Insect Bite Remedies

Posted by Pixie (Jakarta, Indonesia) on 04/11/2012
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Around 20 years ago, when my mom was asleep, she was stung by a centipede. It was very painful, and her hand became swollen. So my aunt & my cousin, tried to find whatever herbs they can find outside the house. They tried applying several herbs, but none worked. The pain was getting worst & her hand start to swollen till the arm.

Out of desperation, my mom got an avocado & mashed its flesh & apply it to the swollen area. Finally the pain subside & she can sleep. The next morning, there were no more pain & her hand was back to normal.

Few years after later, my sister was stung by a bee at her forehead while she was riding a motorbike. She was crying & crying & it was already swollen when she got home. My mom had someone to buy an avocado, then applied to my sister forehead. Not long after that the pain was gone & it was healed completely.

So, if you was bitten by an insect & you have an avocade at home, please give it a go. Big yes for avocado!!!

Posted by Jennywren (Perth, Western Australia, Australia) on 02/08/2012
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YEA. My 5yo comes up with terrible welts after being bitten by mozzies. Then he scratches them, they scab, and it goes on for days.

A friend suggested whiteflower oil for the itching. Whiteflower oil is available at Chinese supermarkets where they also sell Chinese medicine. The itching went away instantly! Fantastic for putting on the bites before bed: needs to be reapplied 1-2 twice daily though.

Posted by Jholl (Louisville, Ky) on 09/26/2011
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Back a few years ago, I had been on a health kick, taking brewer's yeast as a natural source of B vitamins. I didn't think about it much until I went on a canoe trip with a group. The woman I was with, was swarmed by black flies. We counted forty bites! She was a bit peeved at me. They were completely on her, not one came near me. I am certain it was the brewer's yeast I had been taking. I literally took a handful that morning figuring it would give me extra energy for the trip. Later I read the B1 in the brewer's yeast is especially repulsive to insects. You put off a smell they don't like. I like being repulsive to them for a change!

I hope this is hopeful for those reading it. I don't know the exact doses, but I think it is wise to keep taking those brewer's yeast tablets if you know you will be outside where you are likely to be bitten. You can take them indefinitely as far as I know.

Posted by Victor (San Diego, Ca) on 09/26/2011
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I used to be mosquitos' favourite meal, and I was also quite alergic to their bites: big part of me would swell up and look like a jelly for several days. During last year I started taking vitamin B complex, and large doses of vitamin C (about one gram before every meal or snack). This summer I noticed that mosquitos stayed away from me, even though they got my partner a few times. I am not sure if it was vitamin C, or the B complex. However, I noticed that when a few weeks ago I switched from the acidic version of vitamin C to the ascorbate version, some of the magic went away, and I got bitten again.

Then I made a wonderful discovery. I rubbed the bite mark with vinegar for about a minute, and the swelling and itching dissappeared after a few minutes. I used the unfiltered organic ACV, but I am not sure if the vinegar type mattered.

Posted by Chela (Dallas, Texas) on 09/21/2011
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I had 6 terrible bug bites on my legs that were inflamed and raised for 5 days with no itch relief. Almost immediately after applying a drop of peppermint oil to each one the itch disappeared. Yay for relief!

Posted by Lizzie (London, Uk) on 08/14/2011
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This is true. It's the only thing that actually takes the itch away completly. I used a flannel dipped in very hot water. Place it on the bites, it will sting and be a little unbearable, make it really hot. Keep on there for a few mins. Manadged to go to bed and sleep with absoloutly no itching!! Amazing, at last a cure for the terrible itching!

Posted by Lizzie (London, Uk) on 08/14/2011
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I always get bitten and itch so badly afterwards. Yesterday a friend told me she had tried every method under the sun to try and relieve the itching until she came across someone who told her to use a flannel placed in very hot water. Last night I was itching like crazy! Decided to give it a go. Water was so hot, almost unbearable, placed it on the bites for a couple of mins. It stings really bad and then... Nothing! What a relief. She told me that it lasts for about a day. I only tried it last night so don't know. But at last, a cure for that terrible itching!!

Posted by J (Wilmington, De) on 08/07/2011
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Aspirin for Chigger Bites

It is a myth that chiggers burrow under your skin, they bite and irritate like any other bitting insect, asprin on bite works wonders.

Posted by Jean Stroud (Farmerville, La) on 07/21/2011

Chigger Bites.... To prevent, bathe with Avons Skin So Soft.... also helps to soothe if you already have them.

