You probably know that scorpion stings are painful, but there are rare cases where they can become life-threatening. People who have the highest risk of getting scorpion stings are young children and very old people.
India, the Middle East, North Africa, South America, and parts of Mexico are having problems with scorpion stings, and in these parts, this is treated as a significant public health problem.
In the United States of America, the only scorpion species with venom potent enough to cause severe problems is the bark scorpion, mainly found in the Desert Southwest.
In most cases, scorpion stings only cause localized signs and symptoms, such as warmth and pain at the site of the sting.
There are some cases when these symptoms can be quite intense, even if you do not notice swelling or redness.
People who are camping or hiking have increased chances of getting scorpion stings.
If you travel to certain parts of the world where more dangerous scorpions live, you could bring them home because scorpions can hide in shipping containers, luggage, or clothing.
You need to talk with your doctor if a scorpion has bitten you because we don’t guarantee that these home remedies will surely help you.
14 Home remedies for scorpion stings
Frankincense essential oil
This home remedy has a soothing effect and can help you get relief from the burning sensation caused by the scorpion sting. It is lipophilic, which means that it gets absorbed into the skin, and it passes easily through the cell membrane to start working at a molecular level and hasten the healing process.
Frankincense essential oil has no known side effects and is very safe to use. You should apply a few drops of the undiluted form of the frankincense essential oil on the sting area, allow it to sit for a couple of hours, and repeat this natural treatment if required.
Ice packs
Ice packs are usually recommended for superficial wounds associated with bleeding to decrease the amount of blood loss. Therefore, this feature can also be beneficial in scorpion sting wounds as well.
Ice packs also reduce the temperature in the area, causing temporary numbness, which will give you relief from the pain.
You should take a few ice cubes from the fridge, bundle them up in a polythene bag, and apply the bag to the sting area. You should repeat this process if required.
Turmeric and sesame oil
Turmeric is known to have amazing antibiotic properties [1], which can help rapidly heal the scorpion sting. Turmeric has curcuminoids like curcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, and dementhoxycurcumin, which can remove all the toxins and help speed the healing process.
When sesame and turmeric oil are used together, they are considered one of the best home combinations for scorpion stings.
Turmeric is an excellent natural antibiotic and is recommended for many skin afflictions, and it is also free of adverse side effects.
You should mix two teaspoons of pure turmeric powder with one teaspoon of sesame oil and apply this paste to the sting area. You should let it stay there for a couple of hours, and you may repeat this natural treatment if the swelling and pain persist.
Papaya
You can use the extract of papaya leaves on your sting area. This extract can help to break down the proteins in the scorpion venom naturally [2].
Raw tamarind
This is one of the best home remedies for scorpion stings. Tamarind juice has detoxifying properties, and it can help to neutralize the poisonous effect of scorpion stings due to the tartaric acid, which can help to neutralize the effect of the sting.
Raw tamarind doesn’t have any side effects. It is used as an ingredient in Indian cuisine.
You should take two fingers of raw tamarind, crush it to extract the juice, and then apply the extract to the sting area. You should let it stay there for an hour or so; if required, you may repeat it.
Radish poultice
A radish poultice is recommended for different aches and pains. Also, it is very effective in neutralizing the toxins in the sting and helping reduce inflammation. Radish has glucosinolates which, along with isothiocyanates and phenolics, can hasten the healing process [3, 4].
A radish poultice is one of the best home remedies you can use for scorpion stings.
You should take one to two fresh radishes, wash them, peel them and then crush them to make a paste. You should apply this paste to the sting area. You need to cover it with a soft bandage. You should let it stay there for a few hours and repeat if needed.
Mint leaf juice
This is a very effective home remedy in reducing the swelling caused by scorpion stings because of its anti-inflammatory properties [5].
Menthone and menthol are components found in mint leaf juice and can help with healing. It is known that this is one of the best natural cures for scorpion stings. It is free of side effects and has been recommended as a natural treatment for many illnesses.
You should take a bunch of fresh mint leaves and crush them to extract the juice. You should apply this juice on the sting areas, let it stay there for one to two hours, and repeat if required.
