Natural Remedies Bed Bug Bites   

Natural remedies for bed bug bites may help you to get a good night’s sleep. 

If one is constantly being bitten by bed bugs it becomes almost impossible to get a good night’s sleep.  

It has been documented in various publications that bed bugs have been a problem for many centuries dating as far back as medieval times and classical Greek. Sleeping on an infested bed is one thing but being bitten is another. A bed bug bite is painless and the transmission of diseases is extremely low. The problem with bed bugs is that most people don’t want to talk about it as they are ashamed about their dilemma. 

Many believe that a bedbug infestation is detrimental to a relationship and can cause psychological strain. Outside of mental anguish, bed bugs can cause physical harm. . . . And while some people never even notice they are bitten, others get itchy or may even break out in a rash. 

The question is how do you treat bed bugs bites? 

Bed bug bites initially appear as large read wheals that eventually become a red mark. The mark can last for as long as five days.  

Characteristics of bed bug bites: 

• Irritation, inflammation and destruction of the local tissue
• Allergic reactions that can happen immediately or delayed 
• Orderly pattern of marks

Bed bug bites cannot transmit harmful diseases and their medical significance is only limited to itching and inflammation. The immediate treatment for the affected part is:  

• Washing it with soap and water.
• Prevent scratching as this may lead to infection and possibly require medical treatment.  
• Treating the area with ice or possibly special natural remedies is also recommended, as these will help speed up the healing process.

Natural remedies for bed bug bites 

Herbal treatments are primarily used to control infections, stop itching or pain. In addition, these are used to improve symptoms, correct imbalance, boost the immune system, and increase energy.  

Chinese herbal remedies are advantageous because they can be used in combination with other herbs depending on the status of the bed bug bite. 

Below are some natural remedies that can be used to treat bed bug bites.  

Plantain contains allantoin, an anti-inflammatory phytochemical, that kills germs, speeds wound healing and stimulates the growth of new skin cells (many commercial cosmetic creams and lotions list allantoin as an active ingredient).
 

The best thing about the herb plantain is that it is easy to find and easy to use. It is a common weed of parks, driveways and playgrounds. It is readily identified by the five parallel veins that run on each leaf. A broad leaf plantain can has a tall seed head and long thin leaves, while a narrow leaf plantain has a small flower head that looks similar to flying saucer and long thin leaves (there are over 200 species!). Click on the link for more Plantain Images.

Mud - this is the simplest and oldest poultice. A bed bug bite can be treated with powdered white clay that should be mixed herb tea. Clay can be stored anytime and will not likely contain fungal spores. Bed bug or other insect bites that cause severe itching or pain should be administered with bland starchy substances such as arrowroot powder, graded potato and mallow root or finely ground grains such as oatmeal or rice. 

Fresh-herb poultices - these are slightly more complicated to prepare than other herbs. A person must first chew it then apply the substance to the bed bug bite. For maximum effect, the poultice can be placed in an adhesive bandage or large leaf to keep it in place. Some examples of the poultice include: 

• Plantium
• Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum 
• Comfrey (Symphytum uplandicax) 
• Yellow dock (Rumex species) 
• Wild mallow (Malva neglecta) 
• Chickweed (Stellaria media)

The best herbal leaves are those that come from willow, maple, oak or hazel. The herbs need to be recognized properly before they are chewed. The most recognizable and safest to chew of all herbs are oak and Maple. Leaves that are either slick or shiny should be avoided if one is uncertain about what herb should be used for the treatment. If the leaf is extremely bitter upon chewing it is advisable to spit it out immediately. 

As indicated above the natural remedies for bed bug bites can also be used for other insects bites.