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.
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