Love them or hate them, spiders can be found in just about every home out there. As long as it’s not a black widow or a brown recluse, the dangers shouldn’t be that serious. Even so, spider bites can lead to discomfort and irritation. Fortunately, there are plenty of home remedies for spider bites and you probably already have them laying around.
Home remedies for spider bites are common items that you can find around your house that will help reduce or eliminate the symptoms of a spider bite. These following items can be used to treat spider bites:
- Activated Charcoal
- Ice Packs
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Potatoes
- Turmeric
- Aspirin Paste
- Peppermint
- Aloe Vera
- Lemon Juice
Before we delve into the telltale signs of a spider bite, we’re here to give you some good news. Spiders aren’t out to get you and the only reason they would bite would be in self-defense. That also explains why most arachnids hide out in dark, small crevices rather than out in the open. They don’t want to have anything to do with you!
Spider Bite Symptoms
Even so, bites do happen, although the majority of spiders don’t have sharp fangs. Most of the time, the bitten person will have a small skin rash or some minor irritation. There might be some redness and swelling and the site of the bite could be itchy. If there is any pain, it’s similar to a small bee sting and lasts an hour or two.
In some cases, a person might be allergic to a spider bite, perhaps due to some kind of toxin in the spider’s venom. Their symptoms could include swelling in the face or trouble breathing and swallowing.
These symptoms could last anywhere from a few hours to days. In this case, see a doctor or get to an urgent care center to rule out anything serious or potentially life-threatening.
It’s important to point out that many times people confuse typical bug bites or bee stings with spider bites because they look so similar. When it comes to relieving any pain, discomfort, or swelling, there are several easy steps that you can take. The very first thing to do is clean the area with warm water and soap. Then give these home remedies a try.
Home Remedies
Keep in mind that you should always go to the doctor as soon as you think that you may have been bitten by a spider! There are some types of spiders that can cause serious health problems in humans, even death!
These home remedies for spider bites are great if you can’t get to a doctor or access to other medications.
Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is naturally absorbent so it will help to remove any toxins from the spider bite. You can mix a bit of the substance with water to create a paste and then apply it to the affected area.
This will help to reduce symptoms and bring on relief. You can keep the activated charcoal paste on with a bandage for up to three hours and reapply as needed.
Ice Packs
Ice packs solve just about everything, right? Well, they work on spider bites, too. After cleaning the wound, apply a cold compress to the area with an ice pack or even a bag of frozen veggies. The iciness will numb the nerve endings, easing inflammation and discomfort while also relieving the itchiness.
Be careful with ice and only apply it to the area for about 10 minutes at a time throughout the day. Also, be sure to wrap any ice cubes or ice packs in a cloth to avoid doing damage to the skin.
Baking Soda
Baking soda isn’t only great for cleaning just about anything in the house but it works wonders on spider bites, too. Combine one teaspoon of baking soda with three teaspoons of water and use a cotton swab or cotton ball to apply the mixture to the affected area. Let it sit for five minutes before washing it off.
The alkalinity of the baking soda will remove any toxins from the bite, which should provide relief for any symptoms.
Salt
Salt is a natural antiseptic and it even has anti-inflammatory properties. It will clean out the bite, remove any venom, and ease swelling and redness. Using kosher or sea salt, sprinkle some on a wet paper towel or washcloth, then apply it to the bite. If you want, you can even keep the salt-covered cloth on the area by using a bandage to keep it there.
Potatoes
The humble potato can work miracles for a spider bite. Just give one a quick wash and peel and grate it. Gather a few pieces of grated potato to create a poultice that you can spread on a thin cloth and secure to the bite. Keep it there until the potato poultice is dry and reapply if needed.
Potatoes have anti-irritant properties so they can help with inflammation and itching. The poultice will keep the area moisturized too.
Turmeric
This spice is known for its anti-inflammatory properties but it’s also antiseptic and antioxidant. To create a turmeric paste, combine one to two teaspoons of the spice with a few drops of olive oil. You can let it sit on the bitten area for about 10 minutes and repeat as desired.
Aspirin Paste
You can also make a paste out of aspirin. It will be a huge help with any swelling and inflammation. Break up one or two aspirin pills in a bit of water until it forms the consistency of a paste.
Apply it to the affected area and leave it on for a couple of hours before washing it off. You can repeat this remedy a couple more times as needed.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a natural analgesic and eases inflammation and pain while drastically reducing itchiness. You can use a skin-safe peppermint oil directly on the area two or three times a day.
Aloe Vera
Most people already know that aloe vera works great on sunburns so why not spider bites? It does, in fact, work as an antiseptic with soothing properties.
This natural skin balm will reduce itching and swelling as well as any pain or tingling while keeping the area moisturized and clean. Just apply a bit of aloe vera gel directly on the bite.
Lemon Juice
This natural astringent can work well in fighting against a spider bite infection. It also eases swelling and itching. You can use a cotton swab to apply some lemon juice directly to the spider bite.
There you have it! A list of home remedies for spider bites.
Conclusion
Home remedies for spider bites are important to know in case you get into a situation where you can’t get to a doctor. Most of them are so common that you probably already have them laying around and don’t even know that they’re useful to treat spider bites!
