Earth Clinic Mobile: Home Remedies for People and Pets

Spider Bites

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Sea Salt for a Blistering Spider Bite

Michael Johson (Ventura County California) on 06/17/2023
5 out of 5 stars

I had a spider bite that blistered overnight. Lancing the blister and packing the wound with sea salt stopped the necrosis and began the healing process almost immediately. Yeah, pouring salt in a wound is a bit painful, but the resulting effect was well worth it. BTW, it wasn't THAT painful; just a sting for a bit.

Peppermint Oil Helped 6 Day Old Spider Bite

Julie (California) on 07/21/2021
5 out of 5 stars

Just tried Peppermint oil on a six day old spider bite that was continuing to get worse every day. Had been using iodine and toothpaste which would both work moderately well and for a while, but it was starting to itch and swell worse today.

Using the Peppermint oil straight on the bite worked amazingly well for me with decreasing (almost completely) the itch and with swelling also.

JT (USA) on 04/18/2020
5 out of 5 stars

Me and my wife's bichon bff had a black 1-2 inch spot under her neck that I now think was a brown recluse spider bite that was getting worse by the day. Luckily, my wife suggested putting 3% hydrogen peroxide on it, which within a day started working to stop the growth and by day 2 started to reduce the size of the infected area. Then we decided to add some virgin coconut oil on it to work with the peroxide and walla, it worked like a miracle. Within 4 days total our bff was healed on up and only had a pink bald spot that got back to normal in about a week or so after that.

Lawton (Corpus Christi, Texas) on 01/14/2019
5 out of 5 stars

Tobacco poultice for stings and bites: Since childhood (over 50 years), I have been using pure tobacco for drawing the poison out of a bee sting or a spider bite. Simply wet the tobacco with water or better yet saliva (it is acidic and helps break down the tobacco and get things happening quicker) and tape it with a bandaid or tape onto the wound. Leave it on for a couple of hours and put on a fresh application.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda Poultice for Spider or Insect Bites

Sabita C. (Orange City, Florida) on 08/26/2018
5 out of 5 stars

I also found an effective poultice to be made from saturating 2 folded up paper towels (folded twice) with apple cider vinegar and a thick layer of baking soda to be very effective. I treated my husband's spider?/insect? bite with this. He had developed a large affected area with a black area in the middle and had been put on antibiotics. His symptoms were fever and chills, lack of appetite and he slept a lot. After I applied this poultice (pressed down on bite area until dry, a couple or more times a day), his symptoms disappeared and he recovered quickly.

Bread Poultice for Spider Bites, Wounds, Splinters,

Barbara Wellman (Co) on 08/10/2018
5 out of 5 stars

My Mother used a bread poultice for many small wounds, splinters, bites, etc. You cover the wound with a small bit of bread moistened with milk and put a bandage over it. You can feel relief almost instantly. I can't tell you how many times this has worked for me. Make a poultice out of sage and water, for spider bites. That works really well.

Flaxseed Poultice for Brown Recluse Spider Bites

Susan D. (Snohomish, Wa) on 07/28/2018
5 out of 5 stars

Brown recluse bites: My husband has had two bites over the years. His grandmother taught me to make a poultice with flaxseed. It draws the poison out. Works for slivers and glass to draw out. Crush the seeds to powder, add just enough water to make a paste. Put in gauze and apply to the area overnight. Do this several times.

Baking Soda and Salt for Brown Recluse Spider Bite

Stacyj913 (Kansas City, Mo) on 07/23/2018
5 out of 5 stars

I've had very good success using both salt and baking soda for brown recluse bites. I live in Missouri and have been bitten three times. With this most recent bite, I immediately washed with soap and water when I realized what had woken me up, dried, and applied salt. I wet a bandage with witch hazel, generously applied a layer of salt, and taped it over the bite.

When removing the salt 2 hours later, I could see a moistened area right over the puncture site, which I really believe to be some of the venom being drawn out.

I then applied a dab of Neopsorin and spent most of that day and the next icing for 15 minutes at a time, reapplying salt a couple of times. Ice is a must for the swelling and pain and/or intense itching. I once read it can actually help neutralize some of the venom; I'm not sure if this is true but it certainly feels much better.

