Effective Mite Infestation Treatment: Top Natural Remedies

In the beginning of this nightmare, I would spray my sheets and body with OFF every night and that would help me sleep. And, I just assumed that whatever this was, it would eventually go away. However, after about a month the OFF stopped working and the biting got worse and I started to itch….constantly. And, I had bite marks all over my stomach, thighs and back. Then I searched online and found that I was not alone. This is a huge problem that's affecting a lot of people.

So, I started trying different things that I read about. Some things didn't work at all (Vaseline, lemon juice, etc) and other things would help but they would never cure (tea-tree oil, coconut oil, sulfur, borax, hydrogen peroxide, Windex, bleach, epsom salts, etc). And, the biting wasn't just at night anymore, it had progressed to the feeling of biting and crawling all day long and all over my body, even my scalp and genital area. I was afraid to visit family and friends or invite them to my home because I didn't want them to be infected. I stopped hugging and touching people altogether and became a recluse.

I was vacuuming daily, keeping my dirty clothes and clean clothes in sealed garbage bags, changing my sheets daily, putting all kinds of sprays and oils on my skin. I even threw out my mattress and bought a new one and put a zippered plastic cover from Target on it. I also noticed that it would get worse around the full moon every month. During the full moon, I would literally have to take Benadryl and cry myself to sleep.

After months of endless torture, sleepless nights, crying, wondering “why me?”, I finally got some relief from Lugol's Iodine Solution, Oil of Oregano, Hibiclens Soap and positive thinking. I have been consistently using these “cures” daily for about two months and I am finally free. I take a few drops of the Lugol's Iodine twice a day (in the morning and before bed), I take one Oil of Oregano softgel in the morning and I take my shower at night with the Hibiclens soap. I use an off brand of the soap that I got from Meijer and I put it in an old soap bottle with a foam dispenser to save money. I absolutely love this soap! It gets me cleaner than any soap I have ever used and you only need to use a small amount.

Also, I use positive affirmations throughout the day to help me get through the day. I now only vacuum once a week and I put my bedding in the freezer in the morning and take it out before bed. I vacuum my car once a week and spray it daily with rubbing alcohol. It is now August and as I sit here at my computer, I feel NOTHING. No itching, No crawling, No biting. I think what worked for me was really fighting it internally because prior to starting the iodine and oregano, I was mainly focusing on my environment. Once I started the iodine and oregano (and Hibiclens), within 2 months I was cured. I hope my story helps.

Then read finally that it could be scabies and one did not have to sleep with someone to get them, couldn't be seen without a microscope, doctors never believe you have them unless you have bites in webs of fingers and toes, the prescription costs $100, you have to go back in 7 days and get another one for the eggs that have hatched under your skin, and sometimes the doctor will prescribe a pill of Ivermectin to be taken at the same time which poisons them and makes them head for the surface.

So first you should determine what you have and the best way to do that is a hot bath with 3 Cups of Borax and 2 Cups of Hydrogen Peroxide. After I put my hand in to swish Borax crystals and dissolve them, my arm was covered in tiny black dots the size of a pinhead - Scabies.

You take this bath every day, for 1/2 hour, and make sure to scoot down 2 or 3 times so all of you gets soaked. This is supposed to kill them. You can also put this mixture in a spray bottle diluted with water and spray everything. Launder bedding every day along with clothes making sure to dry at high heat 30 minutes. Before you begin trying to eradicate them, you absolutely have to control the itching.

I tried Cortisone cream, Gold Bond Cream, Alcohol, Tea Tree Oil, Witch Hazel, ACV, and Benadryl which did nothing.

What did finally work was Chlortabs 4mg by Equate and Calaclear Lotion from Walmart. The Calaclear is the same as Caladryl or Calamine and works because it forms a skin on top of the bites. Every time you scratch you will spread them, but you will scratch I promise so putting Tea Tree Oil under your fingernails will minimize spreading and help to stop infection. I have cats and couldn't find for sure on the net if they could get them or give them to you so I used diluted Hartz Cat Flea Shampoo on them.

