Quick Remedies for Nettle Stings – Home & Family > Plants

It can happen to you when you collect them to prepare a good dish or simply when you walk in nature.

Nettles have threads or spines on the stem and leaf edges. They act like a needle, transferring histamine and formic acid to the surface of the skin. Nettle plants use these stinging growths to protect themselves from predators. The sting helps warn predators, preventing them from eating the plant or uprooting it.

What does a nettle sting look like?

To make sure you use the correct remedy, you need to know how to identify a nettle.

You will usually see a raised red or pink patch on the skin with white bumps or patches. You will also feel a burning, itching, or stinging sensation.

Relieving nettle sting is easier if you can resist contact with the rash for the first 10 minutes. Nettle histamines are easier to eliminate and treat when the sting is recent. It is best to avoid pushing the chemicals deeper into the skin, as this could prolong the reaction and/or make it more severe.

Quick Remedies for Nettle Stings:

Stevia goes away

The sap from the leaves of this wild plant is an excellent remedy against nettle. Contains antihistamines that counteract and soothe nettle stings. You can identify the plant by its large, green, oval leaves. Rub them gently on the sting area to relieve the rash.

Baking soda

Baking soda is one of the simplest remedies for nettle stings. It is an alkaline that neutralizes the acid of the nettle. Mix baking soda with a few drops of cold water in a cup. Then, spread the mixture on the sting using a delicate washcloth or cotton pad.

Dish detergent

The soap is also alkaline, so it can help treat nettle stings. Run cold water over the sting, then wash the affected area with cold water and a little diluted dish soap to clean the area.
Most people will not need further treatment, but you should see a doctor if the rash or itching is severe and home remedies don’t work.

Some people may be allergic to nettle stings and need immediate help. Symptoms that send you to the emergency doctor:

• Breathing problems
• Abdominal pain
• Swelling of the affected area and more
• Tremor
• Weak
• Loss of coordination
• Weakness in the muscles

Source: cushelle.com