Bites, Stings, & Rashes

Bites, stings, and rashes can cause painful reactions and feelings of discomfort. Occasionally, an insect bite or sting can cause a severe allergic reaction, which requires emergency medical attention. By applying the following remedies to bites and stings, you can greatly speed healing and alleviate itching.
First aid for bites and stings
If you have been stung by an insect such as a bee, remove the stinger by carefully scraping a credit card or a fingernail across the skin. Apply ice immediately to any bite or sting to relieve the pain and to stop the toxin from spreading through your body. Wash the area with an antiseptic solution composed of equal amounts of tea tree essential oil and witch hazel extract.

Stop itching
Mix one teaspoon of cosmetic clay
with enough water to make a paste. Add three drops of peppermint essential oil. Apply to a bite or sting.

Draw out toxins with charcoal
Apply a paste of activated charcoal to insect bites and stings to draw out the toxins that cause inflammation.
swelling, and itching. Activated charcoal is also available in capsules. Open a couple of capsules. mix the charcoal with a few drops of water. and apply to a bite or sting. After half an hour, wash off the charcoal paste.

Herbal lotion to relieve itching
Witch hazels a mild astringent and helps to calm inflammation, while peppermint cools irritated skin and relieves itching. Lavender is both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial.
30ml (Ifl oz) witch hazel extract 20 drops peppermint essential oil 20 drops lavender essential oil
Combine the ingredients in a small bottle. Shake well, and apply with a cotton ball as often as desired.

Heal a skin rash with clay
Apply a poultice of cosmetic clay, aloe vera gel, and peppermint essential oil to treat a rash caused by a plant. Cosmetic clay is drying and aloe vera encourages healing. Peppermint oil cools and temporarily relieves itching.
2 tablespoons cosmetic clay Aloe vera gel to mix
2 drops peppermint essential oil
Mix the clay with enough aloe very gel to make a thin, spreadable paste. Add the peppermint essential oil, spread on to the rash, and let it dry. Reapply the poultice mixture as often as you wish.

Relieve a plant rash
If you've been exposed to a plant that causes a rash, wash the affected area thoroughly with tepid water and a concentrated shampoo or dish soap to remove the irritating oils. Lather twice, and rinse thoroughly.

Ease an itchy rash with an oatmeal bath
A soothing bath with oatmeal and lavender essential oil soothes the itchy, irritated skin of a rash.
200g (7oz) rolled oats
10 drops lavender essential oil
Grind the oats in a blender into a fine powder Add to a tub of warm water along with the lavender oil. Soak for 20 minutes, and pat your skin dry without rinsing.

Fight rash infection with goldenseal
Rashes that are caused by plants may, on occasions, become infected. A mixture of raw, unfiltered honey and goldenseal applied to the rash fights infection and encourages healing. Goldenseal has antimicrobial properties and helps dry and heal the weeping rash. Raw honey is also antiseptic and soothes irritation. Mix equal parts of honey and powdered goldenseal, and spread on to the rash, Cover with a gauze bandage. Change the dressing twice daily until the rash has healed.