If you spend anytime outdoors you will run up against any number of bees, wasps and other stinging insects.

When that happens, if you do not have medicine handy, there are multiple natural remedies you can apply to your sting wound; here are some of the most popular.

Home Remedies for Bee Sting

Apply Ice or Cold Pack as First Measure for Bee Sting

Of course, after taking out the bee stinger that stuck into your skin. Unlike the stingers of wasps, yellow jackets and hornets, honey bees have barbed stinger which get stuck in the victim’s skin along with its venom sack. So, first task is to take out this stinger, carefully, may be with the help of tweezers or simply by holding with nails. After taking out the stinger, wash the site properly and apply ice or an ice pack. It constricts your blood vessels so that the venom may not freely flow into your bloodstream. It also numbs the skin giving you relief from pain and itching.

Use Toothpaste for Bee Sting

This is a little unusual remedy but toothpaste effectively alleviates the symptoms of bee sting. There are at least two reasons for this. One, there is glycerin in toothpaste which seems to dry out the venom, if any, left at the area where bee stung. Secondly, as toothpaste is alkaline in nature, it helps neutralize the acid left by bee venom. Just dab a little toothpaste at the site where bee has stung you. You will feel cool and even tingy but in a few minutes, it will give you a soothing relief. Repeat after 3-4 hours.

Baking Soda Paste for Bee Sting

One of the very effective remedies for bee sting is a paste made with baking soda and water. Bee venom has formic acid which is also known as methanoic acid. As the bee venom is acidic in nature and the bicarbonate of soda which is an alkali can neutralize its effect reducing the pain too.

Get this:
•    Baking soda- 1 tsp
•    Water- enough to make paste

Do this:
•    Add water to baking soda to make a paste.
•    Apply this paste on the area where bee has stung.
•    Leave it to dry.
•    You will instantly feel a soothing relief due to the cooling effect of baking soda.
•    Repeat 3-4 times a day.

Papaya for Bee Sting

Papaya has many beneficial enzymes that also make it a good remedy for venomous bee sting. There is this papain enzyme found in papayas that help neutralize the effect of the venom. While all types of papaya, raw or ripe, have papain enzyme, the green raw papaya has most of it. Many people use meat tenderizer to treat bee sting. In fact, meat tenderizer have this papain enzyme in them that may make them suitable for bee stings.

How to Use Papaya for Bee Sting?
•    Take a slice of papaya and rub this on to the site of bee sting.
•    You may also grate the papaya and take out its juice. Apply this juice on the affected area.
•    If you have a ripe papaya, you may mash it and apply the mashed lot on your bee sting site.

Mustard for Bee Sting

Mustard has been used since ancient times to treat bee sting and other insect bites. Apart from being rich in antioxidants, mustard has a goos amount of selenium which makes it a fine anti-inflammatory agent. You can use mustard to get relief from swelling and pain brought by bee sting.

How to Use Mustard for Bee Sting?
•    Take some mustard powder and sprinkle over the area of bee sting.
•    You may also use mustard seeds.
•    To make a poultice of mustard, take some mustard powder and add water to make paste. Place this mustard paste in a thin cloth and wrap it. Hold this mustard poultice against your skin where you have been stung by bee.

Honey for Bee Sting

What an irony! Honey which is made by bees can be used to treat its sting! But that’s true. Honey is a known natural anti-bacterial ingredient. Its antibacterial properties saves you from infection and also relieves you of swelling and pain.

How to Use Honey for Bee Sting?

Just take some honey and apply this to the area where bee has stung you. Let it be there for few minutes before washing. Repeat multiple times during the day.

Basil Leaves for Bee Sting

The natural anti-bacterial properties of basil leaves that are granted to it by its volatile oils are capable of restricting the growth of a wide array of bacteria. The eugenol compound of basil leaves make it naturally anti-inflammatory too. All these properties of basil make it a good remedy for bee sting. You can crush some basil leaves and apply on your site of bee sting. Ayurveda uses basil in combination with yet another anti-inflammatory substance turmeric to treat stings.

Make Basil-Turmeric Paste for Bee Sting

Get this:
•    Basil leaves- handful
•    Turmeric powder- 1-2 tsp

Do this:
•    Crush the basil leaves to get its paste.
•    Add turmeric to basil leaves paste and mix well.
•    Apply this paste to the affected area.
•    Repeat 3-4 times a day.

Parsley for Bee Sting

Parsley also has many volatile oils in it, one of which is eugenol compound which gives basil its anti-inflammatory properties. This also makes parsley a good remedy for bee sting as it also contains infection from spreading.

How to Use Parsley for Bee Sting?
•    Crush some fresh parsley.
•    Apply the paste to your affected area.
•    You may use a cloth or bandage to hold the parsley poultice against your skin. Remove it after some time.
•    Repeat 3-4 times a day.

Epsom Salt Remedy for Bee Sting

The white Epsom salt crystals contain magnesium and sulfate, the two substances that are known to reduce inflammation.

They also relieve pain. However, the most important aspect of using Epsom salt for stings is that it helps draw the stinger to the surface of your skin. So, if you are not sure whether the whole stinger has been pulled out of your skin or not, you may use Epsom salt.

How to Use Epsom Salt for Bee Sting?
•    Take some Epsom salt and water.
•    Mix to make a paste.
•    Apply this paste to the affected area.

Garlic for Bee Sting

Garlic has been acknowledges as one of the best medicinal herbs beneficial for many condition. Its antibacterial properties are well known. It also has anti-inflammatory properties which gives relief from swelling and pain.

How to Use Garlic for Bee Sting?

Get this:
•    Garlic clove- 1-2
•    Coconut or olive oil- 1 tsp

Do this:
•    Crush the garlic cloves to get its paste.
•    Mix the same with oil.
•    Apply on the area of bee sting.
•    Repeat 3-4 times a day.

Unfortunately, just about all of us have been stung and worse, it probably is not the last time.

Using these natural remedies, however, will make the pain and irritation of being stung a little easier to cope with.

For more information and other natural ways to treat bee stings, please visit Rapid Home Remedies.