12 Essential Oils for Bee Stings | Remedies For Bee Stings

When a honeybee stings, it releases certain poisonous toxins on the contacted area of the skin, which causes a very sharp burning and painful sensation. Redness can also be seen on the affected area, followed by slight swelling and itching (1).

 Unless the situation is very severe, bee stings can be treated at home by using essential oils. Essential oils contain anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties that help ease the pain and burning sensation of bee stings. Essential oils can also treat the symptoms of bee stings, like redness, swelling, and itching, as it has antihistamine and high healing power (2).

We recommend the 12 best essential oils as natural home remedies for treating bee stings and their symptoms. These essential oils are selected on the basis of their properties and ability to relieve pain and discomfort.

Top 12 Essential Oils For Bee Sting | Natural Relief In Bee Sting With Essential Oils

1. Eucalyptus Oil for Bee Sting

Eucalyptus essential oil is one of the most important oils that can do wonders in relieving bee sting pain and infection. Eucalyptus oil contains antiseptic properties that help in reducing the spread of the infection of a bee sting. Its anti-inflammatory properties help in reducing the itchiness of the affected area and reduce swelling, relieving the pain from the burning sensation (3). 

2. Tea Tree Essential Oil for Bee Sting Relief

Essential oils are considered to be natural remedies for curing bee stings, and tea tree oil is one such essential oil that contains natural antiseptic properties which help reduce inflammation. The use of tea tree oil can also relieve itchiness and swelling of the affected area.

Tea tree oil needs to be mixed with carrier oil to apply to the affected area. It can be mixed with Hazel oil to get better results and offer speedy relief to a bee sting. 2 drops of tea tree oil for every 5 to 6 drops of carrier oil can be added.

3. Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender oil has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that help relieve skin inflammation. Lavender oil also reduces the chances of allergic reaction and thus ceases the further spreading of infection. Lavender oil can be applied directly to the affected area, giving instant relief in a stinging and burning sensation. You can use lavender to reduce itchiness as well.

4. Basil Essential Oil One of The Best Remedies for Bee Stings

Basil oil has anti-itching, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties that can be very helpful in bee stings. It can reduce skin irritation speedily and can also reduce inflammation and pain. Basil oil also possesses anti-microbial properties that help restrict the spread of infection, thus reducing the chances of pain and inflammation.

This oil can be mixed with other oils like peppermint oil and carrier oil to apply to the affected area to relieve the pain and burning sensation. Basil oil is also used to treat wasp stings (4).

5. Chamomile Oil for Bee Sting Treatment and Insect Bites

Chamomile essential oil also possesses antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties making it a suitable option for treating a bee sting. It also produces antibodies that help the spread of infection and can help reduce pain and swelling (5). 

6. Geranium Essential Oil for Bee Sting

Geranium oil is one of the best remedies for bee stings, as it can reduce pain and itching. It has the ability to give instant relief to the person stung by a bee. It has antibacterial and antiseptic properties and is also considered a natural astringent that helps soothe itchiness and infections (6). 

7. Frankincense Essential Oil a Natural Remedy to Bee Stings

Frankincense oil is one of the best essential oils for bee sting treatment. It is rich in anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that help with swelling and pain. It helps reduce the burning sensation that is followed by a bee sting.

8. Thyme Essential Oil

Thyme essential oil can relieve bee stings if applied directly to the sting area. It has antiseptic properties that help in reducing the infection from bee stings. Thyme oil, along with other essential oils, is an excellent potent repellent for pests and helps in treating many different insect bites (7). 

9. Clove Essential Oil to Treat Bee Stings

Clove oil is believed to have properties that help disrupt the spread of bee venom, thus containing inflammation and preventing infection caused by bee stings or other bug bites. It can also reduce pain caused by bee stings (8).  Clove essential oil contains eugenol and sesquiterpene β-caryophyllene, which helps treat the bee-stung-affected area with the help of this oil (9). 

