Herbs To Treat Bed Bugs

Bitten By The Bug

A good night's sleep might become next to impossible, if one is constantly being bitten by bed bugs.

Bed bugs have been a problem for many centuries. Documents reference bed bug problems during medieval times and by the ancient Greek.

Sleeping on an infested bed is one thing, but being bitten is another. While a bed bug bite is painless and has an extremely low chance of transmitting diseases, itching and redness of the skin soon follows. And some people feel a great amount of shame that they have bed bugs.

Many believe that a bedbug infestation is detrimental to a relationship and can cause psychological strain.

What are the Bites Like?

Bed bug bites initially appear as large red whelts that eventually become a red mark. These red marks can last as long as five days. And often these red marks from several bites form an orderly pattern on the skin.

Specific characteristics of bed bug bites are

- Irritation, inflammation and destruction of the local tissue.
- Allergic reactions that can happen immediately or delayed.
- Orderly pattern of marks.

Bed bugs bites do not transmit harmful diseases and their medical significance is only limited to itching and inflammation. In some people the allergic reaction does requre medical attention.

The immediate treatment for the affected part is by washing it with soap and water. Scratching is strongly advised against, as this can cause the bite to become infected and possibly require more advanced medical aid.

Treating the area with ice or possibly special herbs is also recommended, as these can help speed up the healing process.

Herbal treatments are primarily used to control infections, stop itching or pain. In addition, these herbs are used to improve symptoms, correct imbalance, boost the immune system, and increase energy. Many herbs help strengthen the body for better health and quality of life.

Chinese herbs are advantageous, because they can be used in combo with other herbs depending on the status of the bed bug bite. Below are some herbs that can be used to treat bed bug bites.

Plantain - also known as the band-aid plant, ribwort and pig’s ear. This herb is a common weed of parks, driveways and playgrounds. The five parallel veins that run on each leaf distinguish this herb from others.

The broad leaf plantain has a tall seed head and long thin leaves, while a narrow leaf plantain has a small flower head that looks similar to flying saucer and long thin leaves. A considerable number of Plantago species have leaves and seeds that used food or treatment for bed bug bites.

Mud - this is the simplest and oldest poultice. A bed bug bite can be treated with powdered white clay.

Bed bug or other insect bites that cause severe itching or pain can be administered with bland starchy substances such as arrowroot powder, graded potato and mallow root or finely ground grains such as oatmeal or rice.

Fresh-herb poultices - these are slightly more complicated to prepare that other herbs. A person must first chew it then apply the substance to the bed bug bite. For maximum effect, the poultice can be placed in an adhesive bandage or large leaf to keep it in place.

Some examples of the poultice include:

- Plantium
- wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
- comfrey (Symphytum uplandica x)
- yellow dock (Rumex species)
- wild mallow (Malva neglecta)
- chickweed (Stellaria media)

The best herbal leaves are those that come from willow, maple, oak or hazel. The herbs need to be recognized properly before they are chewed. The most recognizable and safest to chew of all herbs are oak and Maple.

Leaves that are either slick or shiny should be avoided, if one is uncertain about what herb should be used for the treatment.

If the leaf is extremely bitter upon chewing it is advisable to spit it out immediately.

For more information about herbs and home made remedies, visit HomeMadeMedicine.com.