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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. The history of bed bugs goes back centuries. These creatures have been documented as far back in as medieval times and classical Greece. Sleeping on a bed that's infested with bed bugs is no fun, but the real discomfort happens when you wake up. Your bed bug bites can be red, swollen and itchy, but you can take a little comfort in knowing that the insects will not transmit diseases. Your greatest amount of grief will likely come from the shameful stigma associated with having bed bugs in your home. It's also been suggested that bed bug infestations can be detrimental to relationships and may cause psychological strain. There is no question that bed bugs are the cause of both mental and physical anguish. The mystery lies in the best way to deal with the bugs and treat their bites. Bed Bug Bites 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. Unique Characteristics of Bed Bug Bites: * Orderly pattern of bite marks * Inflammation, irritation and destruction of localized tissues * Delayed or immediate allergic reactions 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 Applications 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 may be used as a treatment for 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. Everyday Mud: One of the easiest and oldest poultices known to man is plain old mud. Powered white clay, mixed with herbal tea, can soothe bed bug bites. You can easily store this type of clay for a prolonged period of time with little chance of fungal spores. If your bites are painful or severely itchy, they can also be treated with a bland, starchy substance. Use grated potato, arrowroot powder, mallow root or finely ground grains such as oatmeal and rice to soothe bed bug bites. 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 - Symphytum uplandica x * Wild Geranium - Geranium maculatum * Wild mallow - Malva neglecta * Yellow dock (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.
Article Source: http://www.avidarticles.com
Sadie Bedgegood contributes to a variety of popular web magazines, on home repair and home interior themes.
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