Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite
“Good night, sleep tight”. When you have bed bugs in your home, this simple sentiment can seem little more than a faraway dream.
Bed bugs have a history that’s hundreds of years old. As far back as medieval times and classical Greek history, there are documents of these creatures.
It’s certainly uncomfortable trying to sleep in an infested bed, but the real discomfort happens when you wake up. The bites can cause redness, swelling and itch, but bed bugs are not able to transmit disease. Perhaps the greatest amount of grief comes with the shameful stigma associated with having bed bugs in the home. Many people believe that a bed bug infestation is detrimental to a relationship and may cause psychological strain.
Of course, bed bugs can cause both mental and physical anguish. The real mystery, however, lies in the best way to deal with the bugs and treat their bites.
Bed Bug Bites
The bite of a bed bug will first appear as a welt, not unlike a mosquito bite. This will eventually become a red mark. The marks last for up to five days and, unlike the random appearance of mosquito bites, will appear in an orderly pattern.
Unique Characteristics of Bed Bug Bites:
* Bite marks in an orderly pattern
* Irritation, inflammation and destruction of localized tissues
* Delayed or immediate allergic reactions
Bed bugs bites cannot transmit harmful diseases, and their medical significance is limited to the basic itching and inflammation. Immediate treatment for the affected areas should involve a thorough washing with soap and water. Scratching is strongly discouraged, as this can lead to an infection that may require more advanced medical aid. Another recommendation is to treat the affected area with ice or an herbal remedy to help speed the healing process.
Herbal Treatments
Herbal remedies can be successfully used to control infection and treat pain and itching. These applications can also help to improve symptoms, correct imbalances, increase energy and boost the immune system. Of course, keeping your body strong is important in promoting better overall health and quality of life.
Chinese herbs are advantageous when used in conjunction with other herbal remedies, depending on the status of the bed bug bite. Treatments that combine an optimized herbal mixture are highly effective in treating illnesses and addressing symptoms.
The following herbs can be used to treat bed bug bites:
Plantain: Known as the band-aid plant, pig’s ear and ribwort, this herb is commonly found growing wild in parks, playgrounds and even driveways. There is a series of five parallel veins that run on each leaf that characterize this herb from others. A narrow leaf plantain has long, thin leaves, with a small flower head that looks similar to flying saucer. A broad leaf plantain has a taller seed head and long, thin leaves. Some members of this plant family have leaves and seeds that may be eaten as food and used as medicinal treatments.
Mud: The simplest and oldest poultice known to mankind is plain old mud. A bed bug bite can be soothed with powdered white clay that has been mixed with herbal tea. Clay can be successfully stored for a prolonged time, as it is unlikely to contain fungal spores. Painful, severely itchy bites caused by bed bugs and other insects may also be treated with bland starchy substances such as arrowroot powder, grated potato and mallow root, or finely ground grains such as oatmeal or rice.
Fresh Herb Poultice: These are slightly more complicated to prepare than other herbal treatments. The fresh herbs should first be chewed, and then applied directly to the bed bug bite. For maximum effect, the poultice can be covered by an adhesive bandage or large leaf to keep it in place.
Some of the more popular choices for fresh herb poultices are:
* Chickweed - Stellaria media
* Comfrey - Symphytum uplandica x
* Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
* Wild mallow - Malva neglecta
* Yellow dock - Rumex species
Natural Leaves: The best natural leaves to treat bed bug bites are those that come from maple, oak, willow and hazel trees. If you can’t positively identify these leaves, don’t chew them. The safest and most easily recognized are the leaves of maple and oak trees. Do not chew leaves with a slick or shiny appearance, and don’t use the leaf as a treatment if you’re not sure where it came from. If you chew a leaf and it tastes bitter, spit it out right away.
You can still have a good night, even when bed bugs bite. These remedies can take away the pain and itch and help you rest a little easier.