I've likewise read that heat can exacerbate the bite and believe that to be true based on experience. For the next couple of days I took a bath as cool as I could comfortably stand, with a bit of Epsom salts and baking soda, and believe it helped a lot. I also increased my vitamin C the first few days, 3,000 mg daily (I probably could have gone higher), and turmeric 1,500 mg daily.

About a week later, the bite is healing beautifully, and I don't believe it will leave a scar at all. I'm at this point just applying Neosporin and a Band-Aid at night. I've had similar great results using baking soda in a similar way, again seeing a moist spot in the baking soda after a couple of hours. (I just didn't immediately have baking soda on hand this time around so used plain salt instead.)

The only bite that did take a very long time to heal and has left a noticeable scar is the one where I never applied baking soda or salt (Not realizing until later that a brown recluse bite is actually what it was). ~

Baking Soda and Echinacea

Stephanie (Georgia) on 05/04/2017
5 out of 5 stars

Spider Bites:

Baking soda poultice made with baking soda and just a few drops of water. Apply as soon as you see the bite, don't wait to see if its gonna be a nasty one, the sooner you draw out the toxins the better. I also mix in equal parts of cayenne pepper, it kills any bacteria and stops infection (optional).

Also take 3 500mg echinacea capsules, then one capsules every hour for the first day as you see improvement you can start to back off the dose to 3 caps twice a day making sure to always take a dose before bed.

This worked miracles on brown recluse bite. I will now make sure I always have plenty of echinacea on hand!

Oregano Oil, Turmeric, Chili Peppers After Brown Recluse Spider Bite

Bob (Filer, Idaho) on 12/25/2016
5 out of 5 stars

One tablespoon coconut oil, 4 drops of pure oregano essential oil 100 percent, several (2-4 it stains clothing can be left out) drops of turmeric diluted, mix .. brush teeth, apply to interior of nose to fight colds, apply to hands a.m. as infection fighter at public places, after a brown recluse spider bite .. puts brakes on cellular degeneration immediately .. follow up with chili pepper gel caps after any spider bite .. stroke or heart attack in next two days. Stuff E.R. never dreamed could happen - herbs weak and ineffective - you take life flight I'll take herbs.

Salt and Vaseline for Spider Bites

Tak (Eugene, Or) on 08/27/2016
5 out of 5 stars

My mom got a brown recluse bite while living in Arkansas. Noticed it when a large pit started forming around the bite but had no money to see a doctor. A neighbor told her to make a paste with 1/2 teaspoon vaseline and as much salt (she used table salt) as you could and still have it be sticky and apply directly to the bite as a compress. She did this for about a week and though it hurt alot the bite was healed completely.

My boyfriend was recently bit by something, it swelled immediately then started bruising after 30 minutes. I immediately cut a potato in half and taped it to the area. The next day a large bruise appeared on his inner thigh everywhere the potato wasn't. It has a small red area in the center and very dark rings. He was also feeling sick with hot/cold flashes and a fever. I then applied the salt paste using epsom salt, changing after 4 hours to sea salt. It looked better when I went to change it and he was feeling much better.

Today is day 3 and I'm still waiting for him to wake up to check progress, I'll update when I see how it goes.

Flaxseed Poultice for Spider Bites, Boils or Splinters

Melinda (Bothell, Wa) on 07/09/2016
5 out of 5 stars

A spider bite on my elbow swelled up to about softball size and hurt a lot. A flaxseed poultice brought the pain levels and swelling down about 75% within 45 minutes. Since then I always keep flaxseed in the refrigerator, as it has drawing properties whether used on a splinter, a boil, or a venomous bite. Grind the flaxseed (a blender does a great job), add just a few drops of bath temperature tap water, make a paste and apply. Cover with plastic wrap and then cloth, or just use a regular adhesive bandage.

