Evidence supporting the use of: Zinc
For the health condition: Bites and Stings
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Zinc has traditionally been used in topical preparations, such as calamine lotion or zinc oxide creams, to soothe and protect the skin after insect bites and stings. The primary rationale behind this use is zinc's astringent and mild anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce local irritation, itching, and inflammation. Historically, zinc oxide and calamine (which contains zinc carbonate) have been included in many over-the-counter remedies for minor skin irritations, including bites and stings. These topical applications form a physical barrier that protects the affected area, which may contribute to a subjective sense of relief.
However, there is limited robust scientific evidence directly supporting zinc's efficacy specifically for bites and stings. Most available evidence is extrapolated from studies on zinc's general wound healing and skin protective roles. Some small studies and anecdotal reports suggest that zinc-containing creams can help reduce itching and promote healing, but controlled clinical trials for bites and stings are lacking. Therefore, while zinc's use in this context is well-established in traditional and over-the-counter settings, scientific validation is limited, and its efficacy for this specific indication is not strongly supported by high-quality research.
Other ingredients used for Bites and Stings
AbrusAbuta
Achyranthes
Aconite
Adrenergic amines
Alchornea
Aloe vera
Alstonia scholaris
American Liverleaf
Amor seco
anamu
Angelica
angel\'s trumpet
Aquilegia formosa
Arani
Ardisia
Arisaema
arnica
Asclepias cordifolia
ash
Asteraceae
avens
babchi
Baccharoides anthelmintica
balsam
Baphicacanthus cusia
Barleria
basil
bee products
bee propolis
bentonite
beta caryophyllene
beta-pinene
betel
Bidens pilosa
bisabolene
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
black cumin
black nightshade
black root
black walnut
black-eyed Susan
blackboard tree
borneol
boxthorne
Brazilian peppertree
buckthorn
bасора
cajuput
Calendula
Calotropis gigantea
camphor oil
capillary artemisia
castile soap
cedar
Centipeda
chamomile
chickweed
Chinese raisintree
cinquefoil
citronella
Clerodendrum indicum
cocklebur
colloidal silver
copaiba oil
cowherb
curcumen
curcumin
devil\'s club
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Eclipta
emu oil
Erodium cicutarium
essential oil blend
eucalyptus
eugenol
Eupatorium
Euphorbia
European Elder
European five-finger grass
fang-feng
fern
Ficus religiosa
fir
fleabane
Fomes fomentarius
gallotannin
gamma-terpinene
geranium
giant blazingstar
Glechoma hederacea
Gnaphalium
goldenseal
green tea
Guazuma ulmifolia
hairy arnica
heal-all
Helicteres isora
hemp
hemp oil
henna
Herb Robert
herbal blend (proprietary)
Homalomena
honey
honeysuckle
Horsemint
horseradish
hound\'s tongue
Huang hua
Hyaluronidase
Hydrocolloid
Ilex
impatiens
Indian coraltree
isobutylamides
Jessica\'s sticktight
labrador tea
Laggera pterodonta
Lantana camara
lavender
lemongrass
Leptospermum scoparium
Lesser speargrass
Lewis's monkey flower
lime
Litsea
lodhtree
Lysimachia
Macaranga indica
Mahonia
Malva sylvestris
marigold
Marking Nut Tree
Matapalo Tree
Matico
melaleuca alternifolia
Melia
Menthol oil
Milkweed
Monoterpenes
Morning glory
Mountain horopito
Mugwort
Mustard
mustard seed
Nasturtium
Neem tree
Nimbidin
nut grass
oregano
Osha
Oxystelma
p-menthane-3,8-diol
paederia foetida
papaya
Papayotin
paw paw
Pellitory
Petiveria
Peucedanum
phenolic compounds
Phyllanthus
plantain
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Plumbago zeylanica
Portulaca
prepared aconite tuber
Propolis
purple Tephrosia
Quisqualis
red spiderling
resin
Rhus glabra
rosemary
Rubia yunnanensis
rue
sage
Sapindus mukorossi
schizonepeta
Self-Heal
Sensitive Plant
Sesbania
Sesquiterpenes
shen-chu
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
siler root
Sinapis arvensis
Smartweed
Smooth Alder
Soapberry
Solanaceae
Solanum indicum
Southernwood
Spanish Needle
Sphaeranthus indicus
Spikenard
Spilanthes
Stellaria dichotoma
Stereospermum
Storax
Sweet Annie
Sweet Bay
Tagetes
Tansy
Tea Tree Oil
Terpenoids
Terpinen-4-ol
thyme
Thymol
Thymus
Trumpet Vine
turmeric
Vervain
vitamin C
vitamin E
Weak Jumby Pepper
Winter Savory
Wintergreen
Witch Hazel
xanthium (cockleburs)
Yerba Mansa
zanthoxylum
Zinc
Zingiberene
Other health conditions supported by Zinc
AbrasionsAcne
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Anemia
Anorexia
Antibiotics (alternatives to)
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Appetite (deficient)
Arthritis
Athlete's Foot
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
Birth Defects (prevention)
Bites and Stings
Blisters
Body Building
Body Odor
Boils
Broken Bones
Bruises (healing)
Bulimia
Burns and Scalds
Calcium Deficiency
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Carbuncles
