Stops itching?

[L Austin France]

A few days ago I was attacked by wasps who had a nest amongst some tools in our polytunnel.
No big problem. They got me on my hands a few times but obviously only fleeting stings 'cos my hands were flailing about as I beat a hasty retreat.
The biggest problem was the itching for days after when, despite trying all the remedies I knew off, it was still driving me nuts.
Talking to an old neighbour she advised putting the affected parts in a 50/50 mixture of household bleach & water for a while & said it was good for all sorts of bites & stings.
As this was not practical I dunked some kitchen roll in the solution, stuck this on my hands for a couple of half hours & the next day the itching was gone.
Might have been a coincidence but seemingly the old country remedy worked.

[Bayleaf]

We have used "Dakin" over the years for all sorts of stings and bites, very successfully. It smells like bleach, and damages clothing like bleach (!), and it's really cheap and readily available from Pharmacies. Doc wasn't too impressed when I told her I dab it on sites of a tick removal (neat), saying it's a bit harsh for skin, but it works and it's a brilliant addition to the First Aid kit in the house - for man or beast!

[L Austin France]

We have used "Dakin" over the years for all sorts of stings and bites, very successfully. It smells like bleach, and damages clothing like bleach (!), and it's really cheap and readily available from Pharmacies. Doc wasn't too impressed when I told her I dab it on sites of a tick removal (neat), saying it's a bit harsh for skin, but it works and it's a brilliant addition to the First Aid kit in the house - for man or beast!

Interesting.
Just looked up Dakin & it appears to be a 'bleach' solution.
https://www.familiprix.com/en/articles/ ... s-solution

[Bayleaf]

Indeed. But for a couple of Euro, I'd rather buy it ready made in the correct quantity, rather than mess about making up my own. It has a nozzle, so excellent for aiming directly at things like, for instance, thrush/abcess problems in hooves.

[L Austin France]

Indeed. But for a couple of Euro, I'd rather buy it ready made in the correct quantity, rather than mess about making up my own. It has a nozzle, so excellent for aiming directly at things like, for instance, thrush/abcess problems in hooves.

So will I now I know the product exists but interesting non the less that the old country folk knew what available household products worked.

[Blaze]

Normally it's acid - vinegar for wasp stings and alkaline ) bicarbs for bee stings. But if the bleach worked, fine ! I once dabbed neat gin on a wasp sting as we didn't have anything else. Not sure it worked though I never had any itching afterwards. Surgical spirit's not bad for itching.
Dakin is used as an antiseptic - it contains chlorine, as does bleach.

excellent for aiming directly at things like, for instance, thrush/abcess problems in hooves.

Stockholm tar/goudron de Norvège is brilliant for anything like thrush (apply only on the sole of the hoof). It's an age old antibacterial remedy that works well and isn't expensive. We put it on trees after removing a branch for the same reason.

[Yonner]

We use an old Papua new guinea technique of putting a spoon in boiling water and then on the site of the sting. It needs be as hot as u can stand for as long as u can stand,up to 10-15 seconds. initially painful, but very effective

[Quiksilver]

Vinegar, every time! Held on the site of a sting, it stops the pain and there's no swelling or itchiness to follow. I keep a bottle in the shed, one in the polytunnel.....in fact anywhere and everywhere the little blighters nest.

[Hotrodder]

And also nice on fish and chips.

[Quiksilver]

Hmmm.....not if you don't like soggy batter