For Stings, Bites, Infection, Swelling, Inflammation, Rash, Cracked Skin etc

For Stings, Bites, Infection, Swelling, Inflammation, Rash, Minor Cuts etc:

Bitter Melon or Balsam Pear Tincture or Salve

A friend in Missouri shared this with me today after I told her about my wasp sting yesterday.

"I ... have a home grown remedy that helps take the sting out and swelling down [besides the chewing tobacco, which may help too].

I grow a plant called balsam, some call it bitter melon or balsam pear.  ... [W]hen the gourd like fruit turns orange, I pick it and clean out the insides and then [after slicing it up?] soak it in [alcohol] in a jar. 

Then we use it like a pumice for stings and sprains and anything swelling or infected, as it draws out the swelling and soreness. 

I have already used it on my son, who had a red streak going up his arm, and it all cleared up.  Of course, I watched it close. 

It was the go-to-fix-all, when I was growing up.

I also make a salve with vaseline with it. 

It is great for kids, as you can put it on most scrapes, and for diaper rash and really great on dry cracked hands in the winter."