How to Treat a Bee Sting Naturally
Bees tend not to be terribly aggressive, but when they do sting, the pain can be quite intense. Many people prefer to treat the pain naturally and as long as you’re not allergic to the venom, there’s really no reason you can’t handle it on your own.
Remove the Stinger
As long as the stinger is in you, the venom sac can continue to pump venom into your body. However, if you pinch the sac as you try to pull out the stinger, you’ll only make things worse. Experts recommend using something stiff, like a credit card, to scrape the sting off the skin without crushing the sac.
Next, you should wash the area of the sting with soap and water. This will help remove any bacteria that may have been introduced. After this, you can begin to apply natural treatments. There are a few options, which include:
Ice: You can ice the site for up to 20 minutes each hour. Crush ice and place it inside a dish towel or something similar to prevent damaging the skin with the cold.
Onion: Cut a slice of onion and place the freshly cut side against the wound. This can help ease the pain quickly.
Signs You May Be Allergic to Bee Stings
You should always be aware of potential reactions to a bee sting. Most people will already know if they are allergic, but it’s best to know what the signs are anyway.
If you notice that you have extreme swelling (some minor swelling is normal), a rash, or some shortness of breath, you are likely having a minor or moderate reaction to the sting. You will be given antihistamines, but you should still see your doctor.
For those who are very allergic, you may feel your throat swelling and it becomes hard to breath. Your blood pressure will likely drop and you will have more swelling and a rash all over your body. For severe reactions, more invasive techniques, such as a trach tube may be necessary, while IV medications will be provided to help bring down the reaction.
Anyone who has multiple stings (more than 10-15) will need to be observed. Even if you aren’t actually allergic, an excessive amount of venom in your body can cause a bad reaction and should be looked at. You’ll need to remain under observation.
Finally, you may want to remove the bees nest if it is close to an area where people are moving around frequently. A random sting is nothing to worry about, but if you receive multiples, you may need to call in the experts to eliminate the nest.
If you have pest problems, call Mr. Wasp to help you get rid of them. We’ll make an appointment to help you as soon as possible.
