Summer is here, the season of outdoor activities, and since mosquitoes tend to multiply in hot climates, summer is also the season of bug bites. Whether it is a mosquito bite or a bee sting, spraying your skin sticky with offensive-smelling bug repellants is only going to make you uncomfortable and possibly keep humans away from you as well. When I was a kid, my grandfather made my brother and I slather cotton balls in regular yellow Listerine and rub it on every part of skin that was showing before we were allowed outside. Thankfully, there are other natural remedies that keep the bugs—or if you have already been bitten—the sting and itch away.
Probably the safest way to keep bugs away from your home is to prevent your yard from inviting bugs. You can plant little repellent gardens all over your yard, front porch, or back patio to ward off unwanted bugs. Using nature-friendly plants like lemongrass (also known as Citronella, popular in mosquito-repelling candles), lemon thyme, catnip, and citrus-smelling geraniums which contain up to 60 percent of the power of popular spray DEET along with other commercial products, you can reduce your family’s bite ratio and reduce the amount of toxins they are subject to.
Another option is lotions and sprays found at natural health food stores or herbalists thar contain essential oils and herbs that are used to keep these pests away (like eucalyptus, bay laurel, thyme, or lavender). One of these natural oils, gaining in popularity, is neem oil. Made from the neem tree, this extract is used in Indian Ayurvedic cures; the oil is bitter and repels bugs while still being able to keep your friends close by. Although many of these lotions and essential oil-based solutions should not be used on infants, children under 2, or pregnant or nursing mothers, you can always spray their clothes or the area around them for protection. A safe-for-children remedy is to coat a stroller or toddler’s chair with pure vanilla bean extract or add a few drops to their regular skin lotion for use on their sensitive skin—or yours.
If you have already been stung or bitten, treating those bites can be a chore. Anti-inflammatory remedies like peppermint oil dropped onto the bite uses menthol to increase circulation and move the chemicals around that the bug left behind to physically reduce the sore. You can also use regular oatmeal on bites to pull any remaining toxins out of the body. Let a tablespoon of oatmeal marinate in water until a paste forms. Spread onto the bite until a crust hardens and rinse off. An easier way to pull toxins out of your body is to apply a slice of freshly cut eggplant on the wound, while a fresh cut cucumber slice also works to reduce swelling.
After the itch and pain are gone, unsightly bumps can still appear on the skin. Cover with easy at-home tricks like calendula and aloe vera to prevent against infection, which can be found over the counter in sprays and gels. Redness associated with a bug bite can be irritating in itself and again Ayurvedic medicine comes to the rescue. Alum, found in the spice aisle, is in powder form and can be dissolved in water takes away the unwanted physical aspects of the bite and even helps with any lingering itch you may have.
Don’t hesitate to call 911 if you suspect there is an emergency. Allergic reactions to bug bites can happen, either from bees, spiders, or other unknown insects that you may not realize you are allergic to. People can go into anaphylactic shock from certain bites or stings and they should be watched if any of their symptoms get worse. Even though run-ins with bugs can be annoying, they can also be dangerous, so don’t ignore the warning signs: pain at the site for longer than a few hours, nausea, vomiting, fever, unstoppable itching, muscle pain, difficulty breathing, extreme swelling, or causes confusion in the victim.
Enjoy quiet, summer evenings by eating dinner outside instead of becoming something else’s feast.
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