Home Remedies for Bee Stings
​by Karla Beatty

Bee stings can lead to swelling, soreness, and itching. No need to buy the commercial products.
What simple things can you do to ease the sting?
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.   
                        —Aristotle

10 Ways to Ease the Sting Naturally

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Bees will sting. There are many home remedies for lessening the effects of a bee sting. When stung, the first thing to check is if the stinger is still there. Honeybees may leave a stinger, including a piece of the venom sac. Don't pluck it out, use a credit card or a long fingernail to scrape it out from the side. If you accidentally squeeze the sac you may force more venom into the skin. Next try one or more of these natural approaches.
10. Ice  
Ice may seem like a simple thing, but it is probably the best thing to do first. It’s effective. Apply an icepack or simply hold an ice cube to the source. Ice is easy to find, even on the go—think soft drink machines. Ice numbs the pain and reduces swelling.
9. Baking Soda and Water
This is probably the most common home remedy for bee stings. Mix baking soda with a tiny amount of water to make a paste. Gently apply the paste over the area of the sting. Leave it on the skin for a while. Baking soda is alkaline and helps to neutralize the effects of the sting. 
8. Garlic Cloves or Sliced Onion  
These are two plants of the Allium family. Finely crush a clove of garlic and press the juices all around the sting area. Slice or cut a fresh onion in half and press the juices around the sting area.
7. Fresh Plants and Herbs  
Crush the plant part to release the juices. Or simply pinch and roll it until it is moist or juicy. Press and hold against the skin. Try Plaintain (Plantago spp.) leaves, Calendula (Calendula officinalis) blossoms, Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) leaves, Parsley leaves, or Basil leaves.
6. Toothpaste  
Squeeze toothpaste straight from the tube to the sting area can give immediate relief. Like baking soda, many toothpastes contains alkaline ingredients that can help neutralize the venom in the sting and soothe the pain. Also, some toothpastes contain glycerin that is soothing to the pain and swelling of the skin.
5. Meat Tenderizer  
If you have meat tenderizer in your kitchen, you have an effective bee sting remedy. Make a paste of the powder and a small amount of water. Apply it gently to the sting area. Meat tenderizer contains the ingredient papain that works to break down the proteins that are found in bee venom.
4. Aspirin  
Aspirin is another common household product. Crush an aspirin to break it into powder. Mix the powder with a small amount of water to make a paste. Apply it gently to the sting area. Aspirin helps relieve the pain and the swelling.
3. Household Ammonia  
Ammonia is another common item found in many cupboards. Apply the ammonia straight from the bottle onto the sting area. If you read the ingredients of many commercial sort-bought remedies, you will find that ammonia is one of the main ingredients.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar  
Were you stung by a honeybee or a wasp? If it is a wasp sting, apply apple cider vinegar directly to the site. A wasp sting is more alkaline than a bee sting. Vinegar contains acetic acid to better help neutralize the sting.
1. Honey
Since honeybees did the sting, It seems only right that they also produce a remedy. Apply some honey onto the sting site. Honey has antibacterial properties. It will soothe the skin and help prevent the wound from getting infected.
These natural home remedies have been found to be as good as or better than commercial remedies bought in the store. However, seek out emergency care if you know you are allergic to bees or if you see any signs of allergic reactions, such as trouble breathing, hives, headache, dizziness, tightness in the throat or chest, nausea, or vomiting. Also, it's best to seek a doctor if the swelling spreads to a larger area or if the pain and swelling lasts for more than three days.

One more thing: When you are stung by a bee, it's best to immediately leave the area. When they sting, bees release a pheromone that may draw other bees to you. It's possible that more bees will "jump into the fight" and try to sting you.

If you liked this Simple10s list, you might enjoy this artical about Safe Natural Tick Repellents.

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Comments

Do you have a response to this SimpleTens article about Natural Remedies for Bee Stings? Add a Comment to the discussion.
Comment   10/18/2016
My husband is allergic to wasp stings, and perhaps other bee stings, so when it comes to a "bee problem" I have to take care of it. Somewhere along the way, I lost my fear of bees. I have been stung many, many times. I like to garden, and have found honey bees to be very patient, they bump me in the chest if I am too close, and I move away from their chosen flower.  
This summer, when getting pestered by the more aggressive bees, I just started holding my hand out like a traffic cop, and saying NO. I don't even have to say it out loud anymore...
And they would fly off, and be gone. Last week, I had a really angry yellow jacket buzzing circles madly around my head. He was too fast, and close, to do the palm thing.  
I stopped walking, closed my eyes, lifted both arms over my head, then swung them out and down to my sides. I opened my eyes, and there was a white bubble surrounding me. I was in the center of a sphere about an arms length away from me. It looked like a mesh, with tiny pulsing lights. It seemed to be about an inch thick... but I could see through it. It was there for about 2-3 seconds. I stood there gaping at it, and then it was gone as suddenly as it appeared. And so was the bee.  
I know my husband saw me from behind, and joked about the bee bugging me...but he had no idea what happened. Heck, I don't know what happened! I didn't plan that.  
What the Hey was that all about? I have thought about it for days...that is why I read this article today.  
Can anyone explain What this is all about, because I can't!
​          --Linda
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