How to Treat a Jellyfish Sting With Home Remedies
Jellyfish can be found almost anywhere in the ocean. Whether you are out in the deep blue depths or up near the shore line, there is a very real chance a jellyfish will find you. Jellyfish stings vary in toxicity, from the highly toxic and frequently deadly man o' war to mildly toxic beach varieties. If you are stung, you will likely feel some intense burning pain at the site of the sting. While unpleasant, you can treat the sting with home remedies.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Sand
- Apple cider vinegar
- Aloe gel
- Castor oil
- Unseasoned meat tenderizer
- Antihistamine cream
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-
1
Cover the sting with sand from the beach as soon as the sting occurs. Beach sand helps draw out toxins from jellyfish stings. Keep the sting covered for 5 to 10 minutes.
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2
Wash the sting with apple cider vinegar after removing the sand. The apple cider vinegar will help reduce the pain from the sting and will also disinfect it.
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3
Rub aloe gel onto the jellyfish sting after washing it with apple cider vinegar. This will soothe the sting and provide a nice barrier to the outside world. Once you've applied the aloe gel, loosely cover the sting in gauze tape and secure it.
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4
Apply castor oil to the jellyfish sting every day until the sting starts to heal. Use a cotton ball to apply the castor oil.
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5
Apply a paste made of unseasoned meat tenderizer and water to the sting if it still hurts in a day or two. You can also apply this paste right away, after washing the sting with apple cider vinegar. Don't leave this paste on for more than 10 minutes at a time.
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6
Rub an antihistamine cream onto the sting if you experience excessive redness or swelling, or if you get hives.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Do not wash the jellyfish sting with regular water, as this will only release more toxins into your blood stream and make the sting feel worse.
Pouring urine on a jellyfish sting to treat it is not one of the effective home remedies for this condition. The effectiveness of urine for jellyfish stings is a myth, and this may even make the sting feel worse.
If you feel like you are having an allergic reaction to the jellyfish sting, such as difficulty breathing or excessive hives, do not try to treat it with home remedies, but go to an emergency room right away.