Basil leaves (Tulsi)
Basil has anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties [6, 7]. When applying basil leaf juice, mix it with a pinch of salt; then, it can remove the toxic effect and reduce the swelling.
Basil leaves have a component known as rosmarinic acid, a phenolic acid that hastens the process.
Basil doesn’t have side effects and doesn’t cause any allergies, which means it is safe to use. You should take a bunch of fresh basil leaves, crush them to make a paste, and apply this paste to the sting area. You should let it stay there for a couple of hours and repeat the treatment if required.
Baking soda
You should make a paste of baking soda and water and apply this home remedy to non-poisonous scorpion stings because it can help to draw out the venom.
Clay
You can make a paste of water and clay and then apply it to the site of the scorpion sting. It is a very effective home remedy for scorpion stings.
Asafetida powder
This spice is widely used in Asian and especially Indian cuisine. It has anti-inflammatory properties, given that it can inhibit peroxidation [8], which helps the body by soothing the painful scorpion sting.
It has no side effects, and it is part of several cultures in Europe and Asia.
You should mix one teaspoon pure Asafetida powder in warm water and paste from these ingredients. You should apply this paste on the sting area, let it stay there for a couple of hours, and repeat this process if your pain persists.
Calendula salve
Calendula is a very effective home remedy for scorpion stings. You can make a calendula salve by adding five drops of calendula tincture to ½ cup of coconut oil and mixing it. You should apply this ointment on the site of the scorpion sting.
Garlic
You can use garlic paste and apply it over the affected area since it can relieve symptoms and help in the healing process. You can mash up whole cloves of fresh garlic or grind them in a small food processor. This way, you will make a garlic paste that can be used.
Mango tree leaf
Mango leaves have excellent antibiotic properties as well as excellent antiseptic and antiviral properties, which can speed up the healing process [9].
They also have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce swelling. It is a natural product that does not have side effects, and it is safe to use. You should crush a handful of fresh mango tree leaves and extract the sap.
You should apply the mango leaf sap on the sting area, let it stay there for an hour or so, and repeat it twice daily for two to three days.
References
[1] Gupta SC, Patchva S, Aggarwal BB. Therapeutic roles of curcumin: lessons learned from clinical trials. The AAPS Journal. 2012;15(1):195-218.
[2] Zucker S, Buttle DJ, Nicklin MJ, Barrett AJ. The proteolytic activities of chymopapain, papain, and papaya proteinase III. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Protein Structure and Molecular Enzymology. 1985;828(2):196-204.
[3] Fuentes F., Paredes-Gonzalez X, and Kong ANT. Dietary Glucosinolates Sulforaphane, Phenethyl Isothiocyanate, Indole-3-Carbinol/3,3′-Diindolylmethane: Anti-oxidative stress/inflammation, Nrf2, Epigenetics/Epigenomics and in vivo cancer chemopreventive efficacy. Current Pharmacology Reports. 2015;1(3):179-196.
[4] Mithen R, Faulkner K, Magrath R, et al. Development of isothiocyanate-enriched broccoli, and its enhanced ability to induce phase 2 detoxification enzymes in mammalian cells. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 2003;106(4):727-734.
[5] Sun Z, Wang H, Wang J, et al. Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of essential oil from leaves of Mentha piperita grown in China. PloS One. 2014;9(12):e114767-e114767.
[6] Cohen MM. Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2014;5(4):251-259.
[7] Kaya I, Yigit N, Benli M. Antimicrobial activity of various extracts of Ocimum basilicum L. and observation of the inhibition effect on bacterial cells by use of scanning electron microscopy. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicines. 2008;5(4):363-369.
[8] Mahendra P., Bisht S. Ferula asafoetida: Traditional uses and pharmacological activity. Pharmacognosy Reviews. 2012;6(12):141-146.
[9] Hannan A, Asghar S, Naeem T, et al. Antibacterial effect of mango (Mangifera indica Linn.) leaf extract against antibiotic sensitive and multi-drug resistant Salmonella typhi. Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2013;26:715-719.
