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10 Effective Home Remedies for Spider Bites
If you are bitten by a spider, it is important to remain calm; there are natural spider bite treatments you can do yourself before getting medical assistance.
A spider bite may be cool for Spider-Man, but for the rest of us, it is a terrifying situation. However, as scary as spiders appear to be, their bites aren’t as threatening, in the majority of the cases at least.
Despite that, they’re still a cause for concern and call for immediate treatment to alleviate its effects. Before getting into those details let us first highlight species of spiders whose bites are dangerous, and call for immediate medical help if the pain persists.
Black Widow Spider Bite
Black Widow Spider
The dreaded black widow black in color, and has a red hourglass shape on its abdomen’s underside. It is considered to be one of the most venomous spider species. Symptoms of its bite include:
- numbness
- restlessness
- headache
- nausea
- high blood pressure
- abdominal cramps
- pain and burning sensation at the bite site
Brown Recluse Spider Bite
Brown Recluse Spider
The six-eyed brown recluse with a violin figure etched in its back is yet another spider whose bites demand urgent medical treatment. Pain can spread within the initial 8 hours after getting bitten. Healing of this bite may take at most one week. Symptoms may include:
- body ache
- fever
- chills
- pain
- itchiness at the bite site
If get bitten by this spider, you have to take precautionary actions because the bite of Brown Recluse is painless and it often takes time for the allergic reactions to appear. Most of the victims seek medical care when the skin lesions have developed caused by the venom.
According to a new report, researchers at the Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil, are testing a new ointment to impede the effects of the Brown Recluse spider bites.
The ointment, which is based on Tetracycline, an antibiotic to treat bacterial infections, are now tested on humans. The researchers are optimistic the new ointment will reduce the size of the wound due to Brown Recluse spider bite by 80%.
Wolf Spider Bite
Wolf Spider
The eight-eyed wolf spider is typically black, brown or gray whose two front eyes are bigger than the remaining eyes. Healing of this type of bite may take up to 10 days at most with proper medical treatment. Bite symptoms may include:
- swollen lymph glands
- tearing of the skin resulting in pain
- swelling
- redness
- tissue damage in the rare cases
General Spider Bite Symptoms
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As threatening as spiders look they don’t bite humans without any reason. They only bite us when they feel threatened.
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For instance, if you wear a shoe which you haven’t worn in a while, a spider inside it may feel suffocated and end up biting your foot.
General house spiders whose bites can easily be treated by natural spider bite treatments. Bite symptoms of these spiders may include:
- redness
- itching
- mild pain
- Inflammation
Although a random bug bite may be mistaken for a spider bite or vice versa, this bite can easily be cured with the following natural spider bite treatments at home.
Natural Spider Bite Treatments at Home
Before resorting to any of the following treatments make sure that:
- You have thoroughly washed the bite site with lukewarm water and soap.
- You have elevated the bitten limb. For instance, if your leg or arm was bitten, haul it over an inflated bag, pillow or cushion.
After doing this, you can employ any of these natural spider bite treatments to reduce the swelling:
Ice Pack
Cold temperature helps numb nerve endings, thereby soothing itchiness, inflammation, and swelling. You can either:
- Place the affected spot under cold running water for a couple of minutes.
- Wrap some ice cubes in a cloth and rub it on the affected spot for 10 minutes.
Repeat the process for the initial 24 hours taking breaks midway.
Salt
Owing to its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic characteristics salt is good for drawing out the venom from a spider bite and reducing redness and inflammation. To use salt as a remedy:
- Sprinkle some table salt on a wet piece of cloth.
- Wrap it around the bite and tie it down for some hours.
Repeat as needed.
Baking Soda
This alkaline efficiently draws out the venom from a spider’s bite and reduces pain, inflammation, and itchiness.
- Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 3 teaspoons of water.
- Using a piece of cotton apply the solution to the affected area.
- Wash the area with warm water.
Repeat as needed.
Aspirin
Due to its excellent anti-inflammatory properties aspirin can effectively neutralize the venom and alleviate inflammation and swelling.
- Soak 1-2 aspirin tablets in some water to form a paste.
- Apply this paste on the bite leaving it for a few hours.
- Wash the bite with warm water.
Repeat once or twice as needed.
Potatoes
Due to their anti-irritating property potatoes promote quick healing by moisturizing the area and alleviating inflammation and itchiness.
- Peel a potato and wash it rigorously.
- Grate the potato with a grater.
- Secure some wet potato shreds into a piece of thin cloth by tying it up.
- Clean the area with alcohol and place the cloth over it leaving it until the potatoes have dried.
- Discard the dried potato shreds and wash the bite with warm water.
Reapply with fresh potato shreds as needed.
Lemon Juice
This not only alleviates inflammation, swelling, and itchiness but also prevents infection. You may either:
- Rub a lemon piece over the bite site for 2-3 minutes rinsing it off after 5 minutes.
- Apply the fresh lemon juice to the bite site with some cotton rinsing it off with warm water after the juice has dried.
Repeat several times a day.
Turmeric
This natural pain-killer keeps inflammation, swelling, and pain at bay. You may apply either of these:
- Mix 1-2 teaspoons of turmeric powder and some olive oil washing the site after 10 minutes.
- Blend 1 tbsp of turmeric powder, some washed Neem leaves and some water, washing the site after 20 minutes.
Peppermint
Its anti-inflammatory property alleviates itchiness, swelling, pain, and inflammation from the bite site. You may either apply:
- 1-2 drops of peppermint oil on the bite twice or thrice a day.
- Freshly drawn peppermint juice over the bite, leave it for 15-20 minutes before washing it with warm water.
Repeat as needed.
Aloe Vera
This antiseptic not only alleviates itchiness, swelling, and pain but fastens the recovery too by moisturizing the bite.
- Clean a leaf of Aloe Vera and slice it up to obtain the gel.
- Gently rub this gel over the bite.
Re-apply as needed.
Activated Charcoal
It’s good for drawing out the venom thereby reducing inflammation. You can either:
- Take activated charcoal capsules after consulting with a doctor.
- Apply a mixture of activated charcoal and some water and bandage it up.
Repeat every 3 hours the first day.
In Conclusion
Keep yourself out of harm’s way by not provoking spiders and be cautious of wearing an old shoe or fetching a book from a cupboard you’re opening after a long time.
If you’re experiencing a spider infestation it is always best to turn to a professionally-trained spider control expert to help remove them.
If you don’t threaten spiders, they won’t bite you in return. If they still bite you, any of the treatments above should help relieve you of the bite’s irritation.
However, in the case of serious looking spiders, be safe and seek medical assistance right away.***
Last update November 30, 2018.
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