As warm weather increases during springtime months, an abundance of creepy-crawly critters come out of hiding. For centuries, spider bites and bee stings have been treated using natural tinctures or oils created from crushed herbs or plants. These inexpensive home remedies can ease itching, draw out infection, and reduce swelling. Most ingredients can be purchased in grocery stores or found in your own backyard. 

Cleaning the Wound

Immediately following an insect bite or sting, clean hands well and examine the wound to determine whether the stinger has been left inside the skin (in the case of a bee, wasp, or other stinging insect). Remove the stinger using a pair of tweezers. Do not squeeze the wound, or venom may be injected further into the skin. Clean the area thoroughly using a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol before applying a natural remedy.

Homeopathic Remedies for Insect Bites

Baking soda: immediately following a sting or bite, create a paste using 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of vinegar. Apply it on the bite to reduce itching and swelling. It is believed that the enzymes created in this solution break down the venom in the bite. Crushed and moistened Alka-Seltzer tablets, which contain sodium bicarbonate (the main ingredient in baking soda), should also do the trick.

Plantain: The People’s Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies, by Joe and Theresa Graedon, recommends crushing the leaves of plantain, a commonly found weed. Use a mortar and pestle to extract the juice. Apply the juice to the affected area to reduce itching and swelling.

Lavender oil: lavender helps to reduce swelling and itching. To create your own insect bite lotion, combine 1 teaspoon of lavender essential oil and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and apply directly on the injury, being careful to avoid the eyes.

Mud: as disgusting as it may seem, applying mud to an itchy, swollen bite reduces swelling. For a sweeter smelling remedy, try toothpaste (below).
Onion: there is scientific proof that the enzymes found in a cut onion help to reduce the itching created by mosquito bites. Onions contain enzymes that break down prostaglandins, the inflammatory compounds created by the body in response to trauma.

Tape: applying tape to a wound created by a caterpillar or stinging nettles (a plant, not an insect) removes the tiny hairs or barbs from the skin.

Toothpaste: applying toothpaste to a mosquito bite reduces swelling and itching. Allow the toothpaste to dry and remain on the skin for several hours. If possible, use an organic, all-natural product, free of artificial ingredients.

Consult a Doctor

While most insects are relatively harmless, some insect and spider bites can be very dangerous. If a severe allergic reaction develops like extreme swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or disorientation, consult a doctor immediately.

Self Care and Your Physical Health:

While self-pampering doesn’t always lead to major improvements in overall health the way healthy diet and exercise do, the relaxation you get from it can trigger the relaxation response, which can prevent chronic stress from damaging your health, so in a sense, self-care is good for you inside and out.

Self Care and Your Emotional Health:

Taking time out to care for yourself can remind you and others that you and your needs are important, too. Having a well-cared-for body can make you feel good about yourself and your life, and conveys to others that you value yourself. This can contribute to long-term feelings of wellbeing.

Self Care Makes You a Better Caretaker:

People who neglect their own needs and forget to nurture themselves are at danger of deeper levels of unhappiness, low self-esteem and feelings of resentment. Also, sometimes people who spend their time only taking care of others can be at risk for getting burned out on all the giving, which makes it more difficult to care for others or themselves. Taking time to care for yourself regularly can make you a better caretaker for others.

Taking a few hours for a spa experience and some much-deserved self care is also an effective way to manage stress for the following reasons:

 A Break from Stress: Taking a break amidst a tub of warm bubbles or under the warm hands of an experienced masseuse can help you feel like you’re escaping a stressful reality and taking a mental and emotional vacation. As I mentioned, it triggers the relaxation response, and allows you to come back to the reality of your life feeling refreshed and relaxed.

 Time Alone: While different people have varying degrees of introversion and extroversion, having some time along is important for most people’s functioning. When you’re relaxing by yourself, it’s much easier to slip into a state of quiet meditation, enjoy some self-reflection, or let your problems work themselves out in the back of your mind, without taking all of your focused concentration.

 Soothing Feelings: Giving your body some special treatment is a natural way to relieve stress. Other than keeping your skin soft and your body in good repair, spa-related activities like massage and warm baths have been known to sooth even small colicky babies like nothing else. Such activities continue to be effective tools for relaxation as we get older, but we sometimes forget to utilize them.

Once you’ve decided it’s time to start nurturing yourself and your body with some spa treatments, be sure to block off some time where you won’t be interrupted. Then you can put on some soothing music, and try some or all of the following suggestions:

1. Take a Bath: Get out the bubbles, oils and scented soaps, and soak until you’re wrinkled.
2. Deep-Condition Your Hair: While you’re in the tub, put on a deep-conditioning treatment for your hair, and let it work as you relax.
3. Care For Your Feet: After you soak your feet to soften calloused skin, use a pumice stone to slough off dead skin, and finish with a rich foot cream, and perhaps polish.
4. Nourish Your Skin: Rich, luxurious creams smell wonderful and feel smooth, especially if you exfoliate your skin in the tub before putting them on.
5. Get a Massage: This one can be especially nice. If your budget doesn’t allow for regular massages with a professional, see if you can trade with a friend or your spouse, or use an electronic massager.

In addition to pampering yourself, more substantial forms of self care involving healthy lifestyle choices are important, too. Consuming a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and being sure you get enough sleep are all important for long term health and stress management as well.

Most of us ignore this voice in the hopes that it and the pain will go away on its own. But while sometimes, with a little rest and attention, the pain does go away, other times, it reaches the point where we can no longer ignore it.

Ignoring warning signs and suffering unnecessarily are the worst things you can do when you’re experiencing pain. Better instead to listen to your body and treat the small pains before they turn into serious conditions.

