Eight Best Bets for Easing Pain from Insect Bites and Stings
Stung by a bee or other insect? Check out these eight pain relievers that you probably already have around the house.
First steps when bees strike
When you’re stung by a bee, carefully grasp the stinger and pull it out as fast as you can. The less venom that enters your body, the smaller and less painful the resulting welt will be. Ice the area immediately to reduce the swelling.
Curry-ous cure
To reduce the pain from insect bites, make a paste of curry powder and water. Apply it to the bite and let dry, then wash off. The spices in the curry powder will relieve discomfort and swelling.
Turn the tide on mosquito bites
Rub liquid laundry detergent on the bite and let dry. The liquid soothes the skin, dries the bite to reduce irritation, and seals the area from outside irritants.
Take some single-use laundry detergent packets on the go for unexpected bites.
Soothe with oil
Been stung by an insect? It’s lavender oil to the rescue! Rub a bit directly onto the sting to alleviate the pain. You can use the healing oil on scrapes, burns, and bug bites as well.
First steps when bees strike
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When you’re stung by a bee, carefully grasp the stinger and pull it out as fast as you can. The less venom that enters your body, the smaller and less painful the resulting welt will be. Ice the area immediately to reduce the swelling.
Kitchen relief for bee stings
Nobody likes a bee sting, but sometimes they’re inevitable. Bring down the pain and swelling by rubbing some raw onion on the sting. The sulfur in the onion will detoxify the area and give you relief.
Rub Vicks on a bee sting
Suffering from a bee or wasp sting? Soothe the pain with Vicks VapoRub. It contains menthol, which will provide a natural, cooling anesthetic effect.
Ease wasp stings
Apply apple cider vinegar to a wasp sting with a cotton ball and the sting will subside.
All content here is for informational purposes only. This content does not replace the professional judgment of your own health provider. Please consult a licensed mental health professional for all individual questions and issues.
About the Author
Bruce Lubin and Jeanne Bossolina-Lubin are the proud parents of three boys and more than a dozen books. After saving thousands per year using everyday tips and simple lifehacks, they started their own business in the hopes of sharing their knowledge with others. They have been known to go into their friends’ refrigerators to turn their eggs upside down so that they last longer.
