Brown Recluse Spider Bite Treatment
The brown recluse spider can be found in the Southeast and Midwest portions of the United States. It prefers dry, dark climates, such as attics, old barns and woodpiles. Though not actively hostile, its venom is quite toxic. Along with the black widow, it is one of the only spiders in North America that pose a threat to human beings.
The danger of a brown recluse spider bite is dependent on where the bite occurs. It is most dangerous when the bite is near an important part of the body, such as on the head, just above a vital organ or near a joint.
If left untreated by a physician, a Brown Recluse’s bite can cause blistering, necrosis of the skin with underlying fat, open lesions, organ damage as venom enters the bloodstream and (rarely) death.
First of all, let us look at a couple of quotes about what a brown recluse spider bite actually looks like:
“Brown Recluse bites are sharp but not initially painful like those of the Black Widow, but a small, white blister is quickly raised, broken, and surrounded by a red welt. An hour or more may pass; then there may be intense pain. The depressed center of this raised, red circle (the size of a dime to a quarter) turns dark within a day. The dead tissue regularly sloughs away, and the bite area scars over in one to eight weeks. Death seldom occurs, but the bite is debilitating and psychologically traumatic. Note: A bite from a brown recluse may also produce an intensely sore lump, even several weeks after the initial injury.”
Here is another one:
“The severity of a person’s reaction to the bite (from brown recluse) depends on the amount of venom injected and individual sensitivity to it. Bite effects may be nothing at all, immediate or delayed. Some may not be aware of the bite for 2 to 8 hours, whereas others feel a stinging sensation usually followed by intense pain if there is a severe reaction. A small white blister usually rises at the bite site surrounded by a large congested swollen area. Within 24-36 hours, a systemic reaction may occur with the victim characterized by restlessness, fever, chills, nausea, weakness and joint pain. The affected area enlarges, becomes inflamed, and the tissue is hard to touch. The spider’s venom contains an enzyme that destroys cell membranes in the wound area with affected tissue gradually sloughing away, exposing underlying tissues. Within 24 hours, the bite site can erupt into a “volcano lesion” (a hole in the flesh due to damaged, gangrenous tissue).” Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet on entomology
The first thing to understand is that the damage done by a brown recluse spider bite is done by chemical reactions (i.e. involving enzymes). The venom literally liquefies human issue. Thus, the most damage is usually not done by bacteria or virus.
The initial treatment for a brown recluse spider bite includes immediate application of cold compresses, which may help inactivate some of the venom.
If you go to a doctor, he or she will probably give you antibiotics. While this is recommended because infection will almost always be present in the spider bite, the treatment is worthless at stopping the spreading of the chemical reaction and it will not stop any possible gangrene.
Antivenom for a brown recluse spider bite has not proven to be effective.
Ascended Health’s Brown Recluse Spider Bite Treatment
Ascended Health’s Brown Recluse Spider Bite Treatment is a powerful synergistic mixture of special natural magnetic minerals and oils designed to inactivate poisons, fight infection and regenerate the dead necrotic skin tissue. This product may be the best on the market.
This natural cure for the brown recluse bite is a combination of essential oils of oregano, clove, Melissa, rosemary, rose otto, bentonite clays and electrical current.
Testimonials for this treatment can be found on their website ascendedhealth.com.
If you live in an area where there are known brown recluse spiders it might be wise to order this product and keep it refrigerated.
Brown Recluse First Aid Kit
The Brown Recluse First Aid Kit has 2 components. The all natural Advanced Adsorb Powder is combined with The Brown Recluse Solution, a unique herbal solution, to produce a paste.
This paste has a molecular attraction to the venom. When applied to the wound, working to draw out the venom and relieve the pain so that your body can heal itself.
Why does this product work so well? Because the ingredients in this kit get to the root cause of the problem rather than treating symptoms. The problem with a spider bite is the venom. It is the Brown Recluse venom that kills cells and causes gruesome and painful sores. Drawing out the venom is the most important factor for starting the healing process and this is exactly what the Brown Recluse First Aid kit does.
Basil Oil and Lavender Oil
The information about basil oil I am about to give came from a speech by actor Clint Walker.
The treatment for a brown recluse spider bite is to take the essential oil basil, or the basil plant oils, and administer it BOTH internally (as a tea) and externally.
- Step One: Clean the wound, and put basil oil on the bite area (or oil from the basil plant itself) and tape a cotton pad over the wound. Change this pad 3 or 4 times a day.
- Step Two: Several times a day make a basil tea and drink it. Again, either basil oil or the oil from a basil plant can be used to make the tea.
If you live in an area where there are brown recluse spiders, you might want to put a container of basil oil in your refrigerator. This way if you do notice a brown recluse spider bite, or what might be a bite, you can take immediate action.
The essential oil generally used for gangrene is Lavender Oil.
First aid treatment of Recluse Spider bites
To minimize your reaction to a spider’s toxins and treat existing bites, consider the following home remedies:
- Cold Water and Ice: Reduce swelling and provide spider bite relief by applying an ice pack or cold, wet washcloth to the skin. Ice the area for 20 minutes every few hours for the first 3 days. Elevate area if it is on an arm or leg.
- Baking Soda: Mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water to create a paste to speed up the healing process of a spider bite. Depending on the severity of your bite, you will see changes within a couple of days.
- WD-40: Prevent a reoccurrence of spider bites that take place in the home by spraying your windowsills, door frames, and screens with WD-40 in an attempt to keep these insects out of your household.
- Elevation: If a spider has bitten you in the arm or leg, it is suggested to elevate the site to prevent swelling.
- Hydrocortisone 1% Cream: Treat itching and redness of a spider bite by applying hydrocortisone cream (1%). Calamine lotion makes an effective substitute.
- Hydrogen Peroxide: Since washing a spider bite site will help disinfect, choose hydrogen peroxide as an effective antiseptic for insect bites.
- Dried Basil: To ease the itch of a spider bite, take a pinch of crushed basil and rub on your bite until the basil turns into the consistency of fine sand. This home remedy will also help keep the swelling down.
- Turmeric and Olive Oil: Mix turmeric and olive oil to make a paste that treats the swelling and redness of a spider bite. Over the course of seven days, apply to your bite to help release some of the toxins. The combination also makes a decent pain reliever. Repeat the treatment at least two to three times throughout the week.
- Aspirin: To gain relief from a spider bite, it is necessary to neutralize some of the poison. Soak an aspirin tablet in a little bit of water until it creates a paste. Apply to your spider bite to alleviate itching. For some people, symptoms are relieved within several hours.
- Antibiotic Lotion or Cream: Fight infection (especially in children) by applying an antibiotic lotion or cream to a spider bite.
- Save the Spider, if Possible. Kill and save the spider so it can be identified. However, often the spider is not seen when the bite happens.
- Call a Doctor Right Away. Venom from a brown recluse spider bite can cause tissue damage that can lead to scarring, as well as more serious complications. Bring the spider to the doctor’s office if you can.
- Follow Up. The doctor will treat the wound area and may prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection.
The doctor may recommend ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain. If an ulcer forms at the skin surface, the doctor may remove dead tissue from the wound.
It may take 6 to 8 weeks for the lesion to heal.
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