How do I Use Papain for Bee Stings?

Unripened green papayas contain more papain than ripened fruit.

You can treat bee stings with a paste made from papain enzyme or fresh unripened green papaya fruit. The papain enzyme comes from papaya fruit, meat tenderizing often includes papain as an ingredient. Papain breaks down the venom protein of the bee sting. This remedy avoids the use of harsher chemicals on the skin by using proven natural herbal remedies that alleviate the inflammation and pain associated with stings. The papain enzyme treats a variety of stings besides bees including wasps, hornets and jellyfish.

Things You'll Need

• Tweezers
• Fresh unripened green papaya or meat tenderizer with papain
• Skin cleanser
• Anti-itch/inflammation/histamine cream

Instructions

Treating Bee Stings with Papain

1. Scrape out the stinger with tweezers or fingers if possible. Do not pinch it or it will release the full amount of venom into the area. Rinse the stung area with water and clean the area with a gentle cleanser.

2. Apply a slice of papaya to the bee sting. Leave it on for one hour. If using papain enzyme in powdered form (such as in a meat tenderizer) mix 1 tbsp. of it with a few drops of water until it becomes paste-like. Rub the paste onto the site of the bee sting.

3. Remove the papaya. Clean the area and put on an anti-itch cream or anti-histamine over the sting site.

Tips & Warnings

• eMedicine Health recommends seeking out medical attention if you develop any sign of fever, discomfort or rashes where stung. Also, if you haven't received a tetanus shot in more than 10 years, try to get one a couple days after the sting for safety.

• Take a pain reliever such as aspirin or ibuprofen for general discomfort, and consider applying ice to reduce swelling.

• If you have a known bee allergy seek emergency medical attention immediately, especially depending on where the bee stung you. If stung near the mouth, throat or eyes, go to the hospital.

• Do not use papain, papaya extract or papaya fruit on bee stings if you have a latex allergy or had severe allergic reactions to bee stings in the past.

• Granny Med warns to discontinue use of papain or papaya if you notice skin irritation or inflammation with use.

References

• Granny Med: Papaya Home Remedy For Bee Stings
• Home Remedy: Bee Sting Remedies
• eMedicine Health: Bee and Wasp Stings: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
• Long Lane Honeybee Farms: Basic Beekeeping: Lesson 21 Bee Stings

Resources

• Health911: Insect Stings and Bites