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.

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