How to Remove Venom After a Black Widow Spider Bite

According to the National Outdoor Leadership SchoolWilderness Medicine Institute, the female black widow's bite is more dangerous per "drop of venom than any other creature in North America." The black widow spider is found in every state in the continental US, commonly living in wood piles, underneath logs and large pieces of bark, stone crevices, trash heaps, outbuildings or large piles of vegetation. The female black widow is easily recognizable by the red hourglass shape on her abdomen.

Things You'll Need

• Cold compress
• Soap
• Activated charcoal
• Baking soda
• Bleach
• Plantain extract
• Icthammol
• Bandage
• Extractor

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Instructions

• 1

  Apply a cold compress surrounding the bite marks, which will reduce blood circulation and slow the venom from spreading throughout the body. Wash the bite site with soap and warm water, which will help to prevent infection from any bacteria from the spider that may be residing on the surface of the skin. Black widow bites are rarely deadly and are usually treated with painkillers, antivenin and hospital observation for older patients or young children. Use the folk remedies in the next few steps to draw out the poison. Keep in mind it folk remedies are not a substitute for seeking medical attention.

• 2

  Make a paste out of activated charcoal, which is available at most pharmacies, and water and apply it to the spider bite. Use soap and water to remove the activated charcoal every two hours on the day of the bite and every four hours the next day. Mix a teaspoon of activated charcoal in a glass of water and drink it, which can help to absorb the venom from your system.

• 3

  Make a paste out of baking soda and water so that it is the consistency of tooth paste. Apply the baking soda paste and keep it on the bite mark until the paste dries. Reapply the baking soda paste every two hours. Alternatively, you may also make a poultice by mixing one teaspoon of chlorine bleach, a teaspoon of water and a tablespoon of baking soda. Cover the bite with the poultice, which will cauterize the wound and neutralize the venom.

• 4

  Another technique is to pick fresh plantain leaves and crush them using a rolling pin. Apply the juice extract from the plantain over the bite mark. Reapply more plantain extract every other hour. Plantain is known to draw out all types of venom from insect bites. Plantain extract is available at most health foods stores or other outlets for medicinal herbs.

• 5

  Slice raw onion with a knife and apply it on the bit marks. Raw onion is a folk remedy for insect bites and black widow bites. Alternatively, some folk remedy proponents also use potato slices in place of onion as a home remedy for black widow poison extraction.

• 6

  Apply ichtammol ointment, which is available at most drugstores, on the bite mark and cover it with an adhesive bandage. Leave the ichtammol on the bite mark overnight and it will help to draw out the poison.

• 7

  Venom extractor pumps are sold commercially; however, wilderness medicine protocols do not advise using them. However, there may be a small chance that an extractor pump will help remove some venom.