Simple Home Remedies for Spider Bites

Home remedies for spider bites are not considered reliable by most conventional Western doctors, but most of these same doctors also say that there is no harm in trying them. If you’ve been bitten by a spider, you’ll want to try to catch it so you can identify exactly what kind of spider bit you. If you cannot identify the spider, keep an especially close eye on the bite, as you could experience serious consequences if you were bitten by a brown recluse or a black widow spider. All spider bites are irritating, but bites by black widows or brown recluse spiders are more serious than average spider bites.

Identifying a Spider Bite
Spider bites vary in appearance. You may see one or all of the following symptoms from a spider bite:

• Raised red bump, blister or bumps - it is not uncommon for a spider to bite you several times, perhaps while you are sleeping.
• Swelling around the red bump
• Red ring around the red bump
• Double fang marks at the opening of the bite, almost like the skin was torn
• Brown recluse bites will begin to look like the tissue is rotting. Skin will begin to turn brown, purple, blue or black and ooze pus. This reaction will spread as days go by. It often forms red and white rings around the bite blister.
• Black widow spider bites cause pain and swelling at the site, followed by nausea, muscle spasms and death of tissue around the bite.

Home Remedies for Simple Spider Bites
If you don’t think your spider bite is that of a seriously venomous spider, you can try the following home remedies:

1. Apply ice to the bite for twenty minutes at a time
2. Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen
3. Apply a paste of baking soda and water to the bite for 20 minutes at a time
4. Apply a paste of aspirin and water to the bite for 20 minutes at a time
5. Apply a layer of ointment containing analgesic, corticosteroids and antihistamine.

Hydrocortisone 1% Cream: Treat itching and redness of a spider bite by applying hydrocortisone cream (1%). Calamine lotion makes an effective substitute.

6. WD-40: Prevent a reoccurrence of spider bites that take place in the home by spraying your windowsills, door frames, and screens with WD-40 in an attempt to keep these insects out of your household.
7. Elevation: If a spider has bitten you in the arm or leg, it is suggested to elevate the site to prevent swelling.
8. Hydrogen Peroxide: Since washing a spider bite site will help disinfect, choose hydrogen peroxide as an effective antiseptic for insect bites.
9. Dried Basil: To ease the itch of a spider bite, take a pinch of crushed basil and rub on your bite until the basil turns into the consistency of fine sand. This home remedy will also help keep the swelling down.
10. Turmeric and Olive Oil: Mix turmeric and olive oil to make a paste that treats the swelling and redness of a spider bite. Over the course of seven days, apply to your bite to help release some of the toxins. The combination also makes a decent pain reliever. Repeat the treatment at least two to three times throughout the week

If You Suspect You’ve Been Bitten by a Black Widow or Brown Recluse

1. Go to the emergency room if you are having any sort of severe reaction such as nausea, fever, muscle spasms or severe abdominal pain.
2. See a doctor as soon as possible if you experience death of tissue around the bite site or a spreading wound that does not seem to be healing.

Watch for Infection
See your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Red lines radiating from bite
• Unusual warmth of bite site and surrounding area