After 5 days of the Borax baths I still had them and had never seen the amount of that first bath where there were 15 on just one arm. I had read the flea shampoo would get rid of them on me, along with all of the aforementioned things I tried for the itching too. I realized those things might kill the ones crawling on top of my skin but they were not going to kill all of the ones embedded under my skin. After that first bath, I saw only 2 or 3 black dots and I had bites all over except for my face and my hoohah area. Back to the drawing board.

I bought Permetherin 10% Livestock and Premise Pesticide by Gordans from Tractor Supply. It comes in a large size that's around $18 and a small size for $8. I believe the small sufficient for one person with repeated uses, including diluted spray for the house. I also bought Ivermectin Paste 1.87% by durvet, apple flavored for horses which was $3. You mix the Permethrin with same amount of any thick body lotion so then it's 5% which makes it the same as the $100 prescription from a doctor. The Ivermectin is the same thing as the pill except you get multiple doses and drool, drool, your's is apple flavored! Take a bath in the Borax and Peroxide, cover yourself in the lotion, (I used a 30ml bottle filled halfway with pesticide, topped with any body lotion and shaken) - size of a travel shampoo, and eat the correct amount of Ivermectin. It is in a plunger device with 50lb demarcations on it up to 2500lbs. I weigh near 160 so I set it between 150 and 200 then squeezed it onto a spoon. It's okay if it's not exact and there is a youtube video on the plunger if you need it. Try to use the thickest body lotion you have because the pesticide is runny like water, but will work fine anyway because it does rub in. Do not forget between fingers and toes along with soles of feet and hair.

THIS IS POISONOUS TO PETS WHEN WET SO KEEP THEM AWAY!!!

Leave on for 12 to 14 hours. I have very sensitive skin and bites were so bad some places were like a rash but this did not burn or sting or smell bad. I have dyed red hair and did not affect it. It does dry on you fairly quickly and I firmly believe you must use the oral paste also to work from the inside out. I had read not to wait 7 days before the second dose because the initial dose does not kill the eggs they have laid inside you. You have to catch them after they have hatched and grown up but before they do the hookie pokie and make more eggs. I read everywhere that this occurred in 3 days so I did the whole business again in 3 days. But this was wrong as they managed to mature earlier (probably thanks to Monsanto) than 3 days so I had to do routine again in 2 days. After the very first dousing you will finally get some real relief. These only live for 3 days without a meal (you), which is so incredibly much better than bedbugs which live for over a year with no meal and crawl into outlets and cracks you cannot even see.

You can spray your bedding with alcohol repeatedly while to make sure there are none before sleeping. You can spray furniture and floors with the Permethrin in a 1:10 ratio with water BUT it is poisonous to pets when wet and supposedly fine after it dries. I did not spray floors because of my cats and because I read you can spray this diluted onto your camping or hiking clothes, let them dry, and no insects period will bite you, not even after clothes have been through washer and dryer 3 times. I also read you do not want to take the Ivermectin paste less than 2 days apart.

Keep taking the Borax with Peroxide baths because I found that they greatly sped up the healing process of my skin. It didn't dry my skin out either which is pretty outstanding. It supposedly takes up to 6 months for the red bumps, bites, rashes, and itching to stop because there are dead eggs, mites, and poop which your body has to expel.

A very important thing I learned which I read nowhere, is that red bumps will appear in new spots and of different sizes just like the bites except there won't be that little hole where they burrowed under your skin. I freaked because I thought they were back until I looked really close and figured out your body doesn't seem to expel the morgue contents in the same spots the morgue did business. And they will itch but it won't be nearly as bad. I read mites and bedbugs are now super bugs and immune to many things that used to work, and they are in epidemic numbers.

One last thing I just realized before I decided to write this after reading other's horror stories, is that I could not figure out how I got these. I went nowhere except grocery shopping and my cats are indoors only, but there's a bird nest outside at the corner of house close to my bedroom. Robins come every year and use the same nest. I'm afraid they will have to rebuild elsewhere. I tried a lot remedies and tried holistic, but a couple of posts said this was the only way to kill them and quickly too. I believe they were right.

