7 surprising home remedies for bug bites R ecently, my friend was outside when a bug swooped from above and descended down her V-neck shirt. Faster than you can say “bugger,” she was stung or bit on not one but both of her breasts. It then dropped out the bottom of her shirt and flew away. What followed was a lawn dance the likes of which her neighbors had never seen. She’s lucky no one had a video camera handy—footage like that would have taken the internet by storm! When she told me the story, I asked her, “Did you apply meat tenderizer? Ammonia?” She said no, but was grateful that she had taken some Benadryl that morning to help with insomnia. She suspects (and I agree) that the inflammation and pain could have been much worse. We joked about her story and dubbed it “One Bee, Two Boobs.” What do you do if you are stung or bitten by a nasty little critter? You can find a host of remedies for insect attacks and other summer boo-boos at your local pharmacy or in your kitchen. Here are some of my favorites: � Put quick-cooking or rolled oatmeal into a food processor to make a fine powder. Mix it with a small amount of water to make a paste and apply it to your sting. You can also take a bath with oatmeal for all-over itch relief. � Apply a cold black tea bag on the bite site for five minutes. The naturally occurring tannins in tea make it bitter, but also draw out poison and ease discomfort. English Breakfast Tea in particular is high in tannins.
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MOBILITY � Mix white or apple cider vinegar 50/50 with water and use a cotton ball to dab the mixture to your sore for instant itch relief. � Meat tenderizer contains papain, which breaks up poisons from insect venom. Sprinkle about half a teaspoon into a little cup and add some water, perhaps a teaspoon or two, to make a paste and dab directly onto the bite. The sooner you do this after you get stung, the better! � Insect venom is usually acidic and ammonia is alkaline so it neutralizes the poison when applied as soon as possible to a bee or wasp sting. Some people recommend dabbing it on straight. Others suggest diluting it 50/50 with water. � Ice cubes are super effective at reducing inflammation and numbing the area. Wrap a cube in a paper towel and apply for 5-10 minutes. Ice feels nice on bites! � Toothpaste. The menthol in toothpaste makes for a nice cooling sensation while reducing swelling. Just apply a thin layer and let it dry. The next time a bug swoops down the front of your shirt, don’t panic. Just head to the pantry! ■
DEAR PHARMACIST BY SUZY COHEN
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