Last week, I showed you several great ways to avoid getting stung by bees this spring and summer.
But what happens if you or someone you know gets stung?
When it happens, there are some natural ways to treat the sting.
If you’re stung by a bee, the stinger will remain in your skin. It will look like a black dot. To get it out, use the flat edge of a credit card or fingernail. Gently scrape the stinger until it comes out far enough that you can pull it.
Once you’ve got the stinger out, just grab one of these easy and natural treatments out of your kitchen cabinet:
• Honey – ironically, this is one of the best treatments for bee stings. It will neutralize the venom, reduce pain and swelling, and prevent infection.
• Baking soda – add a little water to the baking soda to make a paste. Apply it to the sting and it will neutralize the venom.
• Apple cider vinegar – works in a similar way as baking soda. When you apply it to the sting, it neutralizes the acid in the venom. It also reduces inflammation, pain, and itching.
• Colloidal silver – simply apply two or three drops to a paper towel and hold on the sting. The pain will go away in about 30 seconds. And the wound will heal quickly.
If you’re camping, at the lake, or on vacation and don’t have access to any of these, just grab a 9-volt battery out of one of your electronic devices and do this:
Wet the site of the sting with water or saliva. Then position the battery with the poles on either side of the puncture and lightly press down for a second or two. The very mild current, which you won't even feel, neutralizes the venom.
These simple tips can help you enjoy the outdoors without the pain of bee stings. If you have other natural tips, I’d love to hear what they are.