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"Good night, sleep tight". When you have bed bugs in your home, this simple sentiment can seem little more than a faraway dream. Bed bugs have a history that's hundreds of years old. As far back as medieval times and classical Greek history, there are documents of these creatures. It's certainly uncomfortable trying to sleep in an infested bed, but the real discomfort happens when you wake up. The bites can cause redness, swelling and itch, but bed bugs are not able to transmit disease. Perhaps the greatest amount of grief comes with the shameful stigma associated with having bed bugs in the home. Many people believe that a bed bug infestation is detrimental to a relationship and may cause psychological strain. There is no question that bed bugs can cause both mental and physical anguish. The real mystery is how to treat the bugs and their bites. Bed Bug Bites Bed bug bites first appear as welts, similar to mosquito bites. Eventually, they become red marks. These marks can last up to five days and may appear in an orderly pattern, unlike the random appearance of mosquito bites. Particular Characteristics of Bed Bug Bites: * Bite marks in an orderly pattern * Irritation, inflammation and destruction of localized tissues * Delayed or immediate allergic reactions Bed bugs bites will not transmit harmful diseases and hold no medical significance, aside from the itching and inflammation. Your immediate treatment of the affected areas should involve nothing more than a thorough washing with soap and water. Scratching the itchy bites can lead to an infection requiring more advanced medical aid. You can apply ice or herbal remedies to treat the affected area and help speed the healing process. Herbal Treatments You can use herbal remedies as a successful treatment of pain and itching, and to control infection. Herbal applications can also help to improve the symptoms, correct imbalances, increase your energy and boost the immune system. Keeping your body strong is, of course, important in promoting better overall health and quality of life. Chinese herbs are advantageous when used in conjunction with other herbal remedies, depending on the status of the bed bug bite. Treatments that combine an optimized herbal mixture are highly effective in treating illnesses and addressing symptoms. The following herbs can be used to treat bed bug bites: Plantain: This is also known as the band-aid plant, pig's ear and ribwort. It's an herb commonly found growing wild in parks, playgrounds and even driveways. The characteristic that distinguishes this herb from others is the series of five parallel veins that run on each leaf. A narrow leaf plantain has long, thin leaves and a small flower head that looks similar to flying saucer, while a broad leaf plantain can has a tall seed head and long thin leaves. There are a number of plants in this family with leaves and seeds that may be eaten as food, or used for medicinal treatments. Mud: The simplest and oldest poultice known to mankind is plain old mud. A bed bug bite can be soothed with powdered white clay that has been mixed with herbal tea. Clay can be successfully stored for a prolonged time, as it is unlikely to contain fungal spores. Painful, severely itchy bites caused by bed bugs and other insects may also be treated with bland starchy substances such as arrowroot powder, grated potato and mallow root, or finely ground grains such as oatmeal or rice. Fresh Herb Poultice: These are slightly more complicated to prepare than other herbal treatments. The fresh herbs should first be chewed, and then applied directly to the bed bug bite. For maximum effect, the poultice can be covered by an adhesive bandage or large leaf to keep it in place. Some of the more popular choices for fresh herb poultices are: * Chickweed - Stellaria media * Comfrey, or Symphytum uplandica x * Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) * Wild mallow - Malva neglecta * Yellow dock, or Rumex species Natural Leaves: The best natural leaves to treat bed bug bites are those that come from maple, oak, willow and hazel trees. If you can't positively identify these leaves, don't chew them. The safest and most easily recognized are the leaves of maple and oak trees. Do not chew leaves with a slick or shiny appearance, and don't use the leaf as a treatment if you're not sure where it came from. If you chew a leaf and it tastes bitter, spit it out right away. If bed bugs bite, you can still have a good night. Try one of these remedies to help take the itch and pain out of the bite.
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About the Article Author
Freelancer Sadie Bedgegood contributes to several web sites, on home improvement and family matter themes.
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