10. Rosemary Essential Oil

Pure Rosemary Oil possesses antiseptic properties that help reduce skin inflammation, restrict the further spread of infection, and reduce pain and swelling. The Latin name of wild rosemary is Ledum palustre which is proven to reduce swelling and itching caused due to bee stings.

11. Peppermint Oil One of The Best Essential Oils for Bee Sting

Peppermint essential oil is one of the best essential oils to treat bee stings, as it is a powerful pain reliever. It contains menthol that offers relief from a bee sting. Peppermint oil has antiseptic characteristics and antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the pain of a bee sting, and protect against infections, and skin inflammation.

12. Grapeseed Oil

Grapeseed essential oil is effective in treating bug bites, bee stings, etc. as it provide relief in pain and inflammation. It has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that help in reducing inflammation caused due to bee sting (10). It also acts as a natural astringent that is used to reduce skin irritation and inflammation.

Must read the blog about essential oils for toothache.

Why Do Bees Sting?

Different species of bees behave differently and sting for different reasons. Following are some of the common reasons why bee stings:

• Usually, bees sting to protect their colony or nest from intruders or outsiders. For example, honeybees are the most common bees living in colonies, and each has its own duty. Bumblebees also work in the same manner. Initially, they do not sting, but if an intruder tries to poke them, then they would stink.
• Bees also sting when they feel that their food storage is being attacked. Honeybees usually attack honey when the honey robbers attack their hives for honey.
• Bees also sting when they get attack signals from other bees. Bees use pheromones, which are chemical signals to communicate.

What are the Symptoms of Bee Stings?

Mild Symptoms

Some of the mild symptoms of bee stings are as follows:

• Very sharp burning pain and sensation at the sting area.
• Redness around the area.
• Swelling around the sting.
• Itchiness.

These mild symptoms will go away in a few hours and do not require medical attention.

Moderate Symptoms

Moderate symptoms are similar to mild ones; the only difference is that they will intensify. You will experience extreme redness, swelling, extreme itching, etc. Moderate symptoms usually last for a week. It is suggested to take the appropriate medications for a longer time period. Also, if the pain and other symptoms are extreme, then you should consult a doctor.

Severe Symptoms

Severe symptoms include the following:

• Extreme pain and redness.
• Discoloration of the skin around the skin and, in some cases, on other parts of the body.
• Finding it difficult to breathe.
• Swelling spreads in your body, especially your face, tongue, and throat.
• Fluctuations in pulse rate.
• Cramps
• Dizziness
• Being nauseous, vomiting, or having diarrhea.
• Loss of consciousness.

In case of experiencing severe symptoms, it is advised to immediately consult a doctor.

How Long Can A Bee Sting Last?

How a bee sting looks and how long it will last depends on many different factors like gender, age, allergies, etc.

Gender

It is believed that women are more susceptible to bee stings or bee venom as compared to men, mainly because of hormonal fluctuations.

Age

It is said that the older the age, the higher the chances of experiencing severe symptoms.

Allergies

This is a major factor behind how long your sting last. If you are allergic to bee stings, there are very high chances you will experience severe symptoms, and the bee sting will also last longer.

The Number Of Times You Got Stung.

If you are stung several times by the bee, then there is a very high chance of an excess of venom in your body that will spread faster in your different body parts. This should be considered an emergency situation, and accordingly, medical assistance should be undertaken.

The Treatment That You Are Using

The type of treatment that you are using also plays a major role in deciding how long the sting will last. If you are experiencing moderate symptoms and you are treating it with solutions for mild symptoms, then there are chances that the sting will last longer.

What Is The Timeline Of A Bee Sting?

• Once a bee has stung you, an immediate burning sensation will be experienced that last for a few hours.
• Swelling usually takes 1 to 2 days to subside. Though, it also depends on the area where you have been stung. If you are stung on the face, then there are chances that the swelling might stay for a week.
• Discoloration of the skin or redness around the sting lasts for around 2 to 3 days.

How To Use Essential Oils For Bee Sting Relief? | How To Treat A Bee Sting?

