Table of Contents
Insect Bite Remedy
 |
EARTH CLINIC'S TOP 3 REMEDIES FOR INSECT BITES:
1. TIGER BALM (the balm used to ease aching muscles)
This is one of our favorite remedies for mosquito bites. We learned about it whilst travelling in Southeast Asia years ago. Very simple: apply a little Tiger Balm to the insect bite. The itchiness will stop within 2 minutes. However, this won't reduce swelling in the area of the bite. You may be able to use another brand of balm for aching muscles so long as it has the same ingredients: camphor and menthol.
2. VITAMIN B12 (prevents mosquito bites)
We also used supplements containing vitamin B12 on this same trip to Southeast Asia.' Very effective at prevention. The mosquitos won't bite you if you don't smell good to them! Most likely it's the odor coming from your skin that keeps them at bay.
B12 AND B6
9/4/2007: Our friend Joe told us recently that you actually want to take both B12 and B6 to prevent mosquito bites. Says Joe, "The B12 makes you sweat more and the B6 puts a scent into your sweat that mosquitoes don't like. I have only been bitten twice in 15 years... And both times happened this summer!"
3. AVOID SUGAR BEFORE YOU VENTURE OUT INTO NATURE
Yep, don't eat sugar if you want to avoid insect bites. "Mmm... sugary blood. Yum Yum!" say those mosquitoes!
DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
4 YEA
[YEA] 06/26/2008: Ann from Deer Park, WA writes: "I had multiple mosquito bites and checked earth clinic for relief. Found a remedy of wetting the bites and rubbing in an aspirin. (I also wet the aspirin.) Immediately the burning and itching was gone and the bites healed so much faster than previous episodes. Also,the bites didn't swell anywhere near as much as previous bites. My arm was so full of bites that it was red from the wrist to the elbow. The first time it took two aspirins, but as the bites healed one did the job. The aspirin left a white gritty residue, but that was a very small payment for great relief. Thank you!"
[YEA] 08/04/2009: Star from Stamford, Ct replies: "I get beaten by mosquito quite often even with insect repellent. I have bad reaction to mosquito bites, the area will swell up and get very itchy, it will take weeks to calm down and leave a mark on my skin. My doctor prescribed me with cortisone and it speed up the healing process. In an outdoor BBQ last week, I got 2 bites and as usual had bad reactions. I applied the prescribed cortisone, it gave me some relief on the itch for a short while and it did not calm down the swelling. I remembered reading about the aspirin remedy last week and decided to try it. It worked right away when I rubbed it onto the swelling spots, it calmed the itchiness and I can see the inflammation starting to heal, I left it on overnight and they were much better the next morning. I told my doctor about it, she said you need to be sure that you are not allergic to aspirin and be carefully if you have anemia. Thank you for sharing the remedy, I now have a speedy way to clam the bites!"
 |  |  |  |
[YEA] 05/20/2008: Sylvia from Wilmington, NC writes: "I tried the aspirin on a mosquito bite and it worked well, the itching left. Thanks."
| | | |
[YEA] 03/27/2008: Roger from Richmond Hill, Ontario writes: "Mosquito bites drive me nuts. I'm one of these people who can't stop from scratching. So, living in Canada, there would be some years where I would end up doing a lot of scratching and scarring. When I read this remedy in the Home Remedy Book and it worked, I told myself that the $30 I paid for the book was worth this one cure. It also works for spider bites. It works better if you deal with the bite(s) as quickly as possible.
Wet the area of the bite with water and rub plain ASA onto the area. Because I'm a scratcher, I do it rather roughly. For spider bites I use two applications about a half hour apart. The itchiness disappears in a few minutes and may reoccur the next day. I just do another application and usually the itch doesn't return."
EC: We wrote Roger back to clarify what ASA is....