* I used a simple combination of 1%-3% hydrogen peroxide and a tablespoon of borax (20 Mule Team is fine) in an ordinary 8 oz flower garden sprayer. Also add one tablespoon of Milk of Magnesia. All I did was to spray my body (particularly the bitten areas) after my shower and before bed with this mix and then wash it off the next morning. I found that, next day, I hadn't been bitten anymore and my bites had actually gone down and didn't itch so much. I still use this mix if some critter bites me, it's very effective. Only use this mix topically and avoid use near the eyes.

* Take your couch/bed mattress and put it outside in the sun and heat for the day. The mites and bugs will hate the sun, they will run away and leave the couch/bed mattress.

* Also make sure you clothes are not infested by washing your clothes with generous amounts of borax.

The borax will kill the mites directly as will the hydrogen peroxide which will also kill any other associative bacteria and viruses as well.

The Milk of Magnesia (MoM) will kill the bugs and anything else in 2 other ways. First the MoM is so alkaline -- pH 10 -- that it will kill any bacteria, virus, fungus or bug easily. As well, MoM contains mainly Magnesium Hydroxide, which is highly hydrohobic (drives water out). So using MoM will also dehydrate the bugs or mites and kill them that way too.

Here's how I have reduced the numbers and am making head way. I'm not sure which mites I have so I treated for several kinds. Borax, hydrogen peroxide & water on the body after a shower and used hair dryer to dry it. Tea tree oil in bath water. I bought ovante demodex control products off internet and use them every day- lotion, face cream, eye products, shampoo, body wash. I had tons of eye irritation too. My feet were full of dead skin and it's all gone too...think it may have been dandruf

Wash bedding, clothes and towels every day and add borax to the detergent. I dry hot & long. I throw pillows in a hot dryer every day for 20 minutes

I threw out all pillows. I bought a new mattress.

My body has had much less crawly, itchy, stinging episodes and I think it's getting under control after three weeks. Thank GOD.

After eight long months of going to doctors and prescriptions that didn't help me, I finally found a doctor who knew what to do for me. I take Neem Leaf along with N-Acetyl Cysteine twice a day. Both are to boost the immune system. I cannot tell you how happy I was to finally have relief, and it happened overnight! I tried everything in my bath water, cleaned constantly, and wore myself out both physically and mentally. These two are the natural wonderdrugs for sure. So, do not throw out your mattresses and don't waste your time in the tub with god knows what as I did. I would say good luck, but you wont need it, as this absolutely worked overnight.

I do continue to take them until my doc says otherwise. They can be found in the Sprouts grocery store chain or a health food store.

If you get on Face Book, you can look up a site called "Morgellons Is No Laughing Matter, " and read postings of others with your symptoms.

Also, Borax, Bleach, Windex, etc. Are toxic - especially in regular doses. Remember, if you put it ON your skin - it goes IN your body. While it may be a temp fix - it is not something people should do longterm as that just adds further burden to the immune system which causes the body to have even less ability to fight the infestation off.

Here are some healthier and I believe, more effective options:

> Sulfur powder (you can get this by ordering "MSM Powder" on a wholesale site like vitacost dot com) & take internally with glucosamine & chondroitin).

Sulfur mixed in pure lotion (no additives, perfumes, or chemicals) and rub onto all affected areas.

You can buy a product by "Trimedic" that is 15% sulfur/MSM and rub it into areas.

> Pure Organic Cold Pressed NEEM Oil - this can be mixed with sulfur product and rubbed into affected areas - it is also great for scalp and you can use it in shampoos, liquid soaps and conditioners.

> Pure organic tea tree, cedar, Lavendar, mixed with a small amount of Virgin/organic Coconut Oil is very healing to bites and lesions. DO spend the extra money for the organic though...

> Gold Bond Menthol Powder (great for mixing into hair/scalp) and Gold Bond Menthol Lotion

> 3% peroxide can be rubbed into areas after showers or baths but be sure to wash your finger tips as it can burn them a little - but will flush out the bites/organisms

3% Peroxide is a great substitute for Windex - not toxic to your system so you can use it on surfaces (plastic, glass, metal). Alcohol with few drops of essential oils is also great for cleaning and clearing areas.