The essential oil can be directly applied on the bee sting site, but before that, you must follow the below steps:

Step 1– Remove the stinger from the skin as sometimes the stinger remains within the skin, increasing the spread of venom in the skin and increasing inflammation and pain.

Note: You should remove the stinger carefully with the help of a pointed thing. While removing the stinger keep in mind not to squeeze it as it will further release bee venom into the skin, causing more pain and trouble.

Step 2- Once you have removed the stinger, you can apply a few drops of essential oils directly to the sting or with any other carrier oil like almond oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, etc.

Step 3 – Repeat the application of essential oils every 1 hour until pain relief. Essential oils can also be used as an alternative measure to avoid getting stung by bee as its fragrance, antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties acts as repellent for many insects, bugs and bees.

DIY Bee Sting Blend

A DIY bee sting blend is suggested to improve the effectiveness and quality of treating bee stings with essential oils. Bee sting blend can be created by diluting different essential oils together.

Following is a DIY bee sting blend that can be used to treat bee stings:

Ingredients 

• 3 drops of lavender oil
• 2 drops of peppermint oil
• 2 drops of chamomile oil
• 2 drops of eucalyptus oil

How To Make

• Mix all the above-stated oils in a spray bottle and give it a gentle shake to mix it well.

How To Use 

• Spray this sting blend directly to the sting for 4 to 5 times a day to get relief from the sting as well as swelling and pain.
• You can use this blend for a few days until complete relief is achieved.

*Note: If you are witnessing severe allergic reaction then please visit a doctor. Avoid essential oils if you are allergic to its use.

Conclusion

• A brief list of oils to use when stung by bees has been provided in this article. The use of essential oils has proven to be effective in insect bites or bee stings as it has many medicinal properties.

• Best-quality pure essential oils can do wonders in bee sting pain and inflammation treatment.

• 3 drops of essential oils from the above list can be used directly to cure bee stings.

• Applying essential oils to the sting area can reduce inflammation, swelling, pain, and reduce the risk of infection and hence is considered one of the natural alternative treatments to bee stings.

• Some of the best oils have been identified and included in this list to help users when in need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Source:

• Studies on Bee Venom and Its Medical Uses  https://www.academia.edu/2218474/Studies_on_Bee_Venom_and_Its_Medical_Uses
• Giselle F. Passos,Elizabeth S. Fernandes,Fernanda M. da Cunha,Juliano Ferreira,Luiz F. Pianowski,Maria M. Campos,João B. Calixto (2007) Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties of the essential oil and active compounds from Cordia verbenacea. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2006.09.032
• Katrina A Svoboda Johnson (May 2019). Mosquito Bites and Bee Stings Symptoms, Pathology, and Remedies. https://www.ayurvedichealthcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BeeSting-MosquitoBite-ResearchPaper-v2019.pdf
• Mueen, Ahmad & Ch, Mueen & Naz, Syeda & Sharif, Asifa & Akram, Maimoona & Saeed, Muhammad. (2015). Biological and Pharmacological Properties of the Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum). British journal of pharmaceutical research. 7. 330-339. 10.9734/BJPR/2015/16505. 
• Shahram Sharafzadeh and Omid Alizadeh. (2011).  Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science https://japsonline.com/admin/php/uploads/288_pdf.pdf
• Leo M.L. Nollet, Hamir Singh Rathore. Essential Oil Mixtures for Pest Control. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9781315153131-27/essential-oil-mixtures-pest-control-leo-nollet-hamir-singh-rathore
• J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis 28 • 2022 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0025
• Yenis Del Carmen Gonzales Correa,Lêda R.A. Faroni,Khalid Haddi,Eugênio E. Oliveira,Eliseu José G. Pereira. (2015). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048357515300055
• Garavaglia J, Markoski MM, Oliveira A, Marcadenti A. Grape Seed Oil Compounds: Biological and Chemical Actions for Health. Nutrition and Metabolic Insights. 2016;9. doi:10.4137/NMI.S32910
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