03/28/2008: Roger replies: "Just plain aspirin - I use a generic brand - it really works but be generous with the water - my daughter, who is health conscious, uses aspirin on her and her kids - it's saved a lot of hours of sleep."
| | | |
BAKING POWDER, AMMONIA, MEAT TENDERIZER
[YEA] 06/30/2007: Gary from Claxton, Georgia writes: "The recommended first aid is: wash the sting area with copious amounts of warm soapy water then wash the bite site with household ammonia, scrubbing vigorously with a sponge to get under the skin flap to the poison.
Make a solution of baking powder, meat tenderizer, and ammonia, i.e. 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon meat tenderizer, and 1 cup ammonia. Scrub this solution into the wound.
The ammonia and baking soda return the body's acid/base balance to normal neutralizing most of the effect of the poison injected into the skin by the insect. The meat tenderizer's enzymes help break down the protein aiding the solution in neutralizing the poison.
I keep a pint jar of the solution stored at room temperature. It's very effective."
| | | |
1 YEA
06/19/2009: Kathy from Chicago, IL writes: "hi e mailed you with a question but think it was misunderstood. had a flea infestation and revieved several bites which have turned brown and look awful. question was referred to pet section. didnt want to know how to get rid of fleas wanted to know if any remedy for the brown spots. have been bit before and never had this happen. thanks for any help"
[YEA] 06/20/2009: Dj from Pdx, Or replies: "Try Castor oil. Really rub it into each of the spots. There are postings that say it works for age spots. If I remember correctly it took about 3 months for the spots to go away completely.
Personally it is really helping a deep scar I have on my nose. Been using it for about two weeks and the scar is about half as deep."
11/09/2009: Suzie from Ashmore, Qld Australia replies: "do you think castor oil will work for acne scars? please and thanks"
11/11/2009: Dj from Pdx, Or replies: "Suzie,
I don't know why Castor oil wouldn't help on acne scarring. My theory is always "try it".
It may take a while and I am not sure how big of an improvement you might see. I do know that the hole I had on my nose from using bloodroot is 75% better than it was. You can just see a little indentation.
The directions I read said to rub it 20 times which I do.
I hope it works for you."
| | | |
1 YEA
[YEA] 09/01/2009: Brenda from Converse, Tx writes: "Mosquitos get me really bad, and I used to finish those Anti-itch creams having to re-apply every time. My dad heard this somewhere and though it sounds weird, it really works!. Just cut about an inch or so of clear tape (yes the kind you use for paper) and stick it right on the insect bite. Within a minute or two the itch is gone and there is no need for more tape. I use this site all the time, it is the first place I look for help. Thank you Earthclinic and all the people that provide feedback."
09/01/2009: Doug from Show Low, Az replies: "Even better for mosquito bites is vitamin B1. Insects hate the smell it makes your skin have. although it is not noticeable to humans."
09/02/2009: Connie from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, USA replies: "Do you apply it or ingest it?"
EC: Typically you would ingest it.
09/04/2009: Paula from London, England and Poitiers, France replies: "I tried B1 for insect bites but it did not agree with me. The most incredible treatment for them that I've EVER used is fresh lemon juice it immediately removes the pain and itching. If the bite is big you may have to reapply but it works amazingly on other spots and cuts etc.as well. i found that oil pulling with olive oil seems to stop one being bitten."
| | | |
2 YEA
[YEA] 09/13/2009: Gramma from Raymond, Alberta, Canada writes: "My husband and I use coconut oil as a rub for aches and pains. Hubby had his right shoulder replaced 10 years ago and coconut oil keeps him pain free. I need back surgery but am too old so I use coconut oil to relieve pain. We also use it to rub arthritic knees, hips, elbows and hands. We were in Majuro for 18 months five years ago and were introduced to coconut oil by the natives when I stepped onto a red ant pile and was severely bitten all over my legs. Instant relief from coconut oil. We don't measure, we just scoop out a little and rub it on. It has to be 100% pure coconut oil to work."
