Bee Stings

[BOOMERANG]

I figured my buddies on TBN would have some good home remedies for bee stings. I just got stung about 20 times by some black bees. These don't look like ordinary stings either. Each sting is about an eighth of an inch across with a big blood spot as if it were stung multiple times in the same place. I'm in a world of hurt so lets hear about your magic elixirs !!!

 

[DaveNH]

First of all, if you have any other side effects other than just hurting where they stung you, go to an emergency room. Sometimes when I get stung I dab a bit of A1 steak sauce on the site. Seems to for for me.

 

[patrickg]

Most well stocked drug stores have a couple things for topical application to insect stings. One product is like a magic marker and has ammonia in it. We have some kits that are some help for stings and venomous bites (including snakes). These kits do NOT use the "old fashioned" cut an X and suck out the poison approach. They do have a small syringe like vacuum pump with adaptors to apply the vacuum to various parts of the anatomy. They will pull out some lymph and blood from the wound site which reduces the toxic effects by removing some of the venom.

If the stinger is left in you in a bee sting, be aware that the venom pump is still attached to the stinger and grabing it to remove it injects more venom. Use the backside of a knife or something to make a scraping motion over the bite site to remove the stinger.

As with most venomous bites/stings time is of the essence. Immediate application of fair first aid can beat terrific first aid applied after the venom is well entrenched.

Like Columbo said, "Just one more thing?" What is a "black bee?"

Patrick

 

[crown]

I got stung last year and boy what an ordeal, my hand swelled up like a baseball mit. I tried everything for two days at home when I could no longer make a fist I begrudingly went to the doctor she perscribed something don't remember the name but it immediatly began to heal. I do not know what kind of bee it was but it sure packed a punch, I have been stung many times in my youth but nothing came close to this one. My advice if you still have alot of discomfort go see a doctor better safe than sorry.

 

[RanchMan]

Here's a thread where some alternative solutions for stings came up. Enjoy!

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=rural&Number=166190&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1>Got a Cut? Put some Pepper on it!</A>

 

[EdKing]

Meat tenderizer works well, it breaks down the protiens in the venom.

 

[BKColeman]

I don't know if either of these work, but my parents swear by them.

1) As soon as you get stung, grab a ball point pen and draw a circle around the sting. It keeps the venom from spreading... supposedly.

2) Cut open a fresh onion and rub the juice over. Supposed to make the pain go away immediately.

They might be just old wive's tales, but like I said, my parents swear they work.

--Brad

 

[BOOMERANG]

Patrick,
This is what I was referring to as a black bee. Its actually called a Bald-Faced Hornet. (see attachment)

 

[DAP]

These methods are tried and true:

1. Make a sloppy wet mud cake and plaster it over the bite, leave it there for at least 30 mins.

2. Mix baking soda and water into a thick paste and plaster it over the bite, leave it there for about 20 mins

3. Do #1 or #2 and pick up some benedryl at the pharmacy.

 

[MDSteve]

Those are some mean a$$ bees. That's what stung my boy the other day. I am going to have to get rid of a large nest.

 

[mikim]

grandpa used to spit chew on 'em -- it stopped the hurt - but na-a-asty /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[ScottAR]

Damp tobacco in one form or another does work, for me at least. Only time a ciggerette was ever useful to me. Even works on bumble bee stings. (ground bees)

 

[TBone]

When I was a youngster Mama would rub Clorox bleach on the stings. It either made them quit stinging or smelled so bad it took your mind off of it.(I hate the smell of Clorox) I'm not sure which.

TBone

 

[skent]

The bleech neutrilizes the sting. We've been doing this for years and prevents the itch you get later on!

 

[cstocks]

That is what my wife does when she gets bit/stung by fireants. She claims it takes the sting away but I am like you, TBone. I HATE the smell of bleach. Ol' hard head here would rather suffer the pain of the ant bites than get relief at the expense of smelling bleach!