essential oil. It also helps keep insects away.
• Calendula. In ointment, tincture or poultice with the infusion of its flowers, it calms the itching and reduces swelling.
• Citronella and geranium. The essential oils of these plants are useful to repel mosquitoes. Plantain. The leaves rubbed directly on the skin or placed as a poultice protect against the effects of the poison.
• Aloe vera. Putting a piece of aloe vera leaf on the bite, with the fleshy part in contact with the skin, reduces pain and acts as an antiseptic.
• Manzanilla. It moderates allergic reactions and calms the itch. It can be applied on the inflamed area and taken as an infusion.