An pain of an unexpected bee sting can quickly put an end to summer fun. When a bee stings, it will release venom that will spread throughout the body, causing swelling, dizziness, elevated heart rate, and can rapidly lower blood pressure. Bee venom rapidly destroys red blood cells and causes restrictions to heart muscles and intestines. Fortunately, there are natural remedies that can quickly help to ease the pain of a bee sting.

Putting some mud on the wound, an old folk remedy, is never a good idea. Have you ever found mud in a first aid kit? However, if an ice cube is nearby it is a good idea to put an ice cube on it immediately to keep the swelling down. If an arm or a leg has been stung, keep the limb elevated above the heart after the bee's stinger has been removed.

The next thing to do is to locate a pair of tweezers, and remove the stinger if it is still attached. Use the tweezers to carefully remove the stinger, being careful not to press down on it. If tweezers aren't available, simply scrape across the skin with a knife or a razor blade. Keep the ice cube hand for making a cold compress which should be applied after the stinger is removed.

Next, you should was the affected area with soap and cold water. An insect sting kit, which contains epinephrine, is a good thing to have in your first aid kit in case of a serious reaction. If you don't have a first aid kit handy, one treatment that works well, and is usually available an afternoon BBQ, picnic, swim, or field trip is mustard.

Mustard, you may ask? Yes. There is ancient wisdom in applying the yellow condiment to an open wound with bee venom at work. Mustard has been used for centuries as a balm for bee stings. Mustard is handy and it works pretty good for most stings on people that aren't hypo-allergic to them. Another natural ointment, derived from honey bees is raw honey, the sticky-sweet product of their endless labor.

It's always a good idea to have a bee sting kit handy; one can be purchased at the local drug store. In any case, it's a good idea to use mustard, or even honey before using mud for first aid. You never know what parasites might be lurking in the mud, and you wouldn't want anyone to get a nasty infection from the damp soil which is likely to be teeming with bacteria and other microscopic creatures.

Simply apply a generous dab of mustard to the wound. It may sting a little at first, but the redness and swelling will begin to disappear shortly and the summer fun can resume. You might want to remember to carry a handful of restaurant sized mustard packs with you during the summer. You could even toss a few into your first aid kit and jot this first aid procedure down inside your first aid manual.

The next time you or someone near you suffers from an unfortunate honey bee sting, consider first aid procedure that includes giving mustard and honey a chance to relieve the pain. You might be surprised with the results. As far as yellow jacket stings and wasp bites are concerned, I recommend you check with your local pharmacist for the best treatment.

Learn more about this author, Francis Jock.
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