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Natural Remedies for Insect Bites

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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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 Aka Sherri (College Station, Texas, United States) on 04/30/2012
 ★★★★★

As a landscape designer and avid gardener, I've been stung many times by scorpions, bees, wasps, you name it. I've tried baking soda, ammonia and benydril, but it still took several days to get better. Once, I stepped on a scorpion and had to sit with my foot elevated for 3 whole days before I could walk again.

I found a remedy that works nearly instantly!

Someone told me about this remedy years ago. It's supposed to be an old Native American remedy. As the subject says, it's disgusting! However, when I've been stung I can easily deal with gross if it means the pain will go away right now instead of 3 days later!

If you smoke, shame on you! But when it comes to stinging insects, you are in luck! Bite off about half the length of a cigarette and chew it. Your mouth will immediately dry up, but then it will begin to salivate profusely. As soon as the tobacco is wet and chewed up, spit the wad out on the sting/bite site and leave it there. I promise, you won't be much concerned about the taste of the tobacco given the serious pain you're in! :)

The sooner you can get the chewed tobacco onto the sting site, the less time it will take for the pain to go away and all of the poison to be drawn out of the body. Even though the pain will dissipate quickly, the tobacco needs to stay on longer to remove all the poison.

For example: If you get tobacco onto the wound with in 30 seconds, the pain will be gone almost instantly and it will probably only take about 5 or 10 minutes to get all the poison out. If it takes 5 minutes to get the tobacco, it might be a few minutes before the pain is gone and might take an hour to get all the poison out. This is why I always keep a bag of additive free natural tobacco in my bag of gardening tools, so I can stop the pain ASAP!!

You will know when all the poison is gone if you can remove the tobacco and the pain stays gone. If you still feel pain or it starts to return, put it back on.

The tobacco needs to stay wet. If it dries up and you start to feel pain, spit on the tobacco, or better yet, chew up some fresh tobacco.

****I tried just wetting the tobacco with water instead of chewing on it. It didn't work for me. There seems to be something about the saliva/tobacco/nicotine mix that helps****

If you have fresh sage, mix that in with the tobacco. It seems to step up the relief. I've never tried using sage alone. Frankly, I'm not willing to experiment and find out if sage on its own will work when I am in so much pain. I'll only do that when/if I find myself with out any tobacco!

I have used the remedy countless times and it has NEVER FAILED ME!

I hope it works for others as well. I will surely feel terrible if it doesn't work for someone who braved the disgusting taste cigarette tobacco but didn't find relief!

Apply Heat
Posted by What Worked For Me (Bev Hills, Usa) on 07/14/2011
 ★★★★★

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.

Chigger Bite Remedies
Posted by Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 05/24/2015

To stop itchy bites, I use a lotion called Sarna. I think I bought it at Walgreen's or CVS. Also, Amazon sells a cream containing sulphur. That may work as I saw it on another post about sulpher.

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).

Lavender Oil
Posted by Sp (Nashville, Tn) on 06/04/2010
 ★★★★★

Lavender essential oil works great to relieve the itchiness of mosquito bites. Dab a drop directly on the area and a few minutes later the itchiness is gone. It gets rid of the swelling also.

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.

Clear Tape
Posted by Doug (Show Low, Az) on 09/01/2009

Even better for mosquito bites is vitamin B1. Insects hate the smell it makes your skin have. although it is not noticeable to humans.

Clear Tape
Posted by Connie (Manitowoc, Wisconsin, USA) on 09/02/2009

Do you apply it or ingest it?

EC: Typically you would ingest it.

Cucumber
Posted by Lindar (Treorchy, Rhondda Wales Uk) on 08/02/2009
 ★★★★★

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!

Cucumber
Posted by Ranjana (Arlington, Tx) on 07/11/2010
 ★★★★★

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.

Tiger Balm
Posted by Deirdre (Atlanta, GA) on 06/29/2008
 ★★★★★

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.

Aspirin
Posted by Star (Stamford, Ct) on 08/04/2009
 ★★★★★

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!

Dishwashing Detergent, Garlic, Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 03/29/2008 489 posts
 ★★★★★

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.

New Zealand Remedies
Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 05/16/2022
 ★★★★★

Good day there, how are you?

I am only letting you know about this NZ Secret because it works for me and our family - I have no financial interest in the Company.

Maybe EC will not print it but there you go! Deirdre was experiencing insect-biting problems recently, so it behoves us to do something to assist her!

This is the crowd I mentioned in a previous post but I know that you probably only read the recent ones??!!

Here is an abbreviated version of an email got from them:-

"We sell Goodbye Sandfly to people in the USA for use with the little black no-seeums as well as mosquitos. If you order more than $75USD shipping is free. If it's under $75USD it's about $20usd for shipping. Check out our website".

Cheers from Down Under

Ice Pack
Posted by Sharon B (Chicago Il ) on 07/21/2015
 ★★★★★

Wet a paper towel or wash cloth and stick it in the freezer for 15mins! Apply to affected itchy area! Relieves inflamation and itch! Paper Towel dampen and freezer for 10-15mins. Washcloth at least 30mins to freeze.

White Bread and Milk Poultice
Posted by Elise (Stoneham, Qc Canada) on 06/29/2015
 ★★★★★

Dip a piece of white bread without the crust in a saucer with milk in it. Place it on the area that a bug stung you. Leave it on for till the bread becomes soggy replace it with another piece of bread. Keep on doing this for 5 to 10 min.

An Indian woman did this to me when I was bit by a big black bug on my lip while fishing in the woods.

Let me tell you, it works.

Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Scorpio1 (Hollywood, Ca) on 03/18/2015
 ★★★★★

California doesn't have many mosquitos, but when they find you, and you haven't had 1 for years, it's murder! I recently became the meal of mosquitos at a friends house in the hills and suffered a day before I found this and tried it. I just dabbed some tea tree oil on a q tip and applied. Ahhh relief

Tea Tree Oil and Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Posted by Anon (US) on 09/04/2014
 ★★★★★

I felt something sting my arm, I could feel the legs grab my arm when it did. It felt like when you touch an electric fence. I didn't see the wasp. There was a shallow bite about an eighth inch across. It itched a lot and began to swell till there was a red area around it the size of a silver dollar after a few days. I decided it wasn't going away on it's own so I rubbed tea tree oil into it and immediately after pure eucalyptus essential oil. It was gone in two or three days.

Vicks VapoRub
Posted by Cody O (Marysville, Washington) on 08/03/2014
 ★★★★★

On a whim, I rubbed a thick layer of Vicks VapoRub into some itchy flea bites, and viola, they stopped itching! It's worked for me a bunch of times. Today I tried it on some HUGE, SUPER ITCHY mosquito bites, and whaddya know, no more itch!

Chigger Bite Remedies
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn. ) on 07/03/2014

HI U TX, , , , , , , , , , ,

Hard to believe that a Texan does not know how to handle a red bug. Go to your Farm co-op, buy 10% Permitrin, paint your problem.

==OLE ROBERT HENRY==


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