The nettle is a plant that looks like grass; for this reason, it is called an herb. It is not very tall; its stem is erect with small toothed, light green leaves. Its stem and leaves are covered with tiny hairs that make poison to protect themselves. When the nettle is touched or brushed against, formic acid is released at the site and causes an allergic reaction of irritation and itching, causing hives to appear and the skin to become red and swollen, producing a lot of burning.
Although nettle extracts are used to treat different types of disorders such as kidney disorders or pain caused by arthritis, the sting of this plant can be excruciating and annoying. For this reason, at FastlyHealwe want to offer you some home remedies for nettle sting, although you should consult a doctor to treat it in the best way.
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Ice
It is the most straightforward remedy that can get you out of trouble if you suffer the discomfort of a nettle sting. To benefit from its effects, we must apply a little ice to the affected area to help calm the itch quickly. It is advisable to wrap some ice cubes in a napkin or use an ice pack to supply on the spot.
With just 10 minutes of applying ice to the nettle sting, the itching almost wholly calms down, at least for a little while until you seek professional help.
Soap and water
Something so simple can provide incredible relief from burning, as it allows us to clean the affected area to get rid of stinging hairs. You should wet the affected area with water and then pass soap over the place, and in a few minutes, the discomfort will diminish. It is recommended that when applying the soap and water mixture, we use gloves so as not to suffer the effects of the bite on the hand. If we do not have soap where the nettle sting is sustained, we can try to apply only water since it would also help calm some discomfort. Also, and as a last option, we can use saliva.
Nettle
Although it sounds paradoxical, the same plant that caused the discomfort due to its bite can alleviate the symptoms with a simple infusion. This should be done with a tablespoon of nettle leaves per cup of water. It can be applied with a cloth on the skin in the affected part when the infusion is cold to enjoy its benefits. This will quickly soothe the discomfort caused by the nettle sting.
For long-term treatment, the same infusion can be drunk twice a day for a week so that the itching and burning disappear permanently.
Mint
The mint is also one of the home remedies for a more effective nettle sting. With the whole mint leaves, the affected area should be rubbed, or the mint leaves crushed, and the juice obtained is applied to the sting site to soothe the itching and burning caused by the nettle. Mint contains antiseptic principles due to cineole, menthol, eugenol, and caffeic acid, which give this plant benefits in treating skin conditions. Among some of the positive effects of mint, we find relief from itching, so it will be of great help in case of suffering from the symptoms of a nettle sting.
Dandelion
Another of the best home remedies for nettle sting is to grind the leaves of the dandelion, also known as dandelion, into a paste. This paste is then applied to the afflicted skin to soothe the symptoms caused by the nettle sting. In addition, you can make an infusion of dried dandelion or dandelion leaves to enjoy their benefits for their properties to combat hives, but this will be a little slower than a local application remedy. Dandelion has diuretic and cleansing properties, which stimulate the elimination of toxins by dilating the pores through sweating.
sack
Dried elderberry flowers are also part of home remedies for nettle stings. Its disinfectant and anti-inflammatory properties help soothe the symptoms produced by the nettle sting, deflating the affected area. An infusion of dried elderberry flowers should be made with a tablespoon per cup of water and drunk two or three times a day for a week.
When to go to the doctor
Although the sting of nettle does not pose a severe health risk in most cases, some people may be allergic to the plant without knowing it, or they may experience more severe symptoms. In cases where the symptoms are severe or do not disappear in several hours, you should see a doctor. Likewise, it should be taken into account that the stinging principles by which nettle produces skin reactions are preserved after this plant has been harvested for about 12 hours. In addition, the dried or cooked nettle loses its stinging principles.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Home remedies for nettle sting, we recommend that you enter our Skin, hair and nails category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.