| | | |
[YEA] 08/26/2008: Kylie from Whitianga, New Zealand writes: "I've been using coconut oil on my skin & hair for approx 5 months now thanks to all the posts I've read on earthclinic. Taking a couple of teaspoons a day certainly makes your skin soft from the inside out. While up in the Pacific Islands on holiday a couple of weeks ago, I sought out locally made coconut oil and due to daily sun exposure, applied it to my skin each night. I was surprised to find that the mosquitos - which have always bitten me in the past - would hover around me but not land on my oiled skin. I didn't have to use insect repellent once for the whole two weeks I was in Tonga. The local oil was quite smelly (rancid smelling and everyone told me NOT to eat it) and different to the imported oil we get in NZ, so not sure if this makes the difference. I'll certainly be trying this as a mosquito remedy here in the summer."
| | | |
1 YEA
[YEA] 08/02/2009: Lindar from Treorchy, Rhondda Wales Uk writes: "CUECUMER FOR INSECT BITES! My 10 year lod woke up to find 2 gnat/mozzie bites on her ankle this morning. She put Ttiger Balm on it and it worked well, but hours later while we were out they started to really itech and irritate. Needless to say I didn't have anything on me. BUT we did have the remains of our picnic salad. In desperation I told her to rub it with a piece of Cuecumber, to keep her occupied more than anything. Well it worked a treat, and now several hours later it stil doesn't itch and the swelling has gone down!"
| | | |
DISHWASHING DETERGENT, GARLIC, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
[YEA] 03/29/2008: Joyce from Joelton, Tn writes: "Hi Tracy,
I have a couple of suggestions for your mosquito problems. I have read (but haven't checked out) that using a shallow white dish, fill it with water, add a few drops of Joy liquid dishwashing detergent. The one giving that hint said it kills the mosquitos, usually within 10 - 12 feet of getting a drink from it. Makes you wonder how safe it is to eat from dishes washed in it, doesn't it?
Another great bug repellant that doesn't kill them, cook with lots of garlic, it makes you less tasty to mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers.This does work- I went from averaging 15 to 25 tick bites per day to none at all last year. I have started filling empty gel caps with garlic powder and taking 2 or 3 of them each day, however your kids probably won't like them that way but probably won't object to garlic cooked in the food.
Another one that works for my family - Put about 1-2 cups ACV to the kids bathwater each day, or even rub them down with straight ACV (careful around the eyes as even the fumes can make them burn) and let them dry off before dressing and going outside. This even works against those dratted brown flies in Florida (August) that look like our black house flies but are brown and love to bite you. This only works as long as the vinegar is on - if they play in water, or otherwise wash the vinegar off, you'll have to reapply the vinegar."
| | | |
2 YEA
[YEA] 08/04/2008: Robbie from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico writes: "This is going to sound hideous... and it is, but it does the trick.
When ever I have a cold I have a number of remedies I use.
In Scotland we have a thing called a hot toddy which is basically whiskey, cloves, honey and lemon made into a tea.
However, my other remedy (and this is the disgusting one) I have used and it works... is blend some garlic cloves and water into a blender. Then gulp down some of the brew at night. I normally just try to drink the whole thing. I don't really bother with measurements, Just play about till you find something that works for you. It's the garlic your eating, the water just helps it go own. Plus it's broken up and therefore absorbed into the body quicker and easier.
I also do the same as a mosquito repellent. Blend the garlic and water together and pour through a siv. The pulp I place in plant pots on my pation and the water garlic solution I place in a squeezy bottle and go around spraying my windows and door frames. All blood eating creatures hate garlic.
You can also use Listerine which surprisingly mosqutios hate for some reason. I use a combination of the two."
