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.
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.
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.
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!
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
Aspirin
Posted by Maho (Canada) on 06/22/2022
For tick bites-look into Ghanian quinine. I heard it cures 100%.
Aspirin
Posted by Jodi (Wisconsin) on 07/07/2016
★★★★★
Try using aspirin dissolved in apple cider vinegar for insect bites. I have bad reactions to bug bites and it works for me.
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.
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!
Sulfur for Chigger Bites
Posted by Gardengirl (Gallatin, Tn) on 08/31/2013
★★★★★
Sulfur works on chiggers... Can buy it at some drugstores or maybe at at farmer's co-op. Take about 1 teaspoon of sulfur, add a little water to make a paste then apply it to the bite or bites. It will work the first time. Works for my grand-daughter (15) too!!!
Fels- Naptha
Posted by Renee (Bergen Co., Nj) on 08/30/2012
★★★★★
Rub a wet bar of fels-naptha soap (found in laundry detergent aisle for about $1.50) onto bug bite/mosquito bite. Rinse with cold water. Itching disappeared for me in about 1 min. Redness and swelling visibly reduced or disappeared. May need to repeat this if symptoms reoccur. You can also leave a bit of soap to dry on the bite. My usual week-long mosquito bites disappear in no time with 1-3 applications and no itching.
Saliva, Salt Water
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Ky, Usa) on 08/26/2012 2042 posts
Lisa, it has been quite a journey and educational at that; and I try to convey anything positive for everyone here although my abilities are compromised. Add the psychological or spiritual elements to the mix and things can get difficult; so the art of simplicity is the rule. Case in point, in response to the personal and give/receive nature of this E.C. site/ message board, over the past few months I have rollercoaster from very poor to somewhat good health conditions and have remained faithful here as I am still in a somewhat desperate mode clinging to what little life force I have; anyway, amazing enough and on many occasions I receive post exactly pertinent to my condition at the moment. There are the laws of average and likelihood but these occasions have been so consistent and sometimes I will have only been thinking about some aspect of some illness throughout the day and as soon as I begin reading on here the answer is posted. My belief is that as people show true concern for one another without the devil of money involved, telepathic or "miraculous" events can occur. One year ago I had been occasionally reading E.C. and after a few months decided to start posting and, to be candid, I don't think I would still be alive if not for all the great info and good hearts here.
As for NDE's my interest has certainly escalated over the past few yrs, and I have been greatly encouraged and blessed from these fortunate folks. I haven't heard of Elizabeth Kubler- Ross (that I know of). The Anita Moorjani testimony is amazing document of the healing power of "eternity" as she died of Lymphoma Cancer and totally recovered within days of her return.
All the good thoughts, deeds and even intents of people will be consummated in the next life; and we will truly love each other in such a pure way that all the pain of this body and world will be as nothing. I never really considered myself one in need of the humility that can come from suffering, but it is an unmistakable fact that suffering can be tremendously advantageous. As the destructive forces of this world weld their way over us, the big truth is that love is really all that's left of creation and that's what will live in eternity. So, as all of us here suffering from our ailments have a dual mindset of rejection (i want to get my health back) and acceptance ("Thy will be done"). The "infinity factor" should always be the focus, removing as much bad energy from our minds and lives as possible, and be ready when that great day comes.
Many thanks and blessing to you and everyone here.
"Love is the only answer - hate is the root of cancer - then" --YES
Saliva, Salt Water
Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 08/26/2012
Hi Timh, What a beautiful post! Yes, pain and suffering are certainly humbling and unlike you, perhaps I needed to face helplessness in terms of that. I was always one to rise against the odds and have always been a fighter. Thus, I never understood those who seemed to just succumb to circumstances or complain but do nothing. I still am somewhat unable to understand that but certainly have dealt with enough physical pain to now have compassion. My husband said it has helped me to grow tremendously.
As for synchronicity, I have been fortunate enough to have always trusted in a Higher Power, God, The Universe or whatever one is comfortable calling this mysterious force. As a result, it has been a never- ending fount of answers always given in the right time, in the right way. There have been times when I have questioned this All-Knowing force but, learned early that whatever the answer given, was the right one. Sometimes, it took considerable time before that would be revealed in hindsight. It isn't always easy to see this when you are in the midst of it! Are you familiar with Abraham-Hicks? If not, check out the website because I have learned so much from this wise force. It is based in Universal Laws and they cannot be overridden. These laws work over and over again without fail.
Yes, all good thoughts, deeds and intents are rewarded. The laws of Karma are unerring, for sure. And love is the greatest force of the universe. Yes, Earth Clinic is wonderful to be able to give freely to others and reap the benefits of others' knowledge and wisdom garnered from their experience. When humanity understands we must reach back and help each other up the ladder or none of us will make it, we will finally truly understand unconditional love. Not always easy to do in the human condition...
Also, I would love you to check out the books by Dr. Brian L. Weiss. They are truly remarkable and have been a comfort to me since they were written back in the 80's. Over the years, I have recommended this book to many people especially in times of their suffering. The first book is called "Many Lives, Many Masters" which I would recommend starting with as you then have the background of this man's remarkable story. "Only Love Is Real" is another beautiful one and resonates with what you said at the end of your post. And finally, "Messages From The Masters" is a summation of his books and the wisdom of "the Masters" who with all the love and compassion give us messages that are so beautiful and reassuring they would move me to tears.
Anyway, Timh, thank you again for your beautiful post and know that you are in my thoughts sending you healing love and grateful to know you through these pages. With love and respect, Lisa
Saliva, Salt Water
Posted by Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 05/24/2015
Someone mentioned chiggers. Try a bath in baking soda (maybe some epsom salts too?). An old home remedy of my mom's.
Essential Oils
Posted by Erica (Saint James City, Florida) on 08/11/2012
To repel No-See-Ums I use a DEET free plant based insect repellent containing Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. I recently moved to SW Florida and am extremely sensitive to the bites... Itching, swelling and fatigue. I even have scars from scratching in my sleep! I haven't found anything to alleviate the itching, so for me prevention is the best medicine.
Onion
Posted by Donna (Virginia Beach, Virginia, Usa) on 05/04/2012
★★★★★
A friend once told me to put raw onion on insect bites, and it really did help me! Just take a piece of raw onion, use your fingernail to press into it to release some of the juice and rub it on the bite. I found that it works best if you try to apply it as soon as you get bit. It helps with the itch and the duration of the itch is greatly reduced.
