Home Remedies for Spider Bites: Learn About the Symptoms of Spider Bites and How to Treat Them Naturally

Symptoms of Spider Bites

All spiders produce venom but only a few are able to pierce the skin and the ones that do, the venom is insufficiently toxic. Two spiders of concern in the United States are the brown recluse spider and the black widow spider. The brown recluse spider is found mostly in the central Midwestern states and likes to live in secluded sites. The black widow spider lives mainly in the southern states and likes to build webs in undisturbed areas.

Symptoms of spider bites include redness, swelling, pain, and itching at the site of the bite.

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Brown Recluse

Initially, symptoms of brown recluse spider bites go unnoticed or may feel like a pinprick. It can take 2-8 hours before some people are even aware they have been bitten. A blister usually rises at the swollen site and can lead to necrosis of the skin. The pain can be mild to severe and some people may develop systemic reactions, such as fever, chills, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, and joint pain. Fatalities from brown recluse spider bites are extremely rare.

Black Widow

Symptoms of the black widow spider bite may also go unnoticed at first. Two faint red spots (puncture marks from the fangs) and slight swelling at the site are normally the first signs to be seen. Pain soon begins and can be intense. Other symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, restlessness, dizziness, weakness, fever, profuse perspiration, labored breathing, and tremors. Normally, only small amounts of venom is injected. Death from black widow spider bites are very rare.

Anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) can occur in some individuals and requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms include swelling of the face, neck, lips, or tongue, shortness of breath, wheezing, weakness, and hives.

Home Remedies for Spider Bites

If you believe the spider bite is from a brown recluse spider or a black widow spider, remain calm, apply ice to the bite, and seek medical attention immediately.

Children under the age of 6 and individuals experiencing severe symptoms should also see a doctor.

Home remedies for spider bites can help extract venom, reduce swelling, and ease pain and itching.

Make a paste with charcoal and water. You can find charcoal capsules at health food stores. Empty the contents and add a little water. Apply the paste to the spider bite. This will extract venom.

If you don’t have charcoal, make a paste with baking soda and water. This will extract venom and help reduce swelling.

Potatoes are also said to draw out venom. Slice a potato and place it over the spider bite.

Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling and soothe pain.

Rub a pinch of crushed basil over the spider bite until the consistency of the basil turns into a fine sand. This will decrease swelling and ease the itch.

To help relieve pain, make a paste with turmeric and olive oil and apply.

Cut off a piece of garlic or onion, place it over the spider bite, and secure it with tape. Both are great home remedies for spider bites because they help relieve symptoms and speed up recovery time.

Photo Credit

Both spider pictures in the public domain.

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