Q: I read about using a sliced onion on a bee sting or wasp sting. I tried this trick after a wasp got me on my little finger.
I cut an onion and put it on the stung spot. It felt a little better, but I wanted faster relief. I chopped the onion and put some in my garlic press. I squeezed the juice into a bowl, soaked a gauze pad with it and applied it to my finger. Right away the pain was gone, and the swelling was much reduced.
A: More than 30 years ago, a reader shared this story about treating a yellow-jacket sting. “A friend told me to cut an onion and press the cut side to the sting, holding it there at least 10 minutes. I tried it the last time I got stung, and miracle of miracles, it really worked.”
Since then, we have heard from many that a fresh-cut onion can ease the pain of a sting. Your innovation to use onion juice is an interesting adaptation.
Anyone who is allergic to stings should use an epinephrine autoinjector or seek emergency medical attention!
– Article by Joe and Teresa Graedon
– Copyright The Seattle Times