Posted by Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 07/17/2011
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Try adding baking soda to your bath! Probably about a cup.

Posted by What Worked For Me (Bev Hills, Usa) on 07/14/2011
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Ok I was in soo much pain with itchy flea bites that just got worse after the first day, red inflamed and extremely itchy. I came here and tried a few of the solutions. clear nail polish, nail polish remover, tea tree oil, camphor, deep heat (linement, which worked but only for an hour or so), tiger balm and lime. NOTHING worked...

then I thought oh what the hell and I tried the making an X through each bite with my fingernail then I put a very hot water bottle on each bite (the back of a spoon dipped in very hot water will work too) and wouldnt u know instant relief, they stopped itching straight away. A realy inflamed one I did twice, just held the hot water bottle on it for 2 mins, two times and yep im all good now. I highly recommend this.

Posted by Cocoandrico (Kingston, Ny, Usa) on 07/11/2011
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Aloe Vera applied to an insect bite is very soothing and anti-inflammatory, reducing the urge to SCRATCH and risk infection. It's also antibacterial and dries to form a protective barrier, speeding the healing process. Store it in the fridge and it feels even better. For instructions for how to use the leaves of the plant and how concoct a spray with aloe at home, check out: www.aloeplant.info/natures-powerhouse-aloe-vera-for-insect-bites-and-poison-ivy/

Posted by Rebekah (Anchorage, Ak, Usa) on 06/28/2011
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Thank you for this suggestion. We forgot our bug dope on our camping trip this weekend and the mosquitoes really got me before the local place opened up so we could buy some repellent. So far the Tiger Balm is working well. I can tell I'm going to need several applications, but for the moment my calves aren't itching like crazy.

Posted by Geneva (Paragould, Ar.) on 06/27/2011
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I paint the chigger bites with clear nail polish. It kills the chigger and the pain goes away. Hope this help you.

Posted by Cindy (Cochrane, Wi) on 06/26/2011

Does anyone have remedies for keeping chiggers off from you or how to help when you get bites? I'm almost ready to give up gardening! Thank you

Posted by Carly (Seattle, Wa - Usa) on 06/09/2011

Lisa said:

06/09/2011: Lisa from Rabat, -, Morocco writes: "Why would you want to kill the bees? Haven't you heard of colony collapse disorder? If all the bees disappear then we will disappear also! Bees are our friends. I would respectfully suggest that you find a better way to deal with them, or better yet learn to live with them." Hi Lisa - Bees that ingest or go after ham and bacon meat (as suggested in the post on traps for them) are generally wasps, not honey bees. Wasps can be quite agressive - especially in the Fall, and also if one is barbecuing meat. We have had a natural hive of feral honey bees in a huge tree in our back yard for the past 5 years or so, and so far they have bothered not a soul. They are about 40 feet from our back door. It is quite a large hive, and I believe it has split off once since we have lived here. Anyway, point being... If the bees are agressive, or attacking people and pets, chances are very good that they are not honey or mason bees (the ones that pollinate plants). They are most likely wasps - and they are nasty creatures. Just my opinion - now will someone help me down off of my soapbox please. ;-) I just wish I lived where the sun would actually shine enough to worry about the bees at this point. sigh.

Posted by Lisa (Rabat, Morocco) on 06/09/2011

Why would you want to kill the bees? Haven't you heard of colony collapse disorder? If all the bees disappear then we will disappear also! Bees are our friends. I would respectfully suggest that you find a better way to deal with them, or better yet learn to live with them.

Posted by Bonnie (Fairbanks Ak, Alaska, Usa) on 06/09/2011

for people bothered with bees on their patio:

I lived in arkansas they have lots of rice patties there so the bees are really really harmfull to kids'. they showed me how to make it safe for me and my family and dogs to set outside with out being bothered. take a small bucket with a handle put enought water in the bottom to just enough cover the bottom place a wire around the center of the handle hanging down. half way down to the botton on the wire push a ham hamhock cheap one with lots of fat on. the bees will eat so much they fall in the water and drown.

hang the bucket at least 10 feet away from the deck in a tree branch. Up high enough kids can not reach it. It really works.

ps my friends used empty gal milk jugs put water just to cover bottonwrap two slices of baccon wrapped tight around the wire even a little sweet on it helps. Slide in hole threw the opening return lid leave enough wire to hang it from a tree limb. now take a phillips head screw driver push holes half way around the milk jug. this way the bees can get in but not out they will eat and fall and drown

throw away jug and start a new one. where the bucket you you have to wash

hang where chidren play and dogs rest. it really works I had them by my front swing so I could set out at night'

ps do not set where flowers pollen they need the bees to grow.

summer tips to make summer more enjoying

on the bucket handle wire a wire about in the middle of the handle let it hang half way down in to the bucket.

