Nothing can ruin a lovely summer day like insect bites! I know this because I was recently attacked by an army of mosquitoes who lavishly feasted on me while I enjoyed a delicious outdoor barbecue on a perfect summer evening. Who knew mosquitoes like garlicky grilled chicken and hot dogs? In fact, I always thought that garlic was a natural insect repellent. That was a few days ago, and I’m still scratching all over. It seems like every few minutes, another part of me starts to itch and I can’t stop myself from scratching. Even one mosquito bite can set you off into an itching frenzy that will make you think you are losing your mind.
I want to be clear that I am only ranting here and trying to share some tips, and I am only talking about insect bites that are merely annoying and uncomfortable. I am no medical expert. Some insect bites can be dangerous and some people can have allergies and serious reactions to them. If that applies to you, get informed by a medical professional. What you always want to do in all cases is to avoid getting bitten in the first place. First of all, do not wear perfume or scented lotions when you plan on being outside. I’ve also found that mosquitoes and other bugs do most of their biting around dusk, so you can limit the amount of time you spend outdoors during heavy feeding times. It’s recommended to wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing when you are out in buggy areas, and to avoid wearing floral patterns so as not to attract bees and wasps. You can always use an insect repellent that contains DEET, but some people like to stay away from chemicals and there are some natural options to try. Here are some natural insect repellents that came up in my research: Cinnamon leaf oil, clear liquid vanilla extract mixed with olive oil, citronella essential oil, and catnip oil.
When you get bitten and that itch starts to set you off on the path to insanity, all you can think of is making it stop. You can always apply a hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to soothe the itch, but if you want to keep it natural, there are other options that can help you get some relief. Try putting a cooled tea bag on the bite- the tannins in the tea are a natural astringent that can help with inflammation and irritation. Or make a paste of baking soda and witch hazel or water and apply it to the bite. Lavender oil is soothing, too. Heat and cold are also effective, so you can put an ice pack on the itchy area until it feels numb. One of the stranger things I’ve heard is to heat a teaspoon under hot water until it’s as hot as you can stand to touch and hold it on the bite until the spoon cools. They say this takes the itch out of the bite forever! I wish everyone good luck on trying to stay bite-free this summer, and if you are the victim of those tiny bloodsucking monsters, give some of these treatments a whirl. You know what they say: Hey, ya never know!
