As the world slowly returns to normalcy and we’re getting back to spending time outdoors and in the backyard, we’re once again at risk of being stung by hostile bees and wasps.
Along with basic first aid, there are also essential oils for bee stings that can provide relief. Here are some of the best essential oils that you could use for treatment:
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Before you try treating where the sting site is with essential oils, it’s important to first administer some basic first aid and observe precautionary measures to prevent any further injuries or adverse reactions.
The moment any severe allergic reaction like swelling of the tongue and airways is felt, or when you feel faint or could lose consciousness at any moment, skip any alternative treatment and call an ambulance immediately as this could be a life-threatening allergic reaction called an anaphylactic shock.
But in the case that you can observe that the reactions are mild enough to be treated at home, you can go ahead and explore some alternative treatments. These aren’t meant to be a cure but they help a lot in treating bee, wasp, and other bug stings or bites.
Here are some of the best essential oils to treat bee and wasp stings:
Table of Contents
The 5 Best Essential Oils for Bee & Wasp Stings
Lavender
Lavender is said to be very potent against insect bites and stings. It can be applied directly to the sting site and provide instant relief from pain and itchiness. It is also a very remarkable anti-inflammatory so it also can help to prevent swelling.
Peppermint
With menthol as one of its active compounds, peppermint oil is an excellent pain reliever and can be used to treat painful and itchy bee stings. Peppermint is very soothing to the skin so it helps calm down pain and itch. It is also a powerful antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic, so you really get a whole lot out of using peppermint oil in treating bee and wasp stings.
Tea Tree
Another antiseptic, tea tree oil is effective at preventing infections as well as accelerating the healing of wounds and skin. It also helps soothe swollen sting sites as well as treating bites from other insects.
Roman Chamomile
Roman Chamomile – Rocky Mountain
Roman chamomile is very helpful in treating a lot of skin conditions like acne, burns, and eczema and is found in a lot of skin care products because of its suitability to various skin types. It also does wonders in treating allergies, inflammations, and wounds so you can only guess that it does its magic on bee and wasp stings as well.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a very powerful essential oil because of its antiseptic, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory properties, it is a very potent bee and wasp sting remedy. It helps in dealing with muscle spasms (which you might experience as a sting reaction) and inflammation.
How to Treat & Avoid Bee & Wasp Stings
Before diving into alternative remedies such as essential oils for bee and wasp stings, it is very helpful to know precautionary measures to altogether prevent getting stung as well as knowing some basic first aid to administer immediately.
How to Avoid Getting Stung
Sweat bees are attracted to our sweat (hence, the name) because aside from feeding on nectar and pollen of flowers, they need salt and moisture which our sweat contains. They are generally harmless, but might become hostile if you try and swat them away.
Carpenter bees are also only hostile when disturbed. Like most bee species only female honey bees, sweat bees, and carpenter bees have the ability to sting you, and they die after a sting.
Wasps however, can sting you multiple times and they attack in packs.
The trick to altogether prevent getting stung is, well, to leave them be.
Bees and wasps only sting if they perceive any sort of threat. There are also claims that they hate the smell of citrus, citronella, spearmint, thyme, and eucalyptus, so some of the essential oils mentioned already are not only powerful remedies, but they can also naturally repel bees and wasps and prevent you from getting stung.
Administer First Aid for Stings
But in the event you do get stung, it is vital to administer first aid and observe safety measures. So here are some first aid measures you should take:
- Immediately leave the area where you got stung. You don’t want a pack of more bees or wasps to attack you.
- Remove the stinger, preferably with the edge of a blunt object like a credit card. Carefully scrape the edge of the card on the sting site to remove it.
- Wash the sting site with running water and soap. Cleaning it with soap helps to neutralize the acids of the venom. It also helps with relieving itchiness and pain.
- Apply ice to the area. This will help prevent swelling and inflammation.
- Take an antihistamine as this can help in itching and other mild allergic reactions.
- Observe and watch out for severe allergic reactions such as swelling of the lips, tongue, and airways. The moment this happens, call an ambulance right away.
- If you have access to an auto-injecting EpiPen or any variant of a prescribed epinephrine, administer it right away to counter allergic reactions.
How to Use Essential Oils for Bee & Wasp Stings
There are many ways you can use essential oils to treat bee and wasp stings. We suggest that you use high quality oils like those from our recommended brands to ensure best results.
Remember never to apply these oils directly as this might cause further damage to your skin. Instead, try mixing five drops of the essential oil for every ounce of carrier oil, and then you may apply this to the site of injury.
A spray can also be used by diluting 2 to 3 drops of essential oil and 2 to 3 drops of carrier oil for every ounce of water and spraying on the site of injury.
A popular recipe using Young Living oils called a “Bee Sting Blend” can also be used. The recipe calls for 2 drops Lavender, 1 drop Peppermint, 1 drop German Chamomile, and 1 drop Vetiver oil. You can apply 1-2 drops of the blend 2-3 times per day for a few days until healed.
These recipes and treatments can also be used on dogs and on toddlers, if they happen to be a victim of a bee or wasp sting. Just remember again, to always do a patch test – apply the oil blend on a site away from the injury and observe for a few minutes for any adverse reactions.
There you have it! You are now prepared to bee and wasp stings, so you can go back out and enjoy the sun and fresh air!
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