Baking Soda, Salt, and Garlic Instantly Stopped Pain from Spider Bite

Shelley7 (Tampa, Fl) on 03/24/2016
5 out of 5 stars

Thank You so much for having this site available! I was bitten 5 days ago the area has been very sore and itchy. I did go to a walk in clinic and they basically said ice, Tylenol, antihistamine cream which none helped:( I have been miserable knowing there must be something more I could do! I made my poultice of baking soda, pink Himalayan salt, crushed garlic covered it with large gauze bandaid! Wow instant relief:) It's midnight it's all I had in the house. I saw active charcoal mentioned too.I'm going to have this on hand in the future as well! This is my first time bitten by a spider! Not fun, it's very painful and scary! Hopefully it heals up nicely soon and doesn't get worse:(

Tea Tree Oil for a Spider Bite

Laura (Pennsylvania) on 09/10/2015
5 out of 5 stars

I used to be an independent rep for a company called Melaleuca (trademarked the real name for our Tea Tree Oil. They sold products with Melaleuca /"Tea Tree Oil" in them. Their oil is pharmaceutical grade, comes from the leaf of a plant in Austrailia, is medicinal and is good for spider bites.

I was bit on the hand in 2011 by a spider while sleeping. I knew it was a spider because the bite had 2 dots where the teeth went into my skin. My hand swelled up like a balloon in 3 days. I went to the hospital and was given an atibiotic and cream which didn't do much of anything.

I remembered the Melaleuca or Tea Trea Oil. Walmart sells the pharmaceutical grade for $7-$8.

I put it on twice a day and covered the bite with gauze. It went away and NO SCAR TISSUE left behind.

It happened again recently on the back of my leg. I keep the oil in my house. Needless to say I skipped the ER and put the oil on my leg. It worked great. Praise the Lord for His natural medicine the world cannot match.

Baking Soda for Spider Bites

Peter ( Kelowna Bc) on 05/06/2015
5 out of 5 stars

The baking soda poultice worked very well on a spider bite on my wife's neck. Just overnight did the trick.

Activated Charcoal for a Brown Recluse Spider Bite

Cg (Texas, US) on 03/24/2015
5 out of 5 stars

I had a brown recluse spider bite last year, called the closest dermatologist office who never returned my calls, so, so I did some research and ended up making a paste of activated charcoal, applied it to the wound (after popping and draining the blister and removing the loose skin) for about 3 hours to neutralize the toxin; I also swallowed some of the activated charcoal (use capsules) to neutralize the toxins internally. Afterward, I used bentonite clay powder to make a paste and applied it to the wound to draw out the toxins, etc., changing it out 3-4 times daily until healed, which it did in about a week with only a light brown scar about the size of a nickel. I'm glad the dermatologist office didn't return my call and I'm glad I researched natural remedies.

Baking Soda for Spider Bites

Wanita (Las Cruces, New Mexico) on 12/09/2014
5 out of 5 stars

Thank You, I say hooray for baking soda!!!

I'm not sure about the kind of spider, I think I was bit in my storage unit moving things around. It first looked like a pimple and was very tender. I used "Prid" drawing ointment, but it got larger and so sore it woke me up . Then I used a green clay and Yerba Mansa poultice, it got bigger and still sore ... but began to swell into a boil. I took Ibuprofen and used some Benadryl gel on it ... no change. The center opened, but no distinct drainage noted and was the size of a quarter, so sore! And I had a low grade fever.

That's when I looked online, it had been 4 days of no improvement with my tried and true remedies for such things AND I had to go to work today (3 massage therapy clients) and had to get this under control ... too much to do, this is my right arm we're talking about .... eeeeeks!!!! ).

So I used the baking soda and oh how gorgeously effective it was. After three poultice applications and a good sleep, I awoke and have found the quarter sized boil to be painless, the redness smaller and no swelling. The inflammation is gathered centrally and the hole closed instead of open like an ulcer. When I had the 2nd poultice on it, it began to itch like crazy. I knew that was a good thing ... neuro-vascular activity no doubt!

I love you all! Thanks again, Earth Clinic is bookmarked in capital letters!

Wanita

Baking Soda Poultice Helping Heal Spider Bite

Babsinbloom63 (Louisiana, US) on 11/18/2014
5 out of 5 stars

Two weeks ago I got bit on my upper back 3-4 times at my daughter's house in Texas by what we now know was a Wolf Spider. I had killed one earlier that morning in my daughter's kitchen as my daughter has a 3 month old baby and she was afraid the spider would get on the baby. That night I went to bed and woke up with a tingling, burning pain on my back which later started itching also. Then hard, swollen welts developed which quickly formed pimple like heads. I had a total of 4 of these all confined to a small area of my back. I put some neosporin and benadryl spray on them but that didn't seem to do much more than ease the itching for a short time. So I started researching what could have bitten me and came to the conclusion that it had to be the Wolf spider as my daughter and her husband just moved into their new home in Texas a few months ago and their home was built on a half acre lot that was a field and they have been having problems with spiders ever since they moved in.

