What are Yellow Jacket Stings?
As the name itself indicates, Yellow Jacket Stings are wounds caused by sting of yellow Jackets. These predatory wasps that tend to attack even without provocation are mostly found in North America. They are often mistaken for bees.
However, you can differentiate yellow jackets from honey bees by observing that unlike honey bees, these predatory wasps are not covered with tan-brown dense hair on the body. They are usually black and yellow in color and do not have flattened hairy hind legs. In addition, they sting multiple times. Aggressive attacks by yellow jackets are more common towards the end of summers.
The stings are extremely painful but can be cured with the help of several natural home remedies for Yellow Jacket Stings natural treatment. Some individuals may develop severe allergic reactions because of the venom.
In such cases, seeking proper medical assistance as soon as possible is highly recommended. Similarly, Yellow Jacket Stings in sensitive areas like eyes or inside the mouth also require proper and prompt attention.
Causes and Symptoms of Yellow Jacket Stings
Yellow jackets live in colonies and are likely to make nests in protected cavities like cavities in walls and ceilings of houses. Some may build paper nests attached to attics. Yellow jacket nests on rodent burrows, hollow logs and trees in home gardens are also quite common.
These aggressive stinging insects attack vigorously in order to defend their nests. During late summers, they tend to hover around trash cans looking for refined sugars and sweet foods.
Therefore, it is recommended to stay away from such areas as far as possible and take appropriate measures to carefully remove their nests (preferably at dusk) to avoid Yellow Jacket Stings. In addition, remove pet bowls lying outside and cover garbage cans to keep these notorious wasps away.
Yellow Jackets Stings are characterized by immense pain, itching, redness and inflammation on the affected area. The symptoms tend to subside within 24 to 72 hours. In certain cases, severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis may also be caused. It involves problems like difficulty in breathing and swallowing, facial swelling, hives, dizziness, nausea, vomiting etc.
Natural Home Remedies for Yellow Jacket Stings
Although yellow jackets generally do not leave the stinger embedded in the skin still, if it does get stuck in the skin due to repeated attacks then remove the stinger with the help of a blunt knife or a pair of tweezers and wash the area with soap and water. Then, proceed to the following natural home remedies for Yellow Jacket Stings.
• Application of ice packs for about ten minutes is one of the best Yellow Jacket Stings home remedies to reduce skin irritation and swelling. Follow this therapy for several times.
• Smearing a paste of baking soda and water on the affected area is another popular natural cure for Yellow Jacket Stings. Alternatively, ammonia can also be used to stop the stinging sensation.
• Vinegar can also be used on the affected area to reduce itching caused by the sting. A mixture of lemon juice and alcohol is also beneficial in this regard. Simply putting a slice of onion on the wound can help in relieving the pain and inflammation.
• Herbs like calendula, eucalyptus, lemon balm, plantain, tea tree oil, clove oil and citronella oil are highly effective natural home remedies for Yellow Jacket Stings.
• Applying a mud pack prepared from clay soil and water is an unusual but useful natural remedy for Yellow Jacket Stings. Cover the wound with gauze until the mud pack dries. Activated charcoal (by opening charcoal capsules) mixed with sufficient water can also be used in the same way.
• Rubbing a wet aspirin on the affected area is a highly beneficial home treatment for Yellow Jacket Stings.
• Immediately applying enzyme-based meat tenderizer mixed with some water is the simplest Yellow Jacket Stings home remedy. The application of this paste on the affected area helps heal the wound by neutralizing the venom.
When dealing with Yellow Jacket Stings it is better to leave the place as soon as possible to avoid further trouble because killing a yellow jacket wasp ruptures its venom sack and releases a chemical that incite other members in the hive to attack. However, it is better not to make quick movements as long as the aggressive insect does not attack.
Besides, it is advised to prevent these predatory wasps from developing large nests in your backyard in early summer itself. Also, as a preventive measure, wear light (but not bright) colored clothes and avoid wearing perfumes to avoid attracting them towards yourself.
Diet for Yellow Jacket Stings
It is believed that individuals with zinc deficiency are more susceptible to attacks by yellow jacket wasps. Hence, apart from adopting various preventive steps and natural home remedies for Yellow Jacket Stings, have a healthy and balanced diet with special emphasis on intake of foods having high amount of zinc.
Some such foods are oysters, shellfish, wheat, germ, wheat bran, brewers yeast, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, pecan nuts, pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, brazil nuts, avocados etc. In addition, positively include a variety of fruits and vegetables in the diet to facilitate the process of healing.
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