How To Avoid and Treat Insect Bites & Stings

Allergic reactions from bee stings and mosquito bites are increasing. What can you do to avoid insect bites and stings in the first place? And how should you treat them if you do get stung or bitten by an insect?

Avoid Attracting Insects

Bees and wasps can be attracted to, or may react to, odours in the environment. It is best not to use perfume, cologne, or scented soaps, if you are going into an area of bee and/or wasp activity.

Unless you accidentally collide quite hard with, or swat at a bee or wasp, it is not likely to sting:

• Avoid going barefoot in vegetation, especially clover and blooming ground covers.
• Avoid wearing brightly coloured or patterned clothing.
• Avoid places you see insects flying to and from. Stinging incidents often occur when nesting areas of social insects are disturbed. Be observant of the area around you.
• Remain calm if a bee or wasp lands on your skin to inspect a smell or to get water from your sweat. The insect will leave of its own accord. If you don’t want to wait for it to leave, gently and slowly brush it away with a piece of paper.
• When swimming in pools, watch out for bees or wasps trapped on the surface of the water. If you find bees or wasps in the water, remove them to avoid being stung.

Cover Up to Reduce the Risk

Going to be in an area where you are likely to disturb an insect nest. Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. It might even be a good idea to carry a military surplus collapsible mosquito/gnat veil with you.

Stinging insects often fly around the top of their targets. Stings in the face can be disorienting, so its best put on the veil, or pull a portion of your shirt over your head, and run away. Be sure that you can see where you are going! Insect repellent applied to your skin or clothing will deter these stinging insects.

What Are the Symptoms of An Allergic Reaction To A Bite or Sting?

Bee sting allergy symptoms often begin with a dry cough. Then the eye area begins to itch and swell. As symptoms progress, the patient begins to sneeze and wheeze, and develop hives that itch.

These symptoms may be warning signs of a dangerous condition called anaphylaxis. Symptoms include sudden anxiety and weakness, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, very low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and shock. Anaphylactic shock can occur within minutes and result in death. A patient in anaphylactic shock needs immediate medical treatment.

What can I do after a bite or sting?

There are many modern and traditional remedies to counteract a bite or sting. Your local therapist and pharmacist will be able to help you further. Here are some remedies that you can do yourself easily:

• Apply manuka or tea tree oil on the affected area to soothe the pain and the itching.
• Try the homeopathic remedy “Apis”.
• In Bach flower therapy, the well-known “Rescue Remedy” gives emotional relief and can be taken along with any other medicines.

A New Treatment

An innovative method for immediate treatment uses plain pure heat (no electricity though!) that helps to suppress the histamine that would otherwise cause the allergic reaction. The advantage is that this takes only three seconds to use, is safe for kids and adults alike and easy to carry around.

This patented technology is used in the Biteaway device, available from many pharmacies and online. 

Author – The Wellness Shop tests all the natural therapies they sell online at www.wellness-shop.co.nz.