Anyway, I was already on antibiotics for a tooth infection and the one I was on was one they give for spider bites (clindamyacin). I wasn't really getting any relief or healing from any of the things I tried so I did more research and found this site. I read about the baking soda poultice and remembered that my mom used to make a poultice from tobacco and baking soda when we were young and would get stung by wasps and bees and I know that worked. So for the past few days I have been making a baking soda poultice and having my husband apply it to the bites which I then leave on for at least an hour to an hour and a half. I could feel the very first poultice drawing pain out and that night I slept with no pain and no itching and in the morning the swelling, etc had gone down a great deal. And this morning after applying a poultice again yesterday, there is no swelling and the bites are healing.

I wish I could put the before and after pictures I had my husband take. There is tremendous difference using the baking soda poultice. I am making me a first aide kit with cigarette tobacco, baking soda, and benadryl tablets along with the gauze pads and tape I used to hold the poultice in place. If I get bit again I will use this from the start along with ice packs off and on. To think I might not have had to struggle with the pain and itching for two weeks if I would have tried this from the beginning, I would definitely recommend this to everyone.

Iodine for Spider Bites

Jcee (California) on 11/05/2014
5 out of 5 stars

Just used topical iodine (in my case, nascient iodine but have used regular drug store topical iodine as well) on a VERY painful, tiny, swelling spider bite on my toe. Could hardly walk. In about fifteen minutes it was 90% better. One hour later and I actually can't feel it anymore. I think the secret is to use it AS SOON as you get bit if possible.

Re: Baking Soda and Charcoal for Spider Bites

Islandmeg (Modesto, Ca ) on 03/14/2014

Aloha everyone,

I recently was bitten was a Black Widow spider and was lucky enough to find this site. What a mess they make.

I had cellulitus and the poison was spreading up my foot, heading toward my ankle. It was skin splitting sore and swollen. Also very itchy. I decided to try the baking soda and charcoal. Wow.

I was bitten on Saturday night. By Sunday night, I was a bit worried, watching the toxin spreading. I drew on my foot with a marker pen, so I could chart it's progress - just in case.

On Monday, it wasn't settling down. I found this site and made up a batch of baking soda and water. Just mixing it in with a little water to make a toothpaste like consistency. I smoothed it all over my foot and left it on there until it had dried up and was caking off. That took a lot of the itch out straight away.

When it would play up again, I'd then put some anti-histamine cream on and an ice pack. About every two hours on the Monday, I did the baking soda routine again. Each time it took out a bit more itch, a bit more pain.

I also tried one batch with some charcoal mixed in but this was stingy and I my foot stung afterwards. I had to wash it, so I just kept to the baking soda. And took the activated Charcoal (2 capsules) a couple of times a day, around food.

When I woke up on Tues, my foot had improved by about 30 to 40%. The toxin had also stopped spreading.

On Tues I did the same routine but wasn't having to do it as often. I was going about 3 to 4 hours between baking soda poultices. My friend rushed around here on Tues night, prepared to bodily take me to hospital if necessary. (She's an allopathic trauma nurse) And was floored when she saw how much it had gone down. She'd seen it on the Sunday night. (Now a keen Earthclinic phone. I put it on her phone for her. :-) ) Although, I did take some Bactrim antibiotics she had (Sulfurmeth) as well.

When I woke up Wed, my foot was probably about 100% improved. I had lost all the itchiness and most of the soreness. Slightly tight and tender to the touch, but nothing like it was. I thought my skin was going to pop. The toxin line was receding too. I only did 3 baking soda poultices.

Today is Thur and I've only done one baking soda poultice today, no ice or anti-histamine cream. I woke up and you can see the original toxin line but otherwise, barely any discoloration in the foot. I will continue to poultice it, internal charcoal and the antibiotics, which are probably only kicking in tonight anyway. :-)

In short - wow. I'm sold. Thank you all so much.