No, they are not bees. Yes, they look like bees, size-wise and in overall appearance, but no they are yellow jackets, and if you have been stung by one of these, here are the house remedies for yellow jacket stings that will treat you in no time.
So what exactly are yellow jackets exactly? They are wasps with black and yellow stripes all over their body, and you will see them, more often than not, foraging for food. These creatures don't sting unless you physically threaten them, or maybe they feel threatened in any way, they will sting you in defense.
According to Healthline,
“Yellow jackets – properly referred to as Vespula, Dolichovespula, or Paravespula – are thin wasps with black and yellow coloring and long dark wings. Their stripes often lead them to be confused with honey bees, although bees tend to be rounder in appearance. Unlike bees, which create hives that produce honey, yellow jackets reside in nests, which can be found in secluded areas or the ground.”
As goes with most insect stings, yellow jacket stings too hurt a great deal. A single wasp can deliver multiple stings, actually.
The symptoms of a mild sting include, redness, swelling, itching, inflammation, pain. These cases of minor sting can be cured with simple kitchen remedies. In case of severe stings, you will have to seek medical attention immediately. These acute cases include symptoms like,
- Difficulty swallowing
- Slurred speech
- Confusion, weakness
- Difficulty breathing
- Tightness in the chest
- Swelling of the tongue
- Vomiting
- Fainting
For the mild cases, however, you can try our home remedies. These are easy, easy and yet extremely effective. Before trying any treatment, you need to make sure the stinger is not stuck or embedded to your skin. If it is, then you need to scrape it away first. Do this with a blunt knife. You can also do this using a pair of tweezers. After scraping off the stinger, wash the area with water and soap to avoid infection.
Remember to not squeeze the stinger out. This may result in the release of more venom into your blood. That, in turn, will worsen the problem.
Try these natural and effective remedies to deal with the symptoms of yellow jacket stings.
Home remedies for yellow jacket stings
Here would be the top 10 home remedies to treat yellow jacket stings.
1. Cold Compresses
The first remedy on our list is cold compress. Applying cold compress on the stung area can help reduce the swelling and also the inflammation in a jiffy.
According to a study published in 2006 in the Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice the cold compress with some topical lidocaine can successfully treat yellow jacket stings. Instead of the topical lidocaine, one can also use corticosteroid lotions.
For the remedy, try taking some cold water in a bowl. Now add some ice cubes into the bowl, and set a piece of clean and soft cloth in it. Place the cloth on the stung area. Make sure to wring out the excess water first. Leave the material on for about 10 minutes.
You may want to repeat this at least thrice, and a few times through the day.
Remember not to place the ice directly on the affected area as it can cause frostbite.
2. Baking Soda
The next fix for yellow jacket stings is sodium bicarbonate. It is an amazing natural strategy to these painful and itchy stings. The soda is alkaline in nature, which helps balance the acid within the sting, thus providing instant respite from the symptoms associated with the stings.
Also, baking soda is an anti-inflammatory agent, which reduces not just the swelling caused by yellow jacket stings, but also the inflammation and the redness.
For the remedies, you need to mix a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate with some water. Prepare a consistent paste. Now apply it on the stung area. Massage lightly not less than 5 minutes. Now rinse off with water. Lukewarm water is much better.
You can repeat the remedy after every three hours for convenient relief.
3. Vinegar
For this remedy, you can try either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Both work effectively on not just yellow jacket stings, but all sorts of insect bites. The vinegar contains acetic acid which is anti-inflammatory, and therefore, reduces both swelling and inflammation.
The alkaline nature from the vinegar neutralizes the acid within the venom. This will instantly reduce the pain and swelling associated with the wasp sting.
Begin by soaking a clean cotton ball in some raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Now squeeze out the more than the vinegar and place the cotton ball on the affected area for at least A few minutes.
You should repeat the remedy as and when needed.
4. Honey
To treat yellow jacket stings, try honey. This provides instant relief from all the symptoms associated with the wasp sting, such as inflammation, itching, redness and pain.
Honey contains certain enzymes which neutralize the acid within the sting. This will reduce the itching in a few minutes.
Also, honey is antibacterial, meaning it will prevent further infection.
For the remedy, apply pure honey on the affected area and leave it on for half an hour, by then the honey should dry up. Now rinse it off with water; lukewarm water is the best. Now apply some soothing lotion around the area.
You can repeat the remedy whenever needed.
5. Plantain
Try plantain leaves to treat your yellow jacket stings. Based on health experts, the therapeutic properties of plantain leaves allow it to be extremely effective on all kinds of stings and insect bites.
Plantain leaves are anti-inflammatory which controls the pain and the swelling quickly.
Also, applying plantain leaves will keep infections at bay as the leaves are anti-bacterial.
For the remedy, you need to extract juice from plantain leaves. To do that, crush clean leaves with your hands. No gently use the juice on your affected area and allow it to dry. Now wash the area with water.
You can repeat the remedy whenever required.
6. Onion
A very effective natural treatment for yellow jacket stings is onion. Onions reduce the symptoms of yellow jacket stings, such as swelling, pain, itching and inflammation. It soothes the area thus providing comfort and relief.
Also, onions help to keep bees and wasps away due to its strong and repulsive smell.
For the remedy, slice an onion. Now rub it on to the affected area. Rub gently not less than 5 minutes. Leave the juice on for a few more minutes. After 15 minutes, clean the area with lukewarm water.
You can repeat the remedy without notice to.
An alternative to this remedy is to put a slice of onion on the stung area and wrap the area with a gauze. Leave it on for half an hour, and then take it off. Clean the area with lukewarm water.
Repeat the remedy whenever needed.
7. Aspirin
Did you know aspirin can help treat yellow jacket stings? Yes, it neutralizes the acid in venom, thus treating the symptoms associated with yellow jacket stings.
Aspirin can also be an effective anti-inflammatory agent, which control swelling in addition to itching excellently.
For the remedy, you need to mix 3 regular aspirins in certain water. Prepare a thin and consistent paste, and put it on on the stung area. Leave it on up until the paste dries up completely. Then rinse off with lukewarm water.
You can repeat the remedy whenever needed.
8. Ammonia
The next remedy you can test on your yellow jacket stings is ammonia, which because of its alkaline nature, neutralizes the acid of the venom. It also cures the symptoms of pain, inflammation and itching associated with stings.
For the remedy, soak a clear cotton ball into some household ammonia, and dab it to the stung area.
You should repeat the remedy whenever needed.
Since many people are allergic to ammonia, you should try a patch test first before you apply it on to the affected area.
9. White Toothpaste
Applying white paste sounds so simple, but did you know it provides instant relief to yellow jacket stings? The basicity within the paste neutralizes the acidic venom. It treats the signs and symptoms like pain, inflammation and swelling associated with yellow jacket stings. Remember, however, to use only white paste, and not whitening, gel or colored toothpaste.
For the remedy, begin by dabbing some of the toothpaste on the stung area. Leave it on for a couple of hours. Now wash it off with lukewarm water.
You can repeat the remedy after every three hours.
That is we have on today's post on home remedies for yellow jacket stings. Was this helpful? Will you be recommending it to others too? If you have some remedies that you would like to share with us, then please do so in the comment section below.
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