Oil of Basil works on stings!

[Paynesgrey]

I discovered that THERAPUTIC GRADE, or FOOD GRADE Oil of Basil kills the pain and itch instantly! Much faster than Lanacaine etc. But don't use aromatherapy grade - heavens knows what toxic stuff they may have cut it with.

The itch also stays away much longer with the Basil Oil than with the topical anesthetics. Basil Oil is supposed to be a mild anti-inflammatory too.

1 drop straight Basil Oil, applied directly to the sting works. Or you can use 2% in food grade oil rubbed over the entire area a day or 2 after the sting, when the itching starts. It even lasts all night.  :-D

You can measure out a 2% solution using a sterile 1 cc (100 unit) insulin syringe.  Use pliers to twist off the needle tip, in its cap, and dispose of the sharp safely. Then draw up/measure out 1000 units (10 syringes) of food grade oil (I use Almond oil) and squirt into whatever container you are using to store the mix. Then pull up 20 units of therapeutic or food grade basil oil from it's bottle. If your Oil of Basil bottle has a dropper on it, pull the plunger out of the insulin syringe and drip the basil oil down the inner _inside_ of the syringe barrel. (If you drip down the _center_ of the syringe, the air in the syringe will block the drop.) Several drops will probably do it. Then then use the plunger to drive the Basil Oil into your mixing jar. Use the syringe as a stir stick.

Essential oils should be stored in those tiny amber or dark green glass bottles, fairly cheap at the health food stores or from a helpful pharmacy.   

I have not messed with the hives while reeking of basil oil though (it smells kinda like anise) so I don't know whether it would be useful to have at the hive for a sting, or a Really Bad Idea :)

[Livefreeordie]

Another good remedy, crush up Plantain leaves and apply that to the sting. Pain and itch will disappear right away. As an aside, it is also a great styptic and will stop blood flow instantly if you should get cut in the field.

[lisascenic]

Where do you buy your basil oil?

[sarafina]

I have basil growing in my herb garden.....  wonder if crushing it and rubbing it on a sting would help....  I haven't been stung since I got my Ultra Breeze suit, though........ :-D

[Michael Bush]

>Another good remedy, crush up Plantain leaves and apply that to the sting.

You beat me to it...

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#plantain

[Livefreeordie]

>Another good remedy, crush up Plantain leaves and apply that to the sting.

You beat me to it...

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#plantain

There are a lot of things I am able to do now in old age that I couldn't earlier in life. Taking up beekeeping after a 20 year interest, and becoming a half-a**ed herbalist are two of them. It is amazing what nature provides for us, if we are learned enough to use it.

[Paynesgrey]

I purchased it at a local health food store for $7.09 for 30 ml (1 oz) The recipie above took 2 ml, so it goes a long way. Shop around though. I priced it as high as $18.95 for the same jar, same brand, same grade Basil Oil at another store. 

I read about it in the current issue of Countryside. It was primarily being discussed as an antispasmotic for foot/leg cramps, but mentioned that it also works for migraines, and that it quickly removes the pain/itch from insect bites/itchy rashes, which it does. I searched for negative effects, but it looks good.

I treated fire ant bites from working on the fenceline yesterday, and they are not driving me crazy as they normally would :)

[bud1]

a little snuff works pretty quick; i always keep a fresh dip when i have small kids around

[hardwood]

Adolph's meat tenderizer mixed with a little spit or crushed papaya leaves or sap (the active ingredient in Adolph's) breaks down the protein in the venom just as it does on steak...the stuff works wonders.

Scott

[HomeBru]

>Another good remedy, crush up Plantain leaves and apply that to the sting.

You beat me to it...

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#plantain

Michael, never took the time to thank you for that little gem. I came across this page last year when doing some background reading before getting started in 'keeping. At our first local beek's meeting, number one son got tagged so I just bent over grabbed some plantain, chewed it up a bit and rubbed it on his sting. At lunch that day, I had at least five veteran beeks come up and ask my son how his sting was and then come to me and ask me what it was I'd picked...

J-

[Michael Bush]

>At lunch that day, I had at least five veteran beeks come up and ask my son how his sting was and then come to me and ask me what it was I'd picked...

I'm always baffled that something as easily available and as effective is not more widely known... but then if you google "plantain" and "bee sting" you'll get enough hits to convince me that it is fairly widely known... but not among beekeepers...

[Livefreeordie]

>At lunch that day, I had at least five veteran beeks come up and ask my son how his sting was and then come to me and ask me what it was I'd picked...

I'm always baffled that something as easily available and as effective is not more widely known... but then if you google "plantain" and "bee sting" you'll get enough hits to convince me that it is fairly widely known... but not among beekeepers...

Herbalists are always talking about such remedies, I suppose in an attempt to get others to slow the support for the pharmaceutical companies. I have known about that particular remedy since scouts, but I suppose they don't teach that stuff anymore.

[luvin honey]

>At lunch that day, I had at least five veteran beeks come up and ask my son how his sting was and then come to me and ask me what it was I'd picked...

I'm always baffled that something as easily available and as effective is not more widely known... but then if you google "plantain" and "bee sting" you'll get enough hits to convince me that it is fairly widely known... but not among beekeepers...

Plaintain leaves, easily available?? Are we talking about the tiny yard/garden variety, of the larger variety that produces edible fruit? Thanks---luvin' honey

[Livefreeordie]

>At lunch that day, I had at least five veteran beeks come up and ask my son how his sting was and then come to me and ask me what it was I'd picked...

I'm always baffled that something as easily available and as effective is not more widely known... but then if you google "plantain" and "bee sting" you'll get enough hits to convince me that it is fairly widely known... but not among beekeepers...

Plaintain leaves, easily available?? Are we talking about the tiny yard/garden variety, of the larger variety that produces edible fruit? Thanks---luvin' honey

Just the yard variety. Most people try to get them OUT of their lawns. Either the fat leaf or the narrow leaf will work fine, it is also a styptic and will stop blood flow in a flash.

[Michael Bush]

Picture here:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#plantain

[AllenF]

Try some grin and bear it. :-D

[jhs494]

Picture here:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#plantain

Very nice picture Michael. I have seen this stuff in our yard all my life and never new that was plantain. I will definitely be trying this the next time I get a sting.
Thanks for the picture and the tip.