I hate these little suckers and of course the fire ants are even worse.  This morning I was pulling weeds in an area where there is a pipe leak so there is grass and weeds everywhere.  I waded into that area to save our Texas Wisteria vine from being overrun and got overrun myself…by dreaded ants.  Now my foot is itching like crazy.  Benadryl itch spray didn’t help and who knows what is in that crap anyways.  I typically try vinegar as most of the ants here have a base venom.  But there are some ants with an acidic venom so then I next try baking soda.  Usually one of those two works.  But here are a few more ideas (some weird like worcestershire sauce, seriously?) that I pulled from the collective unconscious we call the internet:

Method 1: Vegetables and fruits are a great natural remedy for treating ant bites. For example, you can pour lemon juice directly onto an ant bite. The acidity from the lemon counteracts and neutralizes the acid in the bite. A slice of cucumber on the bite is also helpful, as well as a little bit of onion or a clove or garlic.

Method 2: 20 Mule Team Borax is another great way to treat ant bits. You can soak the affected area in a tub of warm water diluted with 3 cups of the Borax. This should draw the poison out of the bite. Borax actually comes from the mineral ‘boron’. So, in effect, you are just soaking in a mineral bath.

Method 3: Aloe Vera – especially straight from the plant. If you can get your hands on one, just cut a leaf open, and squeeze its juice directly onto your ant bite. If you can’t get a leaf, the next best thing is pure aloe vera gel you get from a drugstore. It should draw any infection out of the bite.

Method 4: Take a pill of Benadryl if you have an allergic reaction to the bite (but make sure you don’t have any adverse reactions to Benedryl itself). A 25 milligram dose of Benadryl should do the job for any allergic reaction to the bite.

Method 5: Make a thick paste out of baking soda and water. Apply it straight onto the ant bite. Besides taking care of the pain, this paste should also help with the itching. This is also a great way to treat bee stings.

Method 6: Worcestershire sauce is another secret weapon against ant bites, which can also be found in the typical kitchen. All you need to do is cover the ant bite(s) with a piece of paper towel and soak it with the Worcestershire sauce.

Method 7: Another effective way for treating ant bites is to mix clay with water. Make a paste and spread it over the bite. This should soothe the pain, as well as the burning sensation from the bite. It should relieve the itching too.

Method 8: Put an ice cube onto the ant bite to reduce the itching and the pain. Right after that, apply peppermint oil to the bite; then lavender oil after that. Repeat.

Method 9: Apply a tea bag to the bite to neutralize the acid in it. The tannic acid in tea will do the job. Black tea is best for this.

Method 10: Apply ammonia to the ant bite. Also, you can apply hydrogen peroxide, then ammonia to the bite, alternately, with separate cloths.

I can’t remember where I found these methods at, so if anyone wants credit, just put it in the comments.