Bed bugs have a history that's hundreds of years old. As far back as medieval times and classical Greek history, there are documents of these creatures.

Sleeping on a bed that's infested with bed bugs is no fun, but the real discomfort happens when you wake up. Your bed bug bites can be red, swollen and itchy, but you can take a little comfort in knowing that the insects will not transmit diseases. Your greatest amount of grief will likely come from the shameful stigma associated with having bed bugs in your home. It's also been suggested that bed bug infestations can be detrimental to relationships and may cause psychological strain.

There is no question that bed bugs are the cause of both mental and physical anguish. The mystery lies in the best way to deal with the bugs and treat their bites.

Bed Bug Bites

Bed bug bites first appear as welts, similar to mosquito bites. Eventually, they become red marks. These marks can last up to five days and may appear in an orderly pattern, unlike the random appearance of mosquito bites.

Characteristics of Bed Bug Bites:

* Bite marks in an orderly pattern

* Irritation, inflammation and destruction of the localized tissue

* Delayed or immediate allergic reactions

Bed bugs bites will not transmit harmful diseases and hold no medical significance, aside from the itching and inflammation. Your immediate treatment of the affected areas should involve nothing more than a thorough washing with soap and water. Scratching the itchy bites can lead to an infection requiring more advanced medical aid. You can apply ice or herbal remedies to treat the affected area and help speed the healing process.

Herbal Treatments

Herbal remedies can be successfully used to treat pain and itching, and help to control infection. They are also used to help improve symptoms, correct imbalances, increase energy and help boost the immune system. Of course, it's important to keep your body strong to promote better overall health and quality of life.

Some Chinese herbs can be helpful when used in conjunction with other herbal remedies. It all depends on the status of the bed bug bite. Treatments that incorporate an optimized herbal mixture are highly effective in addressing symptoms and treating illnesses.

Here are some herbs that can be used to treat bed bug bites:

Plantain: Known as the band-aid plant, pig's ear and ribwort, this herb is commonly found growing wild in parks, playgrounds and even driveways. There is a series of five parallel veins that run on each leaf that characterize this herb from others. A narrow leaf plantain has long, thin leaves, with a small flower head that looks similar to flying saucer. A broad leaf plantain has a taller seed head and long, thin leaves. Some members of this plant family have leaves and seeds that may be eaten as food and used as medicinal treatments.

Mud: The simplest and oldest poultice known to mankind is plain old mud. A bed bug bite can be soothed with powdered white clay that has been mixed with herbal tea. Clay can be successfully stored for a prolonged time, as it is unlikely to contain fungal spores. Painful, severely itchy bites caused by bed bugs and other insects may also be treated with bland starchy substances such as arrowroot powder, grated potato and mallow root, or finely ground grains such as oatmeal or rice.

Poultice of Fresh Herbs: The preparation of this type of poultice is a little more complicated than other herbal treatments. You'll need to chew the fresh herbs and apply them directly to the bed bug bite. Use an adhesive bandage or large leaf to cover the poultice and keep it in place, for maximum effect.

Some of the more popular choices for fresh herb poultices are:

* Chickweed, or Stellaria media

* Comfrey - Symphytum uplandica x

* Wild Geranium - Geranium maculatum

* Wild mallow - Malva neglecta

* Yellow dock (Rumex species)

Herb Leaves: The best herbal leaves to treat bed bug bites are those that come from oak, willow, maple and hazel trees. Do not chew these leaves unless you can positively identify them. Maple and oak are the most easily recognized and safest choices. Avoid any leaves with a slick or shiny appearance. Don't use the leaf as a treatment if you're not sure of the source. If the leaf tastes bitter, spit it out immediately.

You can still have a good night, even when bed bugs bite. These remedies can take away the pain and itch and help you rest a little easier.