Home Remedies for Insect Bites and Stings
Insect bites and stings are a near-universal experience, and traditional medicine offers a range of plant-based poultices and washes to soothe them. This page collects every insect bite remedy in our archive, with preparation methods, cultural background, and the current scientific view.
Dragon's Blood (Sangre de Grago)
Open cuts, insect bites, ulcers, skin rashes
Amazon Basin
Kawakawa Leaf Balm
Eczema, insect bites, minor burns, skin infections
New Zealand
Sutherlandia / Cancer Bush
Cachexia (wasting syndrome), chronic fever, fatigue, anxiety
Southern Africa
Witch Hazel
Hemorrhoids, bruises, minor cuts, insect bites, sore muscles
North America
Stinging Nettle Tea
Hay fever, seasonal allergies, allergic rhinitis
Europe
Frequently asked questions
What are traditional home remedies for insect bites and stings?
Cultures around the world have traditionally used Dragon's Blood (Sangre de Grago), Kawakawa Leaf Balm, Sutherlandia / Cancer Bush, Witch Hazel and Stinging Nettle Tea for insect bites and stings. Each remedy below has its own history, preparation method, and cultural context — explore the individual entries to learn how each one is made and used. These are cultural references, not medical advice.
Do these insect bites and stings remedies have scientific support?
Some remedies in this collection have scientific support, some have partial evidence, and others remain untested. Each remedy page details the specific evidence level. Traditional use does not equal clinical proof — these are cultural references, not medical advice.
Are these insect bites and stings remedies still used today?
Yes — Dragon's Blood (Sangre de Grago), Kawakawa Leaf Balm, Sutherlandia / Cancer Bush, Witch Hazel, Stinging Nettle Tea are still widely practiced today. Other remedies in the collection are more regional or have become rare. Each remedy page notes how common it remains.
Related ailments
This is a historical and cultural reference, not medical advice. Many of these remedies have never been scientifically validated, and folk reasoning (humoral theory, “hot/cold” classifications, spiritual causation) reflects older explanatory traditions rather than modern medicine. Ratings reflect community opinion, not clinical evidence.