| | | |
[YEA] 06/02/2005: Judy from Concord, NH writes: "My husband and I use garlic in just about everything we eat. We have just started juicing (vegetables) and have found that garlic helps to tolerate the taste better. Also my husband works outdoors and he is finding that he is being less bothered by black flies and other nagging insects. Also for you dog lovers.... we crush about 4 or 5 garlic cloves and boil them in approximately 1 gallon of water. You strain and let cool down. Then put in a spray bottle and lightly spray your dog (as often as needed. Helps keep fleas and ticks away. In a more concentrated form, works great as a flea dip. I'm thinking that whereas garlic has antifungal and antiviral properties, it would also be great for animals with ear problems...ie yeast infections etc. If anybody has any input on that, I'd be very interested. I also want to say that my husband has slightly high blood pressure as well as his cholesterol levels are high. At the end of june he gets retested, and if he has been able to lower those, we will owe his success to garlic and of course a healthier diet. Hope my input helps someone out there. "
| | | |
1 YEA
[YEA] 11/02/2008: Susan from Northern, IL writes: "When I get bites, they swell and itch horribly. After trying lots of tricks over my lifetime, I just discovered that iodine works great. I have the kind w/o additives, but storebought would be OK for this purpose. Recently tried this on bites I'd scratched open, and it took the itch away quickly. Didn't scar as bad as usual, also."
| | | |
1 YEA
[YEA] 09/05/2007: Sal from East Haven, CT writes: "After 2 days of itching above my ankle, from a multiple mosquito bite cluster, in which I found relief for only brief periods using aloe vera and jewelweed, I got another eruption while mountain biking. Spotting some Joe Pye weed by the side of the trail, I decided to experiment. I plucked the flowering pink head and crushed it to confirm the vanilla-like fragrance and rubbed it on the bite cluster and rode off. Within minutes the itching stopped, never to return."
| | | |
1 YEA
1 NAY
[YEA] 04/02/2008: Shirley from Missouri writes: "A simple mosquito repellant 'Get a large bottle of Listerine, pour into a 4-ounce spray bottle and use around areas outside. It works great and it's safe. It kills them instantly and will last a couple of days. Spray around food tables, play areas, standing water, anywhere you will be working or playing outside. Spray around door & window frames. Don't spray directly onto wood doors but do spray the frame around the door. This would also be a good thing to add to survival kits."
[NAY] 07/15/2009: April from Memphis, Tn replies: "I TRIED THE LISTERINE AS A MOSQUITO REPELLENT AND ALMOST GOT EATEN ALIVE. IT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME."
| | | |
1 YEA
[YEA] 03/06/2008: Michelle from Lamora, Mexico writes: "Mud has always worked for ant, bee, etc. bites. We have lots of pesky insects where I live and applying a bit of mud on the bite takes the poison out and helps the sting to go away and helps the bite to heal faster. also cut garlic clove in half and applying it directly to the bite helps as good as mud. also we use charcoal. take some internally and rub it on the bite.
Ya we've had a lot of experience"
| | | |
1 YEA
[YEA] 09/06/2007: Jake from Chicago, Il. writes: "In the Illinois countryside we've never had mosquitos like we've had this summer after 8 or 9 straight days and nights of downpours with little let-up. I invariably have more than a few bites now each time I visit my orchard and garden. The only thing that saves me, although tea tree oil is pretty good too, is wild oregano oil diluted in olive oil - one or two drops per tsp., both seem to work well. Rub it on the mosquito bites or the painful wasp or bee bite and the itch or pain is immediately gone.
I refer to one painful wasp or bee bite that cut short my visit to my orchard and sent me back to the house - the oregano took care of the spreading red of the toxin immediately . The next day there was nothing but a small mark and I had no further pain or itch. I started with the oregano oil for a dark skin patch on my shin and two boil-like cysts that were on my skin for some time. Rubbing hard sometimes to the point of making it bleed, twice a day, and in about 10 days to two weeks the raised dark patch on my shin gave way to pink new skin, the eruption on my upper leg completely disapeared and now finally the eruption on the back of my neck about three inches from my ear is just about gone."
| | | |
1 YEA
[YEA] 10/31/2008: Francesca from Kihei, Hawaii, Maui writes: "I get welts from mosquito bites, and have found the BEST remedy for me has been Johnson and Johnson First Aid Cream! It comes in a white plastic tube. The itch goes away in seconds, and the swelling in a few minutes. Just rub a small amount right onto the bite, and massage it a little. This cream has been hard to find, so I buy several tubes of it when I do find it."
