Lerse.com -- Home and Family Tips

"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 roots that date back centuries, as far back in history as medieval times and classical Greece, as documented in various writings.  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.

Bite Me

Bed bug bites initially appear as welts, similar to mosquito bites, eventually becoming red marks.
These marks can last for as long as five days and may appear in an orderly pattern, unlike the random appearance of mosquito bites.

Particular Characteristics of Bed Bug Bites:
* Orderly pattern of bite marks
* Irritation, inflammation and destruction of the localized tissue
* Allergic reactions, either immediate or delayed

Bed bugs bites cannot transmit harmful diseases, and their medical significance is limited to the basic itching and inflammation.  Immediate treatment for the affected areas should involve a thorough washing with soap and water.  Scratching is strongly discouraged, as this can lead to an infection that may require more advanced medical aid.  Another recommendation is to treat the affected area with ice or an herbal remedy to help speed the healing process.

Herbal Treatments

Herbal remedies can be successfully used to treat pain and itching, and help to control infection.  They are also used to help improve symptoms, correct imbalances, increase energy and help boost the immune system.  Of course, it's important to keep your body strong to promote better overall health and quality of life. 

Depending on the status of the bed bug bite, Chinese herbs are advantageous when used in conjunction with other herbal remedies.  Herbal treatments used with an optimized herbal combination are highly effective to treat illnesses and address 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 popular choices for fresh herb poultice are:

*  Chickweed (Stellaria media)
*  Comfrey (Symphytum uplandica x)
*  Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
*  Wild mallow (Malva neglecta)
*  Yellow dock (Rumex species)

Herbal Leaves:  The best herbal leaves to treat bed bug bites are those that come from willow, maple, oak or hazel trees. Be sure that you are able to positively identify these leaves before you chew them.  The most recognizable and safest are maple and oak leaves.  If a leaf has a slick or shiny appearance, it should be avoided.  If you're not sure of the source, don't use the leaf as a treatment.  Any leaves that taste bitter should be spit out immediately.

If the bed bugs do bite, you can still have a good night.  Try these remedies to help take the pain and itch out of the bite.