Family Life Article on Families on-the-go Magazine
September / October 2007

Cheerleading, Football, Soccer and Fall Sports …

By Gail Erickson

Fall sports lead to cooler evenings spent with the family outside and can also lead to more bug bites. Here are some easy folk remedies for easing your child’s (or you own) discomfort.

Baking Soda

Dissolve 1 tsp baking soda into a glass of water and dip a cloth into the solution. Saturate and then wring out the cloth slightly. Apply to the affected area for 20 minutes.

Meat Tenderizer

Ease the pain from bites and stings including jellyfish stings. Mix a small amount of water with the meat tenderizer (do NOT use spiced tenderizer) to create a paste that is then applied to the affected area for no more than 20 minutes. The papain from the tenderizer breaks down the protein found in the venom.

Bananas

Rub the area with the inside of a banana peel to reduce inflammation.

Onion

Cut an onion and rub it over the area to draw out the poison.

Ice

An ice pack applied early after the bite or sting will reduce inflammation.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Rub it on the skin to ward away bugs! Of course you may also ward away people since you’ll smell like vinegar, but you will avoid the toxins found in most commercial repellants.

Remember…Difficulty breathing or swallowing; nausea or chest pains can indicate a severe allergic reaction that could be fatal. Go to the hospital immediately!

Gail Erickson is a licensed Clinical Esthetician with an English degree from USF, Tampa. She works at Practically Frivolous, a full-service salon in St. Petersburg. Please direct any skin care questions to gail_erickson@yahoo.com

back to top