| | | |
1 YEA
[YEA] 07/16/2008: Donna from Janesville, WI writes: "I had heard that Pure Peppermint Oil stops bug bits from itching. Well, it did, but guess what?! It also took off my nail polish!! WOW! I was in utter shock! How cool is that! Ok, I'll try and calm down now~ much love donna"
| | | |
1 YEA
[YEA] 08/02/2009: Connie from Manitowoc, Wisconsin writes: "Try rubbing salt into a mosquito bite, just ordinary table salt. I tried it on a new itchy bite I thought was from a mosquito; the bite was gone the next day. Mosquito bites usually last days on me."
| | | |
2 YEA
[YEA] 10/12/2009: Lisa from Coto De Caza, Ca writes: "My daughter woke up one morning with a few bug bits (most likely spider bites) that itched and were swollen. We put a little tea tree oil on it and the itching stopped very quickly. The next day the bites were completely gone. A few days later I had a bug bite that itched like crazy, so I tried the tea tree oil on it and it worked great."
| | | |
[YEA] 01/03/2009: Kathleen from Brisbane, Australia writes: "Living in Australia, tea tree is readily available at supermarkets etc, and is great for taking away the itch from flea, mosquito, midgee bites (and lots more). It works by 1. taking away the itch - anaesthetic; 2. healing the infected area (antiseptic), and repels the other bugs hat might come near you.
I dip a cotton bud into the oil (100%, or even the dilluted version) and rub it onto the bite, sometimes I reapply it, and before you know it - its gone!"
| | | |
3 YEA
[YEA] 06/29/2008: Deirdre from Atlanta, GA writes: "Well, I don't know why, but this summer the Vitamin B-6 and B-12 are not working to prevent mosquito bites! I have been taking the supplements for the past week and have gotten a bunch of mosquito bites when I walk outside. Last summer I didn't get any bites when I took the supplements. I had my husband test the supplements and he too got eaten alive one night. Tiger Balm is still the best remedy in my opinion to remove the itch from bites.
One great side effect from the supplements however, is that they appear to be a great natural deodorant! No baking soda necessary on the armpits when taking these 2 vits. Hopefully others will try them and let me know if they agree on the b/o."
| | | |
[YEA] 04/28/2008: Michelle from Pasadena, CA writes: "For some reason, in the past 2 or 3 years, i've had 3 bad cases of allergic reactions to insect or arachnid bites, though i've never been able to pinpoint exactly what's been biting me. The doc's said take allergy meds, but nothing seems to work (i've got about 3 tubes of cream in my cabinet) and the ITCHING!!!! The itching is the worst part of it all. I woke up 8 times last night scratching my leg, and i knew if i could just get the itching to stop, the bite would heal much faster and i wouldn't be causing all this swelling and put myself at an impetigo risk. I've used Tiger Balm for sore muscles before, but never for bites. I'm now sitting here cool as a cucumber, tingly, and ITCH FREE for the first time!!! I can throw out those tubes of cream and keep an all natural multitasker, my cabinet, and my legs thak you."
[YEA] 07/05/2009: Bryana from Woodland Hills, CA replies: "This TIGER BALM remedy works! I love it. I had bites that itch like crazy so i put Calamine on it and it didn't work. I came to earth clinic and read on and i found this remedy I tried it and right now i am tingling and i fill fine and NO itching. It burns a bit at first but after it leaves a nice tingling feeling I LOVE IT!"
| | | |
1 YEA
[YEA] 04/09/2008: Karen from Minneapolis, Minnesota writes: "1/4 Vinegar 3/4 Water Spray Bottle Stopped Biting Flies on me and my Dog. We live on a lake and have lots of flies and mosquitos. This worked great. Good for my skin and my dog didn't have any fleas. Seemed to work on all pesty bugs. Great for horses too although it works better on a rag. Horses don't like the spray bottle noise. I use also when outdoors i.e.golfing."
| | | |
1 2 Next  |
