Insect Bite Remedies

Eucalyptus Oil

Posted by Sarah (Oklahoma ) on 06/30/2022
★★★★★

Chiggers:

Eucalyptus oil worked for me.

Borax or Vitamin A

Posted by Robert S. (USA) on 06/22/2022
★★★★★

Try consuming a little borax in water, insects die if they eat anything with even a tiny amount of it in anything they eat, in your case blood. It is also fatal to all insects, the reason it also acts as a repellent. I have a problem with Fungus Flies, but mixing it with water and spraying it around gets rid of them fast, but it only lasts 2-3 days.

Another thing to try is Vitamin-A. Insects hate people with higher than normal amounts in their bodies. Vodka is another thing mosquitoes hate, just mix with some water and use it in a diffuser, mix it with some coconut oil and use it on your skin.

I also noticed that no bugs will go near coconut oil & they don't like honey either. FYI... I live in the USA in the northeast.

Aspirin

Posted by Hope (Sacramento, CA) on 05/13/2021
★★★★★

I just used aspirin on an insect bite the had been itching badly and had a rather large red ring around it. It immediately stopped itching and it also looks like the swelling is going down a bit!

Aspirin

Posted by Madelyn (Idaho ) on 05/13/2021

Please get this checked out. A red ring around an insect bite is associated with a tick bite. The earlier you catch and treat Lyme disease infection the better.

Vicks Vaporub

Posted by Madelyn (Idaho) on 08/25/2020
★★★★★

Hey Mama!

Did you know that the original Vick's formula contained turpentine? Yep! Good ‘ol turpentine. I was lucky enough to find a couple of old jars (cleaning out a home after an elderly gentleman died). The jars still contained the VapoRub. One of them was still new in the box! Age didn't seem to have any affect on freshness and potency. Good stuff!

Vicks Vaporub

Posted by Mama To Many (Tn) on 08/26/2020

Dear Madelyn,

I did not know that! Very interesting. Also fascinating that the properties appear to be preserved!

Thanks for sharing!

~Mama to Many~

Cayenne

Posted by Cindy (Illinois, Usa) on 08/09/2020 524 posts
★★★★★

I got bit by something extra tiny that hurt like the dickens the other day!

I put EVERYthing on it - cayenne, DMSO, coconut oil and something else, I don't remember what, but it stopped hurting with the first bit of cayenne. With the pain and the size - which was too small to even see what kind of critter it was, it scared the dickens outta me so I threw everything at it! LOL! It was right over a vein, just up from the wrist. I'd never had that kind of pain from a bite or a sting! I remember what the other thing was - it was ascorbic acid paste. I'm guessing it was a spider of some sort as I've been stirring up unattended corners around the house but it was so tiny that there was nothing left of it after I slapped it. I had a little red spot for a few days but, initially, the bite was so small there was nothing to see. The red spot got to about the size of a pepper corn, but it's gone without a trace now. I think that was Monday or Tuesday and it's Sunday but was still a little red yesterday so that's quite a while for it to stick around with no feeling to it. No bump or itch or anything, once the pain was gone. Just that red spot.

Oh! And borax solution which I'd just made. I forgot I slapped some of that on it.

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Marsh57 (CO) on 06/09/2020
★★★★★

Went to a new acupuncture office yesterday. By the time I got into the car my legs were madly itching. A little research discovered they were flea bites - ugh. Coconut oil and tea tree oil stops the itch.

Apply Heat

Posted by Oceanman58 (Los Alamitos) on 08/10/2016
★★★★★

I hate fleas. If there was a way, I wish someone would wipe them out. LOL.. Anyway, I got a bite tonight on my arm from taking the dog out for walk..She doesn't have fleas due to homemade ACV spray, spraying each time for each walk. Anyway I took a hot shower and made the hot water as hot as I could stand in the shower and ran it on the new bite and some old ones from a week ago.. Two hours later and no itching. Thank you to everyone who shared about this easy home remedy. Remember, the water has to as hot as you can stand it without burning yourself. Keep the hot water on the bite for at least twenty seconds...

Bentonite Clay, Silver Ointment

Posted by Selena (South Tx) on 08/06/2016
★★★★★

I don't know what the heck bit me on one wrist area and the upper arm on my other arm but man, these bites were like golf balls under the skin and the itch and pain, redness and severe swelling was unbearable..

What always worked on "bites" in the past-crushed garlic/lemon juice, real iodine solution like lugols, or baking soda and vit c on and on did nothing and the area looked now like a reddened burned area and I felt really really ill and feverish and took aspirin and started to drink water nonstop..

I remembered I had some real betonite clay up in a cabinet and mixed a thick paste and made a cast on these areas -instant relief from the itching and after about an hour, i could see these areas literally oozing through the clay and the pain lessening..

So I made the clay paste and used it 4 times that day, about every 4 hours and the swelling and redness was decreasing-.

Then I remembered i had a over the counter silver ointment and put a little bit on the areas and instant relief from the itching-.

So I can definitely "vouch" for betonite clay application for a severe type of bite to reduce the swelling and draw out toxins and then the over the counter silver ointment to keep it clean and protect the skin and promote healing as it certainly did look like a scalding type of a burn on my arms..

The skin did not burst, there was no bleeding or bruising, and I am now 4 days post bite..

