All this talk of bees on here makes me think I ought to share a natural bee sting remedy, Also works for bug bites.
Google Plantain weed. It is a very common weed introduced from Europe. It likes compacted soil, so I find it along the road literally everywhere I go. There is a broad-leafed variety and a narrow-leafed variety. Both are equally effective.
When stung look around and get some leaves from the plant. You can chew it or just crunch them up a little. Rub the moist leaves on the sting location. It both relieves pain and reduces swelling.
I have bees and it is my go-to when stung. If applied right away I won't even swell at all and the relief from pain is immediate.
There are bee sting remedies on the market, but the beauty of plantain is when you get stung and have nothing for it you can usually find it at your feet.

Good to know, thanks for sharing!
Doug
*

Burdock is supposed to help with beestings too. Not intending to be a know-it-all, just wanted to share my worthless 2 cents.

I knew it could be eaten but didn't know it was a sting remedy. I will have to try it Monday when I'm working bees. Normally I just ignore the stings and they are a minor irritation any more. I don't sell much like I used to. My boys will be glad to try it.

Used red man last week on my 10 year olds face yellow jackets lit up.

Does anyone have a picture of it ? Just so I can be certain what I'm seeing around here.. ?

No picture handy but it's broad leafs that like to lay close to the ground and sends up several seed stems as thick as a 1/8" 7018 welding rod.. boy if that's not a hick description.

https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-att-us-rvc3&sxsrf=AB5stBhFy7TGUjby4UhsjU-Y_w6JYnOJ0A:1689429933654&q=plantain+weed+edible&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiu0MX48JCAAxUckWoFHVFPCgYQ0pQJegQIChAB&biw=412&bih=785&dpr=1.75

If that works is a Google image search lots of pictures.

As long as I can remember make a paste of baking soda and place it on the sting, if baking soda not available a simple mud paste, seemed to work as a kid, many many years ago, how every does not work so well when nailed 26 times by yellow jackets, that take an epi shot

Thanks, PF, I stopped being lazy and looked it up. Those are all over the place, just as mentioned. Nice info to know.

Try corn starch

The whole plant is edible but the seed thing sticking up is delicious. People make salve with them too. Cook the plant in olive oil then add bees wax

Eat the small seed stems. They get big and they are not as good. great in stir fry

We mix a Jewel Weed / Plantain in beeswax salve.
Haven't seen a need to look for anything better.

A little time.

The time I tried it, it tasted like dog pee.

How/why do you know what dog pee tastes like??

Alrighty, decided to test this today.

The culprit: Apis Mellifera - the European honey bee

The aftermath - about 10 min after the sting:


The plantain/solution:


Crushed it up until it let out some water/juice and rubbed it on.


I read you are supposed to leave it 15-30 min but I had to get in the shower about 10 min application as I was running late.

Four hours later:


Does it work? I don't know lol. No swelling and no itching. Barely a raised bump at the sting sight. However, I got the stinger out quickly and my reaction to stings varies from gone in 15 min without intervention to localized swelling and itching that lasts a few days. Usually places that swell and itch are the back of my calf or the back of my arm. Usually places with more tissue mass. This part of the hand is mostly skin and tendon. Not as much blood flow for histamine accumulation. Regardless, the plantain really was right by my feet after the sting. I grabbed some leaves and crushed it as I walked.

Could it have been "seasoned" before you picked it?

X2

make a wet paste out of rubbing alcohol and baking soda and rub that on the sting. Once as a kid, I got popped 5 times after running over a bumble bee nest while raking 2nd cutting red clover hay. Farmer and his wife fixed me up then gave me a small bottle with screw on lid for the alcohol and a pill bottle for the baking soda, taped together. Put it in my pocket to have in hay fields. I think I still have it.