Cardiovascular Disease
Cartilage Damage
Cataracts
Celiac Disease
Cervical Dysplasia
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Cholera
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cold Sores
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Colitis
Concentration (poor)
Congestion
Congestive Heart Failure
Conjunctivitis
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Copper Toxicity
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Cradle Cap
Cramps (menstrual)
Crohn's Disease
Cuts
Cystic Fibrosis
Dandruff
Debility
Dehydration
Depression
Dermatitis
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diaper Rash
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Duodenal Ulcers
Dysentery
Eczema
Endometriosis
Energy (lack of)
Enteritis
Epstein Barr Virus
Erectile Dysfunction
Exercise
Eye Infections
Eye Problems
Eyes (red or itching)
Eyes (spots before)
Eyesight (poor)
Failure to Thrive
Fat Metabolism (poor)
Fatty Liver Disease
Fibrosis
Fingernails (weak or brittle)
Foot Odor
Free Radical Damage
Gastritis
Giardia
Gingivitis
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Halitosis
Hashimoto's Disease
Hearing Loss
Heart (weakness)
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Hemochromatosis
Hemorrhoids
Hepatitis
Herpes
Hypothyroid
Impetigo
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Infection (viral)
Infertility
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Influenza
Injuries
Insomnia
Irritability
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Itching
Itching (rectal)
Jock Itch
Labor and Delivery
Lead Poisoning
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leprosy
Lesions
Leucorrhea
Liver Detoxification
Lupus
Macular Degeneration
Mastitis
Measles
Memory and Brain Function
Menorrhagia
Menstrual Irregularity
Mental Illness
Metabolic Syndrome
Migraine
Miscarriage (prevention)
Mononucleosis
Mood Swings
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Night Blindness
Nursing
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Oral Surgery
Osteoporosis
Pancreatitis
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
PMS Type S
Pneumonia
Poison Ivy or Oak
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Premature Ejaculation
Progesterone (low)
Prostatitis
Protein Digestion (poor)
Psoriasis
Puberty (hormone balancer)
Rashes and Hives
Rhinitis
Rosacea
Scars / Scar Tissue
Schizophrenia
Scratches and Abrasions
Seborrhea
Sex Drive (low)
Shingles
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sinus Infection
Skin (dry and/or flaky)
Skin (infections)
Skin (oily)
Skin Care (general)
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Smell (loss of)
Sore or Geographic Tongue
Sore Throat
Stress
Stye
Sugar Cravings
Sunburn
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Syphilis
Teeth (loose)
Testosterone (low)
Thinking (cloudy)
Tickle in Throat
Tonsillitis
Tooth Decay
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Tuberculosis
Ulcerations (external)
Ulcers
Vitiligo
Warts
Wasting
Worry
Wounds and Sores
Products containing Zinc
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas (Sugar Free Original Formula)
Nature's Sunshine 5-HTP Power
Nature's Sunshine Adrenal Support
Nature's Sunshine AnxiousLess
Nature's Sunshine AnxiousLess
Nature's Sunshine Bowel Detox
Nature's Sunshine Calcium-Magnesium (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine Candida Clear
Nature's Sunshine Cellular Energy
Nature's Sunshine Children's Elderberry Immune
Nature's Sunshine Children's MultiVitamin & Mineral
Nature's Sunshine Defense Maintenance
Nature's Sunshine Dieter's Cleanse
Nature's Sunshine Glandular System
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas (Sugar Free) NEW!
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas
Nature's Sunshine Master Gland Formula®
Nature's Sunshine Mega-Chel
Nature's Sunshine Men's Formula (With Lycopene)
Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (Time Release)
Nature's Sunshine Natural Changes
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Prenatal
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Harvest
Nature's Sunshine Perfect Eyes
Nature's Sunshine Power Greens Pouch
Nature's Sunshine Power Greens To-Go
Nature's Sunshine Power Meal Chocolate
Nature's Sunshine Power Meal Vanilla
Nature's Sunshine Skeletal Strength
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Twenty-Four
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Immune
Nature's Sunshine Structural System (30 Day Program)
Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental
Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental (Without Iron)
Nature's Sunshine Super Trio
Nature's Sunshine Target TS-II Formula
Nature's Sunshine Thyroid Support
Nature's Sunshine Ultrabiome DTX
Nature's Sunshine VitaWave
Nature's Sunshine Yeast/Fungal Detox
Nature's Sunshine Zinc
Nature's Sunshine Zinc Lozenge
