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Bites and Stings
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Meandering through a meadow? Waltzing through
the woods? "Bee" careful! There's a whole battalion of
bugs out there waiting to sting, bite, chomp and clamp your tender
skin.
The best way to handle bites and stings is to avoid them in the
first place. Experts say that when venturing into the outdoors,
you should wear white or khaki-colored clothing (including socks
and long pants), use insect repellent, avoid sweet-scented fragrances,
never mess around with a beehive and always check yourself for hangers-on
such as ticks after you go back inside. But even when that doesn't
work, most insect bites are just minor annoyances. You'll get an
itch, a bump and maybe a burning sensation. The natural remedies
in this chapter, used with the approval of your doctor, may provide
relief, according to some health professionals.
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See Your Medical Doctor When...
· An animal bites you.
· You develop a fever after being bitten.
· You have difficulty breathing or feel severe pain after a
bite or sting. |
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| Aromatherapy |
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For quick relief from insect bites, apply one
drop of pure lavender, tea tree, helichrysum (also called immortelle
or everlast) or blue chamomile essential oil directly to the affected
area, suggests Los Angeles aromatic consultant John Steele. The
oil can be reapplied every ten minutes until you feel better, he
says.
For information on preparing and administering essential oils, including
cautions about their use, see page19. For information on purchasing
essential oils, refer to the resource list on page 633.
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| Ayurveda |
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Neem powder, made from extracts from India's
neem tree and available from Ayurvedic practitioners, can be applied
as a plaster to soothe insect bites, according to Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S.,
M.A.Sc., director of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New
Mexico. To make the plaster, Dr. Lad says to take enough neem powder
to just cover the area of the bite, then add warm water to make
a thick paste. He suggests applying the plaster to the skin twice
a day, letting it dry for 10 to 20 minutes each time.
But you can keep the bugs from biting in the first place, says Dr.
Lad, by rubbing neem oil (also available from Ayurvedic practitioners)
on exposed skin before going outside. According to Dr. Lad, neem
contains a compound called salannin that repels insects as effectively
as the synthetic chemical DEET-but without DEET's toxic effects
on humans. Do not use pure neem tree oil, he cautions, since it's
too strong for this use.
You can also soothe insect bites by drinking fresh cilantro juice
and applying the cilantro pulp to the skin, says Dr. Lad. Here's
how he says to prepare the juice and pulp: Chop 1 cup of fresh cilantro
leaves and mix with 1/3 cup of water in a blender. Strain this mixture
through cheesecloth, saving the pulp to apply directly to the affected
area of the skin. Dr. Lad suggests spreading the pulp on the bite
once or twice a day and to drink the juice two tablespoons at a
time, three times a day. Keep the juice refrigerated; you should
have enough for three to four days.
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| Flower Remedy/Essence Therapy |
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Try the emergency stress relief formula, sold
under brand names such as Calming Essence, Rescue Remedy and Five-Flower
FormulaKaslof. By using the formula topically on minor insect bites
to relieve pain, swelling and itching. Also, the formula may be
helpful in relieving mild allergic reactions to insect bites and
stings. We recommend taking four drops under the tongue as needed
to calm and relax.
We caution, however, that the formula is not a replacement for emergency
medical intervention or doctor-recommended treatment for allergic
reactions. If you have a history of allergic reactions to insect
bites and stings, he says, you must consult your doctor before using
the emergency stress relief formula.
The emergency stress relief formula is available in most health
food stores and through mail order (refer to the resource list on
page 635). For more information on preparing and administering the
formula, see page 40.
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| Food Therapy |
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"A compress made from meat tenderizer breaks
down the venom and can take the sting out of bites and stings,"
says Acharyaji., director of Dhyansanjivani, and author of many
books . That's because most insect bites and stings, as well as
jellyfish stings, are protein-based, and meat tenderizer breaks
down protein-as long as the tenderizer contains papain or bromelain,
the active protein-busting ingredients. Acharyaji says to mix a
thick paste of water and powdered meat tenderizer and apply it directly
on the skin; relief will come within a minute. (Bromelain can cause
dermatitis in some people, so don't apply any more if the skin begins
to look red and inflamed.)
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| Herbal Therapy |
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Here's a natural insect repellent from Barre,
Vermont, herbalist Acharya Shivaananddaasji, in other books on herbs:
Combine one part bay leaf, four parts pennyroyal, two parts rosemary
and one part eucalyptus in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Add enough
olive oil to cover the herbs, and then top off with another inch
or two. Close the jar and place it on a sunny windowsill or in a
sunny spot outside for two weeks. Then strain the mixture so that
there's only liquid left. (For extra scent, add a drop or two of
eucalyptus essential oil to the liquid.)
Acharyaji recommends using this herbal repellent just as you would
a store-bought product, spreading it evenly and lightly on your
skin (but avoiding the eyes). And she says that this herbal repellent
is safe to use even on children's skin and that it works as well
as store-bought chemical varieties.
All of these herbs and oils are available in most health food stores.
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| Homeopathy |
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To reduce the swelling and pain of bites that
have the sensation of coldness and that are better when you apply
cold, take a 6C or 12C dose of Ledum or apply Ledum tincture on
the bite with a cotton swab every two to three hours as needed until
you feel relief. Taking Apis mellifica in 6C or 12C potency is another
good remedy, he says, particularly for bites that are burning or
stinging, are worse with heat and better with ice packs and cause
hivelike reactions on the skin.
Acharyaji suggests taking one dose of Ledum or Apis mellifica every
15 minutes for up to four doses. If you're still experiencing pain,
he says, take one 30C dose. If there is still no improvement, consult
a medical doctor or homeopath, he says.
Ledum and Apis mellifica can be purchased in many health food stores.
To purchase homeopathic remedies by mail, refer to the resource
list on page 637.
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| Hydrotherapy |
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To relieve the discomfort of insect bites, make
up a thin paste of water, apple cider vinegar and fuller's earth
(available in most health food stores) and apply to the bite for
a few minutes, suggests Acharyaji. Rinse with warm water.
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