Natural Remedies for Bug Bites and Stings |
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Natural Remedies for Bug Bites and Stings

Danielle September 29, 2020

By Danielle and Rustina, Contributing Writers

We enjoy getting outdoors as often as possible. Whether we are playing in the creek during the summer, preparing a campfire in fall, or hunting morels in the spring, we need to protect ourselves and families from the insects. Some bug bites and stings may just be an inconvenience, but sometimes they can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction or an infection such as Lyme Disease.

These complications seem to be rising considerably in the last couple of decades. Prevention is obviously the best route (read more here and here), but sometimes, it still happens.  In the dreadful year of the plague, errr I mean 2020, one of my sons was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. It was not a fun adventure (especially with all the extra hurdles preventing regular interaction with physicians), but thankfully, he seems to have recovered very well despite the lack of allopathic help.

I was determined not to let the fear stop us from doing what we loved the most – exploring nature. Here are the steps I use and remedies I keep in my natural medicine cabinet for dealing with insects. 

 

When the Insect Strikes

Immediately after noticing the bite or sting, analyze the area. Is it just one bite, or a handful of smaller bites? Was the child playing outdoors, or was it an overnight spider bite? Having a general idea of what you are dealing with is a good place to start. Is there a stinger or head of the insect stuck in the wound that you need to remove?

Next, gently wash with soap/water and apply a drawing paste or salve to pull out any toxins. I like to use gentle handmade soaps, like Earthley’s Oatmeal and Honey or Anti-Itch soap bars.

Then, apply an anti-itch remedy to curb the pain and sting. Reapply as needed, and apply a soothing herbal salve if you have an aggressive itch-er.

Of course, the best remedy is prevention. Have a natural bug spray or salve on hand at all times! It also wouldn’t hurt to plant flowers and herbs in the area you play in often to ward off bugs.

 

6 Ways to Remedy Bug Bites and Stings

1.Herbs:

  • Plantain. Yes, that little wide-leaved plant in your yard is amazing for relieving the itch of mosquito and other bites. When bit, grab a fresh leaf (that has not been sprayed) and either mash it in a bowl with a little bit of water, or chew it briefly, and apply the mashed leaf to the bite area for a few minutes. You can also infuse plantain into any liquid oil to make a plantain salve at the ready.
  • Comfrey. This is great for taking out the itch and irritation! It is anti-inflammatory so helps reduce swelling and pain as well. You can read more about the documented properties of comfrey here. Infuse leaves in a skin friendly carrier oil like coconut, almond, or olive oil to use on the skin. *note: do not use it internally. To infuse, fill a half a jar with dried leaves, cover with oil of your choice to the top of the jar, let sit for 1-2 weeks, and strain the infused oil.
  • Calendula. Helps with soothing away pain and reducing inflammation. Infuse an oil, then mix with a wax for a salve or use as oil. You can find instructions for a calendula salve here.
  • Neem. Neem is used medicinally in many types of medicine, including ayurveda. It is great for healing the insect bites and stings as well as preventing them! You can read more about that here. Infuse coconut oil and apply liberally on bites, stings, or exposed skin when spending time outdoors.

2. Drawing Salves

  • Bentonite Clay
  • Activated Charcoal
  • French Green Clay
  • For those who seem prone to big reactions to bites and stings, applying a drawing salve or paste to the bite is a good idea. Make a paste with a little bit of bentonite clay or activated charcoal, or both, and cover the area. Allow to dry, and wash off later in the day. Reapply as needed. Then, you can use another natural remedy on the area as well. It’s super easy to DIY your own black drawing salve. If DIY is not your thing, you can also purchase Black Drawing Salve to have on hand.

3.Essential oils are also a quick way to resolve the itch and reaction to a bite or sting. Be sure to dilute the essential oils in a carrier oil first! Coconut or Olive Oil are great carrier oil options.

  • Lavender
  • Tea Tree Oil
  • Helichrysum
  • Frankincense

4.Paste A quick at-home remedy is making a baking soda paste to cover the bite or sting, allow it to dry, and remove later. This soothes the inflamed area.

5.Epsom salts mixed with a little honey. Many swear by this natural paste that helps relieve the itch and also keep the area clean of any unwanted bacteria (thanks to the antibacterial properties of honey). The stickiness just may prevent your little one from scratching, or they may just eat the honey (win-win).

6. Old Time Food Remedies swear by a raw potato or onion slice on the affected area.

Signs of Healing (and When to Worry)

A little bit of redness that is continuously reducing can be normal. Pain, swelling, and irritation are normal at first, but should keep reducing naturally. It shouldn’t get worse.

If the area becomes so inflamed that it hurts the child to move the body part, it may be time for a call to your trusted physician to see if there’s anything of concern. 

If you see a target-like ring around the bite, it is possible that this is a sign of Lyme Disease infection, and you may also want to consult a trusted health care practitioner for your preferred course of treatment. If you have the tick or at least the head of the tick, it can be sent in for testing to confirm whether it has Lyme Disease to spread. You can test the tick here. You can test yourself or others at Everlywell.

A bacterial infection is also a concern, so keep the area clean and try to discourage a child from scratching. 

If it does look infected, apply honey or an herbal salve at the first sign of red inflammation or pus. Likewise, if your child is prone to excessive itching, and breaking open the skin around bites, it’s smart to apply such a salve as soon as you see a bite as prevention.

If the bites or spots begin to spread (without further time outdoors), you may want to look into impetigo, bed bugs, or the like. Many, small red and particularly itchy bites may be from chiggers. You will definitely want to provide an anti-itch for these, since they are so itchy! I like to use Black Drawing Salve and Anti-Itch soap.

We desperately need fresh air and sunshine to stay healthy. Don’t let the bugs stop you from getting your fill! Just remember to get you and your medicine cabinet prepared with these remedies on hand!

If you want to see what a natural remedies first aid kit looks like, check it out here.

What do you use on bug bites and stings?

This is the writings of:

Danielle was born and always will be a farm girl, searching for God’s natural truths in an unnatural world. She’s a doula, health coach, natural health activist, and currently obtaining her naturorthopathic doctorate degree. When she isn’t reading about holistic healing, you will likely find her chasing a sweet little boy or a small flock of rebellious chickens in the Midwest mud.
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Hi, I’m Kate.  I love medical freedom, sharing natural remedies, developing real food recipes, and gentle parenting. My goal is to teach you how to live your life free from Big Pharma, Big Food, and Big Government by learning about herbs, cooking, and sustainable practices.

I’m the author of Natural Remedies for Kids and the owner and lead herbalist at EarthleyI hope you’ll join me on the journey to a free and healthy life!

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