It use to be treating bee stings did not go beyond Mom pulling out the stinger if it was still present, washing the area well, putting on some kind of oitment and a band aid. Now, as our awareness as increased and the fact that a lot of people react strongly to the venom that is injected, bee stings are not to be taken lightly. Most people that are severely allergic to bee stings will have identification on them to let a person know so treatment can be given accordingly.How to Cure Bee Stings
You should first disinfect the area, keep it clean, and use ice if needed. If the swelling would continue, a person may need to have some steroids to help reduce it. The site may become infected and antibiotics may have to be issued by a doctor. There are large local non-allergic reactions that can last for a few days or even more. This is usually no cause for concern and should be treated as mentioned above or with some other form of treatment.
Apply meat tenderizer with Papain - papain is a protease enzyme that breaks down protein. It is found in papaya and it breaks down the toxins in the venom. Dose: 1 part papain: 4 parts water
· Make a paste of baking soda and water - use a poultice of baking soda to neutralize the acid of the bee venom. Leave it on for 15 - 20 minutes
· Lavandin or Idaho tansy essential oils - apply 1-2 drops on location two or three times daily. Use only 100 % therapeutic grade oils. (do not use in children under two years of age)
Is Bee Venom A Proven Technique?
Although bee venom therapy is largely an unproven technique, a small number of U.S physicians have reported good results using the substance to treat arthritic conditions.
Treatments of honeybee venom therapy, or ‘Apitherapy’ supposedly started after bee-keepers, who were stung many times, noticed their arthritis pains were relieved. Some practitioners still use live bee stings to deliver the venom.
Bee stings are by no means a cure-all & there’s no way of knowing if they will work for you, without trying, which could be dangerous without the appropriate medical supervision. And to cap it all, we shouldn’t forget bee stings are not pleasant.
Honey bees stingers are barbed stingers which are left behind in the person’s skin and then the bee dies- a bee sacrifice! In the act of stinging, the stinger is torn from the bee, along with the venom-filled poison sac and attached muscles. The barbs continue to work the stinger deeper into the flesh for several minutes, while venom continues to be injected.
The conventional wisdom is to use a credit card to scrape it off. However, scientific studies suggest when it comes to removing bee stings, speed matters, method doesn’t. So, if you don’t have a card handy, use your finger nails or a knife edge to ‘flick’ the stinger out of the skin instead of hunting for a credit card and slowing down the removal of the sting.
Severe Allergic Reactions
If the victim has an allergy to insect stings and start developing a severe reaction, treat it with epinephrine (adrenaline). Several self-injectable devices are available by prescription including Epi-Pen, ANA-Kit. If you or your child are known to be seriously allergic to insects you must remember to carry the epinephrine at all times especially when out of reach of medical care (such as in the woods or even on an airplane).
