Hilux 4x4 Forum

SWAMBO got bitten by a spider whilst we were camping next to the Berg river. We did not see the spider, but suspect it was a little yellow one (maybe someone can shed more light). Clearly though a poisonous one as the 2 bite sites (on her ankle and lower leg) became progressively worse. All the doctor/conventional medicine could offer was antibiotics. We had to leave for our Botswana/Zimbabwe/Namibia trip shortly, but SWAMBO was in no condition to travel. So I turned to my favourite herbal book - Common Herbs for Natural Health, by that Gypsy woman Juliette de Bairacli Levy. Here's the treatment, and it worked (without the antibiotics), SWAMBO was ready for travel within 24 hours, although we continued the treatment for 2 more days:

Acquire the essential oils of wormwood, rue and rosemary. I could only get the South African wormwood (Wilde Als or Artemisia Afra) and rosemary, but they were good enough. Were lucky to be able to drive to Still Pure in Riebeek Kasteel and buy same, but you can order online at http://www.stillpure.co.za" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Apply the essential oils with swabs of cotton wool first dampened in hot water. Then dress with a cotton bandage first soaked in a hot vinegar and water (50/50) solution. Apply the bandage as hot as bearable. Repeat as frequently as you wish - we treated every 3 to 4 hours at first and less frequently as the sites got better.

These oils and vinegar are now part of our first-aid kit.

Here is the relevant part from said book:

"SCORPIONS, POISONOUS SPIDERS, MEDUSAE (JELLYFISH). If first-aid is necessary, cut the place with the point of a sharp knife and press or suck out (of course, not swallowing) all the surface poison. Then apply the pulped leaves of wormwood, rue and sage, as available. Preferably heat the leaves for a few minutes in hot water to make their volatile oils more easily available to the human skin. Bind in place with cotton bandages soaked in a mixture of hot water and vinegar, equal parts. Even more effective is an application of extracted oils of wormwood, rue and rosemary, if available, likewise covering with bandages soaked in hot vinegar water. (I have cured numerous cases of severe bites, several being from the giant species of scorpion, considered fatal, using this treatment.) The most effective and the speediest remedies are the essential oils of these herbs applied on swabs of cotton wool first dampened in hot water.".

Thanks for the info, I'm gonna remember this one.

All the medicine we need is in nature

Baie interesant sou nooit an so remedie gedink het nie!Thanx for sharing

Dankie Andre.. Het klaar die reseppie aangestuur vir my Medical Officer. Sy sal sorg dat ons noodhulptassie dienooreenkomstig aangevul word!!.. Mens kan nooit te voorbereid wees nie..

Interesting. Must save and print for future use.

Apparently a raw onion cut in halve and rubbed over the invlicted area also does the job. However ............... for the red roman it would work better to rub the onion over my eyes and put Ooooms to bed?

Thanks for the appreciation, the pleasure is mine.

I cannot vouch for this advise, but I was told by somebody who is out in the bush a lot, that if you make a paste of meat tenderiser and vaseline, and rub it on mozzie/insect bites it relieves the itchiness and irritation.

Spider bites and scorpion stings are obviously in a different category, but in an emergency you could also try the this remedy.

ThysdJ wrote:I cannot vouch for this advise, but I was told by somebody who is out in the bush a lot, that if you make a paste of meat tenderiser and vaseline, and rub it on mozzie/insect bites it relieves the itchiness and irritation.

Spider bites and scorpion stings are obviously in a different category, but in an emergency you could also try the this remedy.

If you rub a wet disprin on the mozzie bites it also relieves the itch....

Laas jaar is ek deur n Nag adder gepik op die vinger.
In die hospitaal was dit chaos, niemand het geweet wat om te doen.
Toe kom iemand by my met n mengsel van charcoal en " Linseed" wat fyn gemaal is.
Die persoon sê toe ek moet die mengsel met warm water meng en n pasta maak. Sit die pasta so warm as moontlik op die byt plek en omliggende area, en draai toe met n verband.
Elke 4 ure het ek die mengsel geruil en 24 uur later was ek terug by die werk.
Ek het aangehou met die mengsel tot daat geen meer swelling of verkleuring was nie.Ek het geen merke of skade oorgehou nie.