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“Good night, sleep tight”. When you have bed bugs in your home, this basic sentiment can seem little more than a faraway dream.
Bed bugs have roots that date back centuries, as far back in history as classical Greece and medieval times, as documented in various writings. It’s certainly uncomfortable trying to sleep in an infested bed, but the real discomfort occurs when you wake up. The bites can cause redness, itch and swelling, but bed bugs are not able to transmit disease. Maybe, the greatest amount of grief comes with the shameful stigma associated with having bed bugs in the home. Many people think that a bed bug infestation is detrimental to a relationship and may cause psychological strain.
There is no question that bed bugs can cause both physical and mental anguish. The real mystery is how to treat the bugs and their nasty bites.
Bite Me
Initially, bed bug bites appear as welts, similar to mosquito bites, eventually becoming red marks. These signs can last for as long as five days and may appear in an orderly pattern, unlike the random appearance of mosquito bites.
Particular Features of Bed Bug Bites:
* Bite marks have an orderly pattern
* Inflammation, irritation and destruction of the localized tissue
* Allergic reactions, sometimes immediate, sometimes delayed
Bed bugs bites cannot transmit harmful diseases, and their medical significance is limited to the basic inflammation and itching. Immediate treatment for the infected 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 thorough medical aid. Another suggestion 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 treat itching and pain, and help to control infection. They are also used to help improve symptoms, increase energy, correct imbalances and help boost the immune system. Of course, it’s vital to keep your body strong to promote better overall health and quality of life.
Depending on the condition of the bed bug bite, Chinese herbs are advantageous when used in conjunction with other herbal remedies. Herbal medications used with an optimized herbal combination are highly effective to treat illnesses and address symptoms.
The following herbs can be used to cure bed bug bites:
Plantain: This is also known as the band-aid plant, ribwort and pig’s ear. It’s an herb commonly found growing wild in playgrounds, parks and even driveways. The characteristic that differentiates this herb from others is the series of five parallel veins that run on each leaf. A narrow leaf plantain has long, thin leaves and a small flower head that appears similar to flying saucer, while a broad leaf plantain has a tall seed head and long thin leaves. There are a number of plants in this family with seeds and leaves that may be eaten as food, or used for medicinal treatments.
Mud: The oldest and simplest poultice known to mankind is plain old mud. A bed bug bite can be soothed with powdered white clay that has been combined with herbal tea. Clay can be successfully stored for a prolonged time, as it is unlikely to have fungal spores. Painful, severely itchy bites caused by bed bugs and other insects may also be treated with bland starchy substances such as grated potato arrowroot powder and mallow root, or finely ground grains such as oatmeal or rice.
Fresh Herb Poultice: These are slightly more complicated to arrange than other herbal treatments. The fresh herbs should first be chewed, and then applied openly to the bed bug bite. For maximum result, the poultice can be covered by an adhesive bandage or large leaf to keep it in place.
Some well known choices for fresh herb poultice are:
* Chickweed or Stellaria media
* Comfrey or Symphytum uplandica x
* Wild Geranium or Geranium maculatum
* Wild mallow or Malva neglecta
* Yellow dock or Rumex species
Herbal Leaves: The best herbal leaves to treat bed bug bites are those that come from mapple, oak, willow, or hazel trees. Make sure that you are able to positively identify these leaves before you chew them. The most recognizable and safest are oak and maple leaves. If a leaf has a shiny or slick appearance, it should be avoided. If you’re unsure of the source, then, don’t use the leaf as a treatment. Any leaves that taste bitter should be spit out urgently.
If the bed bugs do bite you, you can still have a good night. Try these simple but proven remedies to help take the pain and itch out of the bite.
Tagged with: bed bugs control • pests control
Filed under: Bed Bugs