Wasp Stings: Treatments & Home Remedies

One Way To Tell The Difference Between A Wasp & A Bee Is By The Tiny Waist A Wasp Has

Before trying a remedy check to see if the wasp’s stinger remained in the skin, remove it by scraping it out (to prevent releasing more venom) before treating.

Wasp Sting Treatments From The Garden

• Marigolds: Rub the flower head of a marigold over the stung area (must be a freshly picked marigold and not dried).
• Basil: Roughly crush a fresh leaf or two to release the herb’s natural oils and press directly on sting area, hold in place.
• Winter Savory: Crush the leaves roughly to release the herb’s oils then apply to wasp sting.
• Aloe Vera: Split open a leaf and apply the aloe gel directly to the bite area (from How To Heal With Aloe Vera Plants).
• Plantain: Chop roughly and mix with a bit of warm water then apply to wound. You can also chew a leaf or two then apply to bite.

Home Remedies From The Kitchen

• Ice: Place an ice cube or ice pack on sting and press on wound for about 20 minutes, will help reduce pain. Ice can also be used to help reduce the swelling that will occur. Make sure to protect the skin by covering ice with a thin cotton towel or paper towel first.
• Baking Soda: Make a thick paste with water and apply to sting.
• Salt: Make a thick paste with water and apply to sting.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Soak a small cotton pad with apple cider vinegar and hold on wound until pain disappears (the acid content neutralizes the venom).
• Vinegar: Same treatment as apple cider vinegar, can also drizzle a few drops directly onto skin (the acid content neutralizes the venom).
• Lemon Juice: Same treatment as apple cider vinegar, can also drizzle a few drops directly onto skin (the acid content neutralizes the venom).
• Lemon: Cut a fresh slice of lemon and hold in place over stung skin until pain disappears (the acid content neutralizes the venom).
• Garlic: Crush a fresh clove of garlic and apply to stung area, cover with a bandaid.
• Onion: Slice an onion and press in place over the stung area until pain disappears.
• Cucumber: Place a freshly sliced piece of cucumber over the stung area and hold in place until pain disappears.
• Potato: Slice a potato in half and apply the cut end on the wound, hold in place until pain subsides.
• Olive Oil: Rub wound with olive oil for relief of pain and to heal wound.

Garlic & Salt Home Remedy

1 clove garlic
1/2 tsp salt

• Directions: Crush garlic then mix in the salt and apply directly to the sting area. Wrap with a bandage.

More Remedies

• Both topical and oral antihistamines (such as Benadryl or Claritin) can be effective in reducing swelling and itching.
• Calamine lotion can be applied to sting area to help sooth pain and relieve itching.
• A paste made with Epsom salts and water then applied to stung area can provide relief from pain.
• Old Timers Remedy: Chew tobacco a bit to wet it then apply to where the wasp stung, wrap with a strip of cloth to hold in place.
• Old Timers Remedy: Mix dirt with water or saliva to make a mud then apply to wound, is quite soothing.
• Old Wives Tale: Press a penny to the wasp sting and hold in place for 10 to 15 minutes, pain will disappear.

Tip: Keep wound clean with soap and water to prevent a skin infection (wash regularly for several days). You can also sterilize the area with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.

Wasp Sting Symptoms

A normal reaction to a wasp sting is to experience pain, burning, itchiness, redness and swelling. Pain will last for a few hours then should disappear. If you notice your hands or fingers starting to swell, remove rings immediately. Protect the wound from bumps and avoid rubbing.

Although wasp stings are painful and some swelling will develop, this is the experience most people have from a wasp sting. However, some do have a serious allergy to wasp venom and in these cases, death can occur.

If the following occurs after a wasp sting, seek medical advice:

• The wasp stung inside your nose or mouth (the swelling will affect breathing).
• If you were stung several times by many wasps.
• If you have difficulty breathing or your breathing seems to have been affected.
• Your tongue begins to swell.
• You experience dizziness.
• You experience blurry vision.
• You feel nauseous.
• Your speech is slurred or you find it difficult to talk.
• Hives or a rash appears (especially in an area away from the bite).
• The stung area swells alarmingly large.

As with bee stings, if the reaction seems severe (especially if breathing is affected), don’t hesitate to call medical emergency services as the victim of the sting may be experiencing an allergic reaction to the wasp sting that can trigger anaphylactic shock.

Did You Know: Do wasps bite or do they sting? Wasps sting, but female yellow jackets are especially aggressive and will sometimes bite victims before stinging.

Please Note: These treatments are from my collection of home remedies, none of them are intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. This information is provided for general knowledge purposes only.

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