Use the Neem oil on Wood Surfaces.

Use the Borax to wash your clothes in hot water with about 10-12 drops of one of above essential oils. Rinse with Hot water & Dry on Hot.

If your microwave is large enough and a newer model with large rotating glass table; you can put smaller pieces of clothing loosely onto table and zap for 30 to 90 seconds - making sure that the table and item is turning and doesn't stick to the right side where all the heat accumulates. Don't put anything aluminum or metal in though!

Small blankets & sheets can be sanitized this way as well just watch the time and the process - keep things moving and away from the hotter side of the metal wall.

Plastic zippered mattress protectors are essential and should be wiped down each morning or before bed time with alcohol spray or peroxide spray with half dozen drops of essential oils (in spray).

Sheets & blankets can be spritzed and placed in HOT dryer for at least 60 to 70 minutes.

It's okay to clean skin with peroxide or enzymes but ultimately you don't want it to dry out because it becomes more vulnerable to organisms & irritants. So use the NEEM oil mixed with a little of the Coconut Oil & few drops of essential oils (and, you can add the sulfur to this too) on your skin and if necessary, your scalp.

> Colloidal Silver & Organic Aloe Juice (50 to 50 ratio) can be applied to scalp with dropper and rubbed in gently with fingers for soothing irritated skin & bites. Same for skin after or before shower.

This mixture can be taken internally - just make sure the silver has low PPMs (10 to 30 PPMs max). One TBSP every few hours can be effective.

Three other products to help skin:

> Florasone Itches & Rash Cream

> PRID salve (mix this with sulfur and coconut/Neem oils & will help to draw out matter)

> SeaBuckthorn Oil and/or soap

It's so important to address the internal health as that is a direct manifestation of the external conditions.

1) Sleep - get as much as you can whenever you can.

2) Moderate (non traumatic or impacting) exercise - the circulation of blood & oxygen boosts your immune system and helps fight off the infestation.

3) Reduce Stress - exercise, quiet room w/low lights and relaxing music. 4) Deep breathing (good for relaxing & helps promote better oxygen flow), ETC.,

5) De-tox your diet. Don't eat any 'white' (bleached) or processed foods. Avoid white sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Eat more green vegetables in salads and, slightly steamed. Lean, free-range (antibiotic & hormone free) meat & dairy in small portions.

6) HYDRATE - 80 to 100 oz of purified or Spring water daily. (Non-caffeinated teas & organic juices count).

7) Avoid all GMOs, hydrogenated oils (trans fats such as margarine), artificial ANYTHING and fast food - horrible for these conditions.

8) Watch your pH levels; most of us with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems have higher acidic levels. Eat higher alkaline foods such as organic watermelon, lemons, fresh spinach, blueberries, etc... You can search sites that have pH food charts & put on your fridge.

Hope this helps.

12 year 'Survivor.'

I had a long term case that was resistant to permethrin, ivermectin, and I tried every oral herb, vitamin, and tincture and nothing worked. I then found some posts similar to this and tried the following:

1) Body sprays of alternating applications of:

a) isopropyl 91% rubbing alcohol
b) hypochlorous acid (can be made at home on the cheap)
c) chlorine dioxide d) hydrogen peroxide

2) Hot baths of:

a) bleach
b) chlorine dioxide
c) borax with hydrogen peroxide (it was more cost effective to spray body with hydrogen peroxide and let sit until dry then jump in borax bath. I also washed my sheets regularly and sprayed with isopropyl rubbing alcohol on days between washes.

3) Spot treatment on skin with:

a) lugols solution
b)povidone
c) thieves oil

They worked.

I used rubbing alcohol to spray my bed headboard and any fabric furniture and rugs in the house. Put all laundry including coats I haven't worn for ages in the washing machine using Dr Bronners Castile Soap and filled the machine drawer with table salt. I bought tobacco and put some in all of my shoes. Dusted cats with diatomaceous earth, colloidal silver in their ears and every 3 days I will spray them down with tobacco juice.

