Home Care for Bee Stings

​Yesterday I was bringing in mustard greens and arugula from the garden for our dinner salad, and I accidentally brought in something else, someone who was really not happy about this change in her afternoon plans. I was notified of her displeasure by a sharp jab in my right thumb. 

Good thing I was making salad dressing - a quick peel & cut of a garlic clove, a moment of discomfort as I pressed the cut clove to the sting, and a few minutes of inconvenience as I held it to the area, and I was all better. 

This is somewhat amazing to me, as my reaction to something as humble as a mosquito bite is a huge welt and days of itching. 

Garlic works on bee and wasp stings just as it works in your marinades - it breaks down the proteins. The proteins are what your body reacts to, the inflammation around a bee sting is a result of your body trying to break down those proteins so they can't hurt you. When garlic is applied immediately to an insect sting, it removes the need for your immune system to respond. And so today I have a working thumb instead of a huge sausage. 

What are YOUR kitchen cures for bee stings? Leave your comments below.