Today was both a lesson for me, and brought a question to my attention. We just got back from the waterpark. My oldest and I had been in the "deep" pool for a while when we went to find my wife and youngest child. The first thing my wife said was, "I got stung by a bee". She showed me a bump on her arm, and I asked her if she put anything on it. I thought for a moment and realized I didn't have any FAKs hand, which would have included "After Sting". I suggested she go to the Office/First Aid and ask them for something for it. They put toothpaste on it! I had never heard of this, but the redness and swelling went down. During my years of detassling corn, I learned that putting mud on a sting keeps the swelling down, but never thought of toothpaste.

So here's my questions:What is it about toothpaste that works for stings? (or mud for that matter)
How does "After Sting" work? Does it neutralize the venom (correct term?) of a sting?

Also a good reminder to always, always, always have kit within arm's reach!

Don't know about toothpaste or mud, I use tobacco for stings.I got wasp stung saturday afternoon, held wet tobacco on sting and took 2 benedryl. Went away pretty quick.

I've heard a paste of unflavored meat tenderizer and water works, baking soda and water.

I'll vouch for tobacco on a sting. My 4 year old got stung and as I was trying to find the baking soda at my in laws house my mother in law reaches into the closet and pulls out pack of smokes! (She doesn't smoke) She mixed up some tobacco with water and minutes later the swelling was gone and I was hard pressed to even find the sting site! I should note that I am not a big beliver in homeopathic remedies but my mom in law is making me a convert.

"....baking soda and water."

That's what I've always used and it works. A buddy swears by a similar paste made from an aspirin and water.

I'm told that in most insect stings the "stinging" part is acidic (e.g. formic acid). Therefore, alkaline substances can reduce the pain and inflamation. Evidently toothpaste works. I know ammonia works. I'm told (but have no more to say on the subject) that urine works.
Let me caution you that if the sting involves an envenomation (like Brown Recluse or Black Widow spiders)you're not addressing the real problem with afterbite-like products. Similarly, I believe that the stinging per-se is not a good indicator of whether you are going to have a histamine release and possible severe alergic response to a bee or wasp sting. I'd be interested in hearing from our MD members.

I get a pretty bad reaction to stings so I use ketchup. It works better than anything I've ever tried. I keep packets in my FAK and in my glove box. The older it is the better it works. I think the acid neutralizes the poison. Within about a half hour to 45 minutes you cant even tell I was stung. Without it, my eyes swell shut. I also keep benadryl with me and if I'm stung more than once I take that too.

Most toothpastes contain chalk as a whitener and abrasive to clean your teeth. The calcium in chalk is a very potent drawing agent, literally dragging the poisons out of the skin. Magnesium also works well, but is slightly harder to find. Mud works by drawing out the poisons through the skin as well it contains clay which is also a very potent drawing agent, as is charcoal from the camp fire. Charcoal helps with upset stomachs (after eating something you shouldn't have!)



I have used baking soda and water, and for some other stings which that doesn't work on, vinegar can help.

Plantain is a common weed which when chewed up and put on the sting often helps take the swelling down. It can also stain your clothes a lovely green. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Now whenever I get a bite or sting I just give it a nice shock from a lawn mower, electric fence, etc. It is the best thing I have found to take the swelling down and limit anaphalaxis. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have yet to find a way to fit the lawn mower into my FAK though! <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Below is the result of some experiments on bee stings by a guy that went to a beekeeper and deliberately got stung so he could try some of the pharmaceutical and home remedies.

He said the best home remedies were ice, toothpaste (docs hazarded a guess that the alkaline paste neutralized the acidic venom), and a paste made from vinegar + baking soda + meat tenderizer.

The best pharmaceuticals were Caladryl lotion, or hydrocortisone cream, both of which you have to reapply after several hours.

Surprisingly, he found that most of the made-for-stings cures were useless or close to that.

He also tested deodorants, Benedryl cream, a slice of raw white onion, tobacco, and honey.

But while he tried his remedies on actuall BEE stings, the results may vary on wasp and hornet stings, ants and others of this ilk. I know they have different anti-venins for them.

http://www.slate.com/id/2088863/

Sue

Toothpaste does work on any sting or skin eruption - I have used tooth PASTE on pimples for years. The gel stuff does not really work as well.

I second the Plantain - chewing it macerates out the good stuff and combines with your own mouth enzymes and stuff that help with the sting. (and the seeds are great laxitives!)

Rena