Home salve remedies for wasp stings may provide relief from the common pain associated with the sting. Because people react differently to a wasp or bee sting, it's important to seek proper care as needed immediately after a sting occurs.
Seek Proper Treatment
For many people, a wasp or a bee sting is an often unexpected nuisance that causes little more than pain and swelling at the sting site. For others, a wasp sting can be a fatal matter. Home salve remedies for wasp stings should never be used on someone who is experiencing any of the following symptoms after a bee or wasp sting:
- Swelling of the tongue
- Impaired breathing
- Rash
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
If any of the above symptoms are present, especially in the case of infants or young children, seek medical care immediately.
Common Home Salve Remedies for Wasp Stings
For those whose sting has left nothing more than a painful bite, an at-home remedy may help relieve and soothe the wound without the need of medicated treatments. There are many natural ingredients that can be applied to an insect bite, all of which can be applied liberally as needed until the pain subsides, which is usually within a few hours. Prior to treating a wasp sting, follow these steps:
- Remove remaining stinger. Use a pair of slant tip tweezers if needed.
- Cleanse the wound with warm soapy water.
- Pat dry.
- Apply salve.
The following natural ingredients are recommended for application on wasp stings:
- Baking soda and vinegar: Mix equal parts baking soda and vinegar.
- Aloe vera gel: Apply Aloe vera gel liberally to wound as needed.
- Plantain: Plantain (a common weed) can be minced and mixed with warm water and applied directly on the bite wound. Plantain is a natural drawing plant, and works wonders on scrapes and bites.
Black Salve Recipe
Creating a home remedy such as a salve takes a little bit of preparation and the right ingredients. To have a salve on hand for bee stings, prepare the following concoction at the beginning of the spring or summer seasons, when wasp and bee stings are most common.Black salve has long been touted as a natural, toxin absorbing cure all for many ailments. To make a black ointment salve, follow the instructions below. While this recipe does not include the traditional ingredient of black drawing salve, ichthammol, other ingredients in this recipe also act as natural drawing agents to draw out the venom from the wasp sting.
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp. beeswax
- 3 Tbsp. cocoa butter
- 3 Tbsp. bentonite clay (also called Rhassoul clay)
- 3 Tbsp. shea butter
- 2 Tbsp. Jojoba oil
- 1 Tbsp. Vitamin E
- 2 Tbsp. activated charcoal powder (purchase at local pharmacy)
Step One:
Place cocoa butter, beeswax and shea butter in a small saucepan and heat to a temperature of 180 degrees for a minimum of fifteen minutes
Step Two:
Stir in remaining ingredients.
Step Three:
Allow mixture to cool, stir in essential oils or fragrance (such as lavender) if desired.
Step Four:
Spoon into small jars and close lids tightly. Contents should be used within two to three months.
Apply salve as needed to the sting. For further relief, apply ice onto the wasp sting site as needed to reduce swelling and inflammation.