I was so apprehensive about using highly flammable substance on myself that I first patch-tested the paraffin (kerosene) on my leg - no burning or itching after a couple of hours so I diluted with hemp oil (about half and half) and covered myself. I had a great night's sleep and there was no crawling at all the following day. I am one of those people they LOVE. I saw a post from someone called Shirley on here saying that this was how she was cured.

Kerosene was used back in the day for many remedies, but the pharma industry has put out a lot of misinformation out saying how dangerous it is. Even the bottle I bought states that it should not come into contact with skin. They legally have to state that due to lobbying from the pharma industry. My skin was so dry and scaly from all the remedies and yet it did not burn or sting. This has by far been the most effective. I can also vouch for juice plus capsules - expensive but they do keep the numbers down. I was drinking neem powder mixed into water and this helped a lot but over time I became chronically dehydrated as it is so astringent.

I will continue to do this every 4 days (as the original poster did) but I can say with confidence that this is hands down the most effective thing I have done so far.

I've tried almost everything recommended on the "Mite Infestation Cures" thread but I recently found that CITRIC ACID on my skin is the best treatment for me so far for what is most likely bird mites ("invisible" skin mites - see below for a description): as efficient as vinegar and salt but without the bad smell and much, much cheaper.

BACKGROUND. I've noticed that citric acid is the key ingredient in various natural mite products, for example:

1. from http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/029.102.0422, where it says

"Both GC-Mite (cottonseed, clove, and garlic oil) and Bugzyme (citric acid) were most effective against the twospotted spider mite (≥90% mortality)."

and

2. An anti-mite product I bought for laundry treatment whose active Ingredients are simply Citric Acid 2.25%, Sodium Chloride (i.e. regular table salt) and 0.6%, Potassium Sorbate 0.06%. It also contains the inert (inactive) ingredients water, vinegar and salt. I tried this on my skin and it stopped the itching immediately (but temporarily - needs to be replied after a while). The product is called "Eradicator Laundry Treatment", but since I'm poor I had to resort to buying the ingredients separately (7 dollar's worth of Citric Acid makes more than 10 litres at 4% concentration).

I use a concentration of 3-4% citric acid in water, about 1% salt, and I also add a few drops of vinegar plus a few drops of a few essential oils. WARNING: Citric Acid is a skin irritant. I feel a burn from around 4% BUT my skin is not very sensitive (for example, I get no burns from mustard powder, which some people on this site had huge problems with). Yesterday, I used coconut oil instead of water (which is apparently one of the best oils for skin penetration), and found this to burn less. I will there for try higher concentrations too, and also try combining it with other oils, such as neem oil and tea tree oil.

To complete the list of what I've tried

- Almost every essential oil mentioned in the "Mite Infestation Cures" thread, including neem oil (limited success, but I will try higher concentrations)

- Kleen Green (almost zero impact on the itching)

- Mustard powder (some small success)

- MSM externally (reasonable success)

- diatomaceous earth externally (no success)

- MDM and diatomaceous earth internally (no improvement noticed after two weeks, but I think this may still be good long-term)

- vinegar and salt (as mentioned above): works as well as citric acid and salt, but impossible to use in public

NB: I measure success only in terms of immediate end to itching - I have no idea of impact on eggs.

Thanks everyone who has given mite advice earlier! Since different kind of mites may require different treatment, perhaps it would be helpful if all of you can explain your symptoms briefly. In my case, the mite symptoms are:

- they get into my ears and nose, are worst (most active) on eyebrows, eyelashes, lower legs and back.

- they are most active early morning and in the afternoon

- they become more active as soon as I lie still in the dark

- they sometimes bite but leave no marks

Finally, it's easy to lose all hope. But I get some comfort from the following thoughts:

Many posters seem to have found a solution. If this doesn't work for you, perhaps it's just a matter of trying for longer, and with higher concentrations. Also, this topic is still "new", with most posts just a few years old. As the problem becomes more known, more people will experiment with new solutions and eventually we'll hopefully hear about something revolutionary.

Jones