1. Health Notes & Injuries eesc | 19 Feb 2007 07:54 pm
Cure for painful and itchy higad attack (hairy caterpillar)
Our garden has a santol tree and a mango tree. During the summer times there are a lot of higads, hairy caterpillars. Sure they are pretty when they become butterflies, but they are feared by everyone for their viciously painful and itchy hairs. One only has to say “higad” and cause anyone to freak out.
We have quite a good enough number of experiences with higads, myself and my children. I will share with you how we do cure higad attack at home.
In the unfortunate event that you or a loved one are victimized by a higad, these are the cure steps to take:
- Remove the offending higad via a stick, gloves or paper, healer or helper must NOT hold the higad with his bare hands or he will be victimized as well.
- If you can get hot water immediately, do so and dip that part struck by the higad or just wash.
- Look at the skin first if higad hairs are conspicuously sticking out. If yes, get tweezers and pull them out.
- Get a hand full of rock salt, and rub vigorously for some 5 minutes on affected area to remove remaining higad hair stubbles.
- Get virgin coconut oil and apply liberally on and around the affected area.
- By this time it is expected that the pain has been reduced and itchiness is left. Continue massaging that area to assure the victim of the cure, especially if it is a child.
Your child should be happily playing again within 1 hour.
I hope this little higad cure recipe helps you. Share your higad cure technique!
on 20 Oct 2007 at 2:20 am 1.eeeek said …
I just had a higad-attack a recently, and my former teacher thankfully offered a quick cure than ensured that the spines/hairs would be completely removed and rashes would not break out. Of course first I had the creature removed, then I refrained from moving the affected area so that the spines would not be lodged deeper. I guess this is a common mistake when people get in contact with higads; in their panic they tend to move around a lot which aggravates the situation. My skin did not have rashes at all because I immediately froze after seeing the higad, haha. My teacher then said that we must melt a candle over the area, on which the spines will stick. It will then be easy to remove the spines once the wax cools.
Of course this cure hurts like hell so your cure would be more advisable for kids. :D But it was quick and effective too, especially since I was at school, where no tweezers or hot water are easily available. I was also lucky that the teacher is the adviser of the Catholic org, so she had candles within reach. :)
on 27 Oct 2008 at 10:18 am 2.gabby peren said …
My fingers touched something soft while I was trying to remove something at the back of my neck. It was night and I did not see what it was but I was sure Higad yun. The itching progressively got worse. I soaked the area with alcohol. I felt some relief during the cooling but that was only lasted a few seconds.
After 2 days, the area was still itchy. I went to a clinic and the nurse dubbed some ammonia. According to the nurse, ammonia is their usual first aid for higad itch.
I think removing the fine spines with twissors or candles drops should be the best cure, after reading your articles.