Posted by Tm (Brisbane, Qld) on 04/19/2011

Thanks for the tip about Limes for Mosquito bites. I will definitely try that. Also, my friend was surfing in Papa New Guinea and hit a coral reef which completely cut up his back. One of the local surfers rubbed lime on it, which my friend said hurt like hell, but he didn't get an infection.

Posted by Soaring Eagle (Encinitas, Ca.) on 04/18/2011
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I was in the Yucatan, Mexico and in the jungle I was attacked by hundreds or thousands of Mosquitos. All night I scratched but my feet were the worst. I spent the entire next day thinking like an American and tried to find a Pharmacy, but when I went back to where I was staying, after the locals got over cracking up at my bloody and swollen size 13 feet, they took me to the local market and we stocked up on LIMES!!! . CUT THEM IN HALF, SQUEEZE THE JUICE ON THE BITES, TAKE THE LIME ITSELF AND RUB IT ON THE BITES, and it will take away the itching and swelling. Also works on spider bites!!! . Take care.

Posted by Tinam (Brisbane, Queensland) on 04/13/2011

I unfortunately am allergic to mosquitoes and the swelling and itching is severe and painful at the same time. The bite will usually be bad for 2 weeks and then slowly fade. I was bitten on the foot last night which now is so swollen I can hardly walk on it. I tried the aspirin remedy, but unfortunately it did not work. I have tried tiger balm in the past which does not work either. I use Olive Leaf Extract on the bites, which takes the itching away, but only lasts for a short period, and doesn't help with pain and swelling. I think the remedies work, I just think my bodies reaction to the mosquito bite is too severe. I started taking a vit B supplement which is great. I get bitten very seldom. Thanks for the remedies and suggestions everyone.

Posted by Brijorg (New Haven, Ct) on 02/09/2011

Jen from Danbury, I used to be the same way. I have been using tea tree oil for cuts (and poison ivy, insect bites, etc). The last time I went camping my friend who usually does not get bitten was complaining about the mosquitos which surprised me because I hadn't noticed any. Then I realized I had put on the TTO and the mosquitoes didn't seem to like the smell (many humans don't either though). I read here on EC that most essential oils have this effect (I think the mosquitos cannot distinguish your scent from the oils). So try applying some blend of essential oils you like (add a musk to last longer if you want).

Posted by Jen (Danbury, Ct) on 02/02/2011

Vitamins B12 and B6 are listed as the top preventative for insect bites. Can you give me a recommended dosage to achieve this effect? I am a magnet for mosquitos in the summer. When everyone else is unbothered, I am the first one the mosquitos gravitate to. I've tried taking a B complex vitamin in addition to my multi vitamin and this did not do the trick. So I think there probably wasn't enough of B12 and B6 to deter the mosquitos. Thanks!

Posted by Henry814 (Valdosta, Georgia, Usa) on 11/06/2010

After getting mosquito bites, put an ice-pack on the affected area for 20 minutes. You will not be itching afterward.

Posted by Lou Thomas (Milwaukee, Wis.) on 10/06/2010

Just heard on public radio of using rag weed on mosquito bites ---reportedly causes welts to disappear.

Posted by Ranjana (Arlington, Tx) on 07/11/2010
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I got bitten by something all over my arms. Sprayed Benadryl, did not control the itching and swelling. Looked up this post and dabbed all the bites with a cucumber slice, immediate relief. Thanks.

Posted by Sp (Nashville, Tn) on 06/16/2010
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Hi Kylie, I read your post and decided to use the virgin coconut oil I already had. I rubbed it on my skin. It really did keep the mosquitoes away from me. Thank you for sharing.

Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 06/13/2010

Do you rub the oil after drying your hair or before?

Posted by Scooter (Mississippi) on 06/12/2010
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I used pure coconut oil for dry itchy menpause skin head to toe, even on scalp. Conditioned my skin and hair and kept mosquitoes off like a dream! Use liberally/rub in. Great hair detangler. Tiny drops rubbed into hair with hands is all it takes to detangle and avoid split ends. Mine was food grade.