Chiropractic Pain Relief

Part of what keeps us from acknowledging our pain is the fear of taking medications to solve our problems – or worse, the thought of surgery. But with many types of pain, treatment doesn’t have to involve either of these outcomes. And when it does, it often helps to try a holistic approach in combination with a medical treatment, so you know you’re doing the best for your mind and your body.

Chiropractors can treat many kinds of pain without the use of medications, and can often help prevent the need for surgery to correct serious ailments. Below are just a few things a chiropractor can do for you:

• Control chronic pain. Chiropractors can help manage chronic pain in many areas, such as the back or neck, or even pain from headaches. Their treatment works well not only on its own, but also in conjunction with other treatments prescribed by a doctor.
• Manage serious medical conditions. Afflictions like arthritis, carpal tunnel or sciatica can all lead to restricted flexibility and range of motion. A chiropractor can help restore these faculties through spinal manipulations and adjustments.
• Decrease the effects of repetitive stress. In today’s world, many of us work jobs that require us to sit in front of computers, answer phones or perform numerous other tasks over and over. While the pain associated with repetitive stress may seem minor, left untreated, it can become more serious. A chiropractor can help reduce the pain from strained muscles or tight joints, and can also give advice on how to prevent the pain in the future.

Pain is our body’s way of telling us that something is not right, and it’s worthwhile to listen to that message. By catching pain in its early stages and seeking proper relief treatments, you can prevent small pains from turning into big problems.

However, research has shown that exercise, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes all have the potential to keep you active, reduce joint pain, and, in some cases, even slow the progression of the condition.

Exercise and Joint Pain

A study published in the September 2008 issue of BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders showed that patients with osteoarthritis of the knee (OA) who followed a self-management program that included exercise reported less pain in the short and medium term.
An earlier study involving water-based therapy for patients over 60 with OA in the hip or knee showed a significant reduction in joint pain as well as improved physical function.

The Benefits of Strength Training

For those with joint pain, functional strength training is better for joints than conventional weight lifting, according to a study by the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Functional strength training consists of strength, endurance, and balance exercises that are designed to help ease everyday movements like walking or carrying groceries.
Included are gentle rhythmic active range of motion (AROM) exercises, which can help reduce inflammation in the joints, says Stephen Paget, MD, of the American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation. “The goal is to glide the joint surfaces, maintain the range of motion, and protect joint surfaces from excessive pressure,” Dr. Paget says. Recommended exercises include swimming, stationary bicycles, and yoga.
For pain in the knee—a weight-bearing joint—leg lifts or bicycling will help strengthen the muscles that cross the joint, providing better support.

Physical Therapy and Joint Pain

Physical therapy can bring pain relief, and may be an alternative to surgical intervention for some patients with OA of the knee. A study in the September 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine found that, among patients with moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis of the knee, those who underwent arthroscopic surgery experienced no additional benefit over patients who received only physical and medical therapy.
Physical therapy consists of soft tissue massage and joint mobilization, or the passive movement of the joint by a physical therapist. Both therapies can reduce pain and restore normal joint motion, says James J. Irrgang, PT PhD ATC, president of the APTA Orthopaedic Section. In addition, ice, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation may be used to reduce pain.

Lifestyle Adjustments for Joint Pain

Maintaining a healthy weight and keeping the muscles in the hips, legs, and feet strong and balanced can help decrease the progression of OA, says Patience White, M.D. M.A., chief public health officer of the Arthritis Foundation. “Every pound you gain is the equivalent of four pounds across your knees. Losing just a little bit of weight—even 5 or 10 pounds—can make a huge difference in reducing pain in the knees.”

Joint Pain Myth: All joint pain is arthritis. There are more than 50 types of arthritis, but having a swollen, achy joint does not mean you have one of them. “You need to be properly diagnosed and treated,” says Elaine Husni, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Center Orthopedic and Rheumatologic Institute, at the Cleveland Clinic, “You may not even have arthritis, but rather a soft tissue injury or bursitis.” Only a visit to a doctor or chiropractor will let you know for sure.

Joint Pain Myth: Popping knuckles causes arthritis. Sure, we’ve all heard this one before. Mom always said, Stop cracking those knuckles or you’ll end up giving yourself arthritis. Dr. Wilson would agree if you twist or push your knuckles to pop them. However, if done properly, your knuckles will “pop” releasing a small amount of nitrogen gas left in the joint from your blood stream. Again, make sure you are getting your fingers adjusted
—HOW makes a lot more difference than you would think.

Joint Pain Fact: Dry, warm weather helps relieve joint pain. According to Dr. McQuillan, arthritis patients feel an uncomfortable pressure in their joints on days of high humidity and low barometric pressure, especially just before a storm. A drier climate means a minimum of pressure. “Before you plan a major move, however, it’s good to test out drier weather for a few weeks, to see if it works for you,” says Dr. McQuillan.

Joint Pain Myth: Exercise can aggravate joint pain. Exercise is beneficial for everyone, with or without arthritis, says Dr. McQuillan. If you are in pain, forgo intense exercise and try some light stretching, or switch to workouts that are less taxing on the joints, such as the stationary bike or swimming. “The most important thing is just to get more movement in your life. Remember: Use it or lose it,” says Dr. Husni. “The more exercise you do, the better your range of motion.”

Joint Pain Fact: Diet can be a factor in preventing arthritis. Yes—and no. Maintaining a healthy weight can help ward off certain types of arthritis. “Keeping close to your ideal weight will be protective against osteoarthritis,” says Dr. McQuillan, because obesity has been linked to osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. However, diet has not been proven to have a direct link to the cause or prevention of other forms of arthritis.

Although there are many forms of treatment for joint pain, it’s best to see your chiropractor to determine a treatment plan that can help you maintain your quality of life and better manage your condition.