The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Tea Bag
Posted by Diana (Atlanta, GA, USA) on 08/23/2007
★★★★★
I, too, can vouch for the wonders of Benadryl, for dogs, people, and horses alike. I'd like to add that, having been stung on multiple occasions by wasps, I've found that a warm, wet teabag applied to the area of the sting will usually keep the pain at bay (I think it's the tannins in the tea). I don't know if it has the same effect on bee stings, but I've used it (in combo w/ Benadryl) on my dogs when they've been stung, and it really seemed to help. Thanks for your site!
Tobacco
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn) on 04/01/2017
★★★★★
My Tractor Driver now thinks I's a bright guy. With spring in the air we are leaving the doors open to soak in the fresh air. With that comes wasps. She just got stung on the finger and I told her that I had a 20 year old pack of cigs in the drawer just for this. She soaked one and made a pack with a paper towel. I wrapped this on the sting with Scotch tape and within minutes, she exclaimed, " Wow, this works".
The problem with tobacco is that it got polluted with Arsenic to kill the boll worms and the processors sprayed it with insecticides, fungicides, and pesticides. Is it any wonder this great herb now causes you grief? The American Indians used it in moderation for thousands of years. Us educated folks turned it into a death wish.
ATS====ORH======
Replied by Mama To Many
(Tn)
04/03/2017
Tobacco
Posted by Misty (Kingston, Ga) on 07/24/2008
★★★★★
This works great! My son got stung repeatedly in the yard one day. I put tobacco on all of them except one I didn't see. Only the one without it swelled. The others were completely without swelling.
Replied by Antonio
(Tuscumbia, Alabama)
05/22/2009
Replied by Michelle
(Cairns, Far North Queensland Australia)
10/19/2010
★★★★★
Tobacco
Posted by Susan (Humboldt, TN) on 07/30/2007
★★★★★
Tobacco is the best thing for insect stings. I always try to keep a pack of cigarettes and I don't smoke. But if you tear up one and dampen the tobacco and put it on the sting area it sucks the poison out and it quits hurting. It doesn't swell or itch either. If someone is chewing tobacco that is best (uck!). My Grandadday used it on me one day and it worked great.
Tobacco
Posted by Brenda (Vicksburg, MS) on 11/08/2006
★★★★★
My grandfather always wet tobacco and applied it to wasp or bee stings and it works immediately to stop the pain and swelling.
Replied by Texaninsweden
(Siknas, Norbotten, Sweden)
01/20/2010
★★★★★
Replied by Diane
(Lonsdale, Mn)
01/24/2010
Replied by Shampoogirl
(Jacksonville, Al)
07/06/2012
Toothache Drops
Posted by Pete (Brisbane, Australia) on 04/18/2009
★★★★★
Toothache drops: If you have been stung by a bee, ant or any other insect use a few drops of toothache remedy from your local pharmacy on the affected area. It numbs the area in seconds, no more pain.
Toothpaste
Posted by Iluvigs (Springfield, Mo, United States) on 07/27/2010
★★★★★
I had read that toothpaste would relieve the pain of bee stings... Have used it myself, my husband and even used it on a dog with great success. Also worked on wasp stings .It does not relieve itching but does relieve initial pain. It was recommended to use paste rather than gel but if gel was all I had, I would sure try it. We keep a tube of paste clearly marked for stings only.
Vinegar
Posted by Pam E. (Southern California) on 09/20/2019 172 posts
★★★★★
For bee & wasp stings, I just spray on 5% vinegar. The area around & near the sting always swelled terribly & stung & burned . . . before I began immediately spraying with 5% vinegar. Now, after spraying it & massaging it into my skin, the sting & any redness quickly disappears, and it never develops into anything more than the teensy hole where the stinger went in. I always have 5% vinegar in a spray bottle for household cleaning, so that's my 'go to'!
Vitamin C
Posted by WT (Spartanburg, SC) on 05/29/2008
★★★★★
Vitamin C for Insect Bites and Allergies: I had a spider bite once that swelled on my forearm like a half-egg under the skin. I took 3-4G of ascorbic acid, the cheap Vitamin C from Sams club, about once every hour and a half or so. By dark the swelling was down to maybe 10%. I continued overnight and all day the next day. During that time, while in the yard working, I felt something on my arm. I looked down to see a "fireant" biting feverishly the back of my hand. I assumed there must be something wrong with him as I didn't feel any burning. Another one bit me later with the same results. I only noticed a feeling like something was crawling on me. The wounds never swelled, turned red or itched! It must have been the massive doses of C circulating in my blood.
I estimated I consumed about 40 grams of C over a 24hr period. Normally that much C will give you severe diarrhea and gas! I had neither.
I also take it for severe allergy flareups with great and quick relief, though only last for 2-4 hours, depending on the intensity of the allergen.
