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Yesterday, while changing the tire on my car (in the dark on Interstate 95 in NC), I didn't know that the spot I had jacked my car up on was filled with fire ants. I have bites all over my legs and they are extremely painful as well as itchy. Does anyone know of anything that will help? And please don't tell me cortisone... I've already tried that.
In Reply to: Fire Ants---HELP! posted by Melanie on July 09, 2002 at 07:13:25:
Hi, Melanie.
They ARE bad aren't they!? Little buggers are just protecting themselves----RIIGGHHT!
Meat tenderizer is the universal solution to ANY bug bite. The poison injected is a protein and meat tenderizer works because it is a proteolytic enzyme. Therefore, if one will take a bit of meat tenderizer and put it on a moistened bandaid to put over the bite (the sooner this is done the less the bite will bother) for about 24 hours, they will be amazed at the difference. However, even after 24 hours it will still help.
Look at bites from bugs archives.
Let us know how you do.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Fire Ants---HELP! (Archive in bites from bugs.) posted by Walt Stoll on July 10, 2002 at 07:42:56:
According to www.emedicine.com/derm/topic607.htm "fire ant venom differs from bee and wasp venom, which are mostly proteinaceous solutions. About 95% of fire ant venom is water-insoluble and nonproteinaceous and contains dialkylpiperidine hemolytic factors. These hemolytic factors induce the release of histamine and other vasoactive amines from mast cells, resulting in a sterile pustule at the sting site. These alkaloids are not immunogenic, but their toxicity to the skin is believed to cause the pustules to form." Anyway, according to this info, meat tenderizer won't work for fire ant stings.
In Reply to: Re: Fire Ants---HELP! (Archive in bites from bugs.) posted by Melanie on July 10, 2002 at 11:39:05:
Thanks, Melanie.
I did not know that.
I would be interested in anyone doing the experiment of treating half their bites with meat tenderizer and the other half not being treated. Let us know what they find out.
Not all things work in the test tube (in vitro) as they do in the person (in vivo).
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Fire Ants---HELP! (Archive in bites from bugs.) posted by Walt Stoll on July 11, 2002 at 08:45:19:
I tried everything. Hydrocortisone, Lanacane, Chloraseptic sore throat spray, Caladryl, Ammonia (which I heard has the same effect as meat tenderizer), Stopain spray, Solarcaine spray, alcohol, nail polish remover & even WD-40. Nothing fully worked. The Lanacane and Epsom salt soaks were the only two things that gave me any relief at all and they didn't even give me very much relief at that. My allergist put me on Prednisone and told me to take Benadryl in addition. After taking them, I started to feel better. This happened on the 8th and it's the 13th. I'm still a bit itchy and I'm very black-n-blue, but at least the pain, swelling and burning have subsided.
In Reply to: Re: Fire Ants---HELP! (Archive in bites from bugs.) posted by Melanie on July 13, 2002 at 17:21:34:
Hi, Melanie.
Ammonia would definitely not have the same effect as meat tenderizer! They all go away eventually but the marks might last for years.
Walt
In Reply to: Fire Ants---HELP! posted by Melanie on July 09, 2002 at 07:13:25:
Melanie, I was just bitten about 20 times the other day while in the garden. The first time I have encoutered them. How are you doing. I am itching like crazy and my feet are still got the bite/puffy spots all over them.
Tim
In Reply to: Re: Fire Ants---HELP! posted by Tim on August 22, 2002 at 12:13:26:
Walt, when you say meat tenderizer - what exactly is meat tenderizer? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I don't know what meat tenderizer is. I always use lemon juice and garlic for tenderizer.
In Reply to: Re: Fire Ants---HELP! posted by Donna E. on August 22, 2002 at 12:42:12:
Hi, Donna E.
Meat tenderizer is a powder that contains proteolytic enzymes that breaks down the fiber in the meat so it is much more tender. Ac`cent is one and it also has a few spices for taste in it.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Fire Ants---HELP! (What is Meat Tenderizer?) Archive in bug bites.) posted by Walt Stoll on August 23, 2002 at 10:35:46:
Thank you. I will get a bottle to keep on hand for bites.
In Reply to: Re: Fire Ants---HELP! (What is Meat Tenderizer?) Archive in bug bites.) posted by Walt Stoll on August 23, 2002 at 10:35:46:
Walt,
Last time I checked, the seasoning in Ac'cent meat tenderizer is MSG (monosodium glutamate).
I should point out that if the label now says "spices", then it's still (in all probability) MSG, aka processed free glutamates - excitotic taste enhancers - which can legally be called a whole list of innocuous names. I would not put it on meat.
I guess you weren't endorsing it for food use one way or the other, but just providing information.
But putting it on bug bites - this is good to know!
In Reply to: Re: Fire Ants---HELP! (What is Meat Tenderizer?) Archive in bug bites.) posted by Jan S. on August 23, 2002 at 14:14:46:
Thanks, Jan.
I have only used it for bug bites and never for seasoning or tenderizing. What are the proteolytic enzymes in Accent?
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Fire Ants---HELP! (What is Meat Tenderizer?) Archive in bug bites.) posted by Walt Stoll on August 24, 2002 at 09:31:47:
I was in a supermarket today and checked the label on Ac'cent. It had been a LOOOONG time! It said "Monosodium Glutamate." Period. I didn't find any Ac'cent *meat tenderizer*.
I don't know what the specific proteolytic enzymes in any of the commercial meat tenderizers would be, but perhaps next time I am in the market I will remember to look!
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