Still itches like u-know-what but I am definitely on the mend/resolution phase..

I still cannot figure out what bit me-but man, what a reaction I had..

Bleach Bath

Posted by Jennifer (Texas, US) on 10/10/2014
★★★★★

I'm all about the most holistic approach, But when I got chigger bites while doing yard work I wanted a fast fix. My friend's mother told me to take a warm bath with bleach & before I could even adjust to the temperature of the bath they were gone. I soaked for about 5 minutes & problem solved.

Chigger Bite Remedies

Posted by Tx Kel (Tx) on 07/01/2014
★★★★★

Chiggers plague us here in TX. I hate them! I'm also allergic. Each bite swells up and looks infected. I've tried chigger ointment and nail polish. Nail polish works pretty good, but you have to apply it daily. I can still end up with infected looking bites.

I know the goal is to smoother the little guys until they die.

We just discovered duct tape!!! Just cut a small silver square to cover the bite. Leave it on for 3-4 days. Peel it off and bite is gone! Works great on kids because it sticks through a shower. Plus most bites are where you can't see them, so its easy to leave the duct tape on.

(Here in the USA, duct tape is a wide silver tape that is very very sticky. It is used for repairing things. It seals very well and is somewhat water proof. It has fibers in it, which makes it easy to tear.)

Apply Heat

Posted by Lokismum (Banbury, England) on 09/26/2013
★★★★★

I just got a bite on my foot four days ago which itched so much I nearly scratched myself raw. I had a look on Earth Clinic as I knew the wonderful people who pass on wonderful remedies would have the answer. I tried a lot of things that didn't work as this bite was really fierce with the itching, and remembered I had tried using a hair dryer on a hot setting aimed at the bite until it got too uncomfortable, which had helped when I had a milder bite a couple of months ago. So when I saw the remedy using boiling hot water to soak a flannel and applying that to the bite I wanted to try it. As soon as the flannel hit the red inflamed skin covering half my foot and also half my ankle which was swollen the itching was intense, but strangely comforting. When the itching stopped I took the flannel off, and for the next six or so hours it was absolute bliss. No itching! I woke at three last night with my foot starting to itch, and slapped the very hot flannel on my foot, and once again it worked wonderfully. Thank you so much all of you who recommended this treatment. Colloidal silver sprayed on it several times a day from yesterday evening has taken the swelling down and stopped it looking so angry. I took a tablespoon of silver a couple of times yesterday and today as well, as it was so swollen and itchy yesterday I thought I might have to see the doctor, but I don't want to take anti biotics and it was obvious the foot was infected and that is what the doctor would have prescribed. So once again thank you Earth Clinic.

Saliva, Salt Water

Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 08/24/2012
★★★★★

Hi everyone, while on vacation, we went hiking in the rainforest in Costa Rica where I was attacked by mosquitoes. I was even wearing bug repellent but, as always it never seems to work for me. I ended up with about 50 mosquito bites and was absolutely miserable that night. I couldn't sleep and ended up going on EC to see what was recommended. I had already tried cortisone cream which didn't do a thing for the itching. Amazingly, I found a recommendation from Francisca saying saliva worked very well. Since I was on vacation I didn't have a lot of things I would normally have at home so the ACV wasn't available. So, I tried the saliva and amazingly enough, it brought the throbbing and itching down to about half. Still not great but better.

The next day, I spent an hour swimming in the ocean since sea salt was recommended. Well, that was the trick! All pain and itching gone! Hopefully, this helps someone! Lisa

Tobacco Poultice

Posted by jill (seattle, wa) on 12/23/2022

The chewing allows nicotine to enter your blood stream. Nicotine treats many venoms. See Dr. Bryan Ardis for info on nicotine treatment for venom injuries. Just carry nicotine patches and gum instead of chewing on cigarettes.

Bee Remedies

Posted by Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 06/28/2017

We had a terrible wasp problem. I found a couple of ways to prevent them from coming around. 1) Stuff a brown paper bag full of smaller paper bags or newspaper. Tie a ribbon around the neck of the bag and hang it where you see wasps. They think it is a wasp nest and won't go near it. 2) Get the Hot Shot no pest strips at the major hardware stores. Hang them in the attic and the garage attic. Problem solved!

B Vitamins

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).

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Lisa (Coto De Caza, Ca) on 10/12/2009
★★★★★

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.

Clear Tape

Posted by Brenda (Converse, Tx) on 09/01/2009
★★★★★

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.

Salt

Posted by Kamikan (College Station, Texas, Usa) on 05/10/2012
★★★★★

I was surprised to find this actually works! I had several all over my arm and leg after watering the plants (strangely, the bites were only on my left side).

I rubbed a pinch of salt on each bite. Within moments the itch stopped, and within a couple hours the swelling was reduced to a small red dot, like a flea bite. The dots didn't disappear until a few days later, but they were inconspicuous and never itched again.

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Kathleen (Brisbane, Australia) on 01/03/2009
★★★★★

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!

Coconut Oil

Posted by Kylie (Whitianga, New Zealand) on 08/26/2008
★★★★★

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.

Coconut Oil

Posted by Scooter (Mississippi) on 06/12/2010
★★★★★

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.

Coconut Oil

Posted by Sp (Nashville, Tn) on 06/16/2010
★★★★★

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.