{"id":6453,"date":"2017-07-30T12:41:17","date_gmt":"2017-07-30T18:41:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/?p=6453"},"modified":"2017-07-30T12:41:17","modified_gmt":"2017-07-30T18:41:17","slug":"grow-and-harvest-yarrow-for-insect-bites-and-stings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/articles\/grow-and-harvest-yarrow-for-insect-bites-and-stings\/","title":{"rendered":"Grow and Harvest Yarrow for Insect Bites and Stings"},"content":{"rendered":"

I started beekeeping with two hives, and one was very calm and docile. \u00a0The other? Uh, no, turns out they were Africanized and put me into the hospital. \u00a0That’s another story you can read about here.<\/a> \u00a0But until we actually figured it out, we were finding ourselves with stings from just “more aggressive than normal” bees. \u00a0Of everything we tried to soothe our skin, our family found Yarrow to be the most effective\u00a0non-drowsy option. \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Bee<\/a>\u00a0My reactivity to the stings grew throughout\u00a0last summer.<\/strong> \u00a0The first sting was a bit red and stung for a day. \u00a0With each sting, the swelling and pain increased. \u00a0If you are curious about allergies, definitely read this article<\/a> where we dive into that subject more fully.<\/p>\n

With a yard full of Yarrow, I didn’t start there. \u00a0I honestly didn’t know what that fuzzy fern-like weed was that we had growing by the back fence (ironically, right next to the hives).<\/p>\n

With the first stings, I started with over-the-counter Benedryl cream. \u00a0It was soothing for the first 10 seconds, but then felt sticky on the skin and provided no further relief.\u00a0 Over-the-counter Calamine lotion didn’t help any longer, either. \u00a0I like the results from just straight honey, but it’s a mess and not practical for someone who cannot stop moving. \u00a0Honey<\/strong> is such a mess that you now have to bandage over it somehow. \u00a0I used Colloidal silver gel<\/strong>, and that was a good option for me; I think everyone should keep a bottle in their kitchen for quick attention to burns.<\/p>\n

All along, the solution was outside, next to the hive. \u00a0The bees loved it, too.<\/p>\n

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The U.S. National Library of Medicine<\/a> grows Yarrow in their Official Herb Garden, and here’s what you need to know to consider doing the same.<\/p>\n

Plant Identification: Yarrow<\/h3>\n

My mother gave me a Holy Fear of Hemlock, and I was to eschew any long stemmed white weed. \u00a0The differences are really quite clear, but I suggest you find examples of both and learn both so that you minimize any confusion.<\/p>\n

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Here are just a few quick differences, but you bear the personal responsibility<\/strong> to research this further before utilizing anything in a medicinal way:<\/p>\n