In the spring and summer your kids - and you too- are more
likely to be running around outside barefoot or rolling and
playing in the grass. Getting an insect bite or sting can
put an end to these happy go lucky times. This quick and
easy bug bite and sting natural remedy never fails to work
and to get the kids back on track for more outdoor
adventures.
To squelch a bug bite or sting:
Quickly find a broad leaf plantain leaf - these are easily
found as they are weeds in almost all grassy areas. (This
is one plant I would choose not to eradicate from my lawn
because of its medicinal benefits.) It is low growing, dark
green and broad, with "ribs" on the leaf - please look it
up in a plant identification book if you are not sure.
Chew up the leaf - the action of salvia activates its sting
stopping powers. (If you are afraid to chew it up then bite
on it to break the skin and mix it with some of your
salvia.)
Place the chewed up plantain leaf on the bug bite or sting.
Almost immediately the pain will stop. You or your child
can hold the plantain mass in place while you go inside and
get the rest of the remedy.
Find your comfrey tincture (you do have a good herbal first
aid kit, right?), a big Band-Aid (my kids preferred using a
gauze pad and first aid tape - so much more dramatic).
Leaving the plantain mass in place, secure it with the
Band-Aid or gauze and first aid tape. Once secured, dribble
some comfrey tincture under the dressing and on the sting.
The comfrey is soothing and cool and takes away any
lingering pain, stinging or discomfort.
Leave on until it falls off later that day or the next
morning. If it is a particularly bad bite or sting, you may
need to put a fresh plantain/comfrey dressing on the next
day.
This remedy has never failed and prevents infections from
the bite or sting. The best thing is how much it seems to
empower the children (and adults too!). If someone around
them gets a bug bite or sting the kids are the first ones
to find the plantain (so be sure you teach them to be able
to accurately identify it) and they show up beaming and
full of compassion - "Don't worry. It's OK --we have the
plantain!"
----------------------------------------------------
Mary Ann Copson is the founder of Evenstar Herbs and the
Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center. With Master's
Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling,
Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified
Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile
Clinician. Find more herbal remedies at
http://evenstaronline.com/herbs
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