Love them or hate them bugs are a part of life, especially in the summer.
I’m usually spared bug bites because I don’t go outside after dark. But the warm weather is here and I have found that picking from my garden is best done in the cool of the evenings. The bugs seem to know I’m out there and think to themselves, “Mmm, yummy!”
I was sitting in the grass the other night, and this happened:
PC: Ann Kirsten
Spider bites? Mosquito? Some other rude bug? I’ll never know, but it seems the older I get, the more I react to simple things like bug bites, burns or any other kind of injury. Sitting outside for the 4th of July fireworks and climbing into my berry hedges to harvest has really done me in. And once the toxins hit my body, it sets off a whole chain reaction of itching and pain.
“All winged insects that go on all fours are detestable to you.” (Leviticus 11:20)
I’m not fond of pouring chemicals into my body, so I did some research on home remedies for bites and here’s what I found.
First of all, if you have severe swelling, intense pain or stiffness, fever or chills, vomiting or difficulty breathing, GO TO THE ER! An allergic reaction is nothing to mess around with. My daughter-in-law swells up terribly from even a tiny little bite. It’s pretty scary to see.
Otherwise, when treating bug bites, the objective should be to neutralize the bite and remove any toxins.
Start by washing the bite with gentle soap and warm water. Then, give one of these remedies a try.
Put ice packs on the bite. This reduces swelling and lessens the need to scratch. Ice the area every hour for about ten minutes on the first day. I stepped on a bee a few weeks ago and stuck my feet in a cold kiddy pool for about 30 minutes. It felt so good and I didn’t have any after-effects from the sting.
Rub a cut lemon on the bites. This one seems weird, so of course I had to give it a try. It has become my go-to remedy. I rub a cut lemon on my bites and not only does the coolness feel great, but I was surprised to find that a few minutes later the itch and pain disappeared. I don’t know why it works; I just know that it does!
PC: Ann Kirsten
Make a potato poultice. After my husband saw me rubbing a lemon on my leg, he asked, “What’s next, a potato?” I shocked him by saying, “Actually, yes!” For this one, they say to peel and wash a potato and then grate it. You’re supposed to put the shreds in a piece of cloth and apply it to your bite. I can’t be bothered with all that. I think I would just rub a cut potato on the bite instead.
PC: Ann Kirsten
Take two aspirin, and don’t call me. Dissolve a couple of aspirin in a teaspoon of water to make a paste. Apply the paste to your bites. This was the second thing I tried. The paste worked to stop the pain and itching. I did it at bedtime, so I don’t know how long the relief lasted because I was asleep!
PC: Ann Kirsten
Put salt on it. Salt also has healing powers. Pour a little salt on a damp cloth and hold it on the bites. Reapply as needed.
PC: Ann Kirsten
Baking soda and water. This one is an old classic. Make a paste of baking soda and water. Mix about 2 Tablespoons of water with a Tablespoon of baking soda and apply it to the affected area. Repeat every few hours.
Aloe Vera. This is another classic that many people swear by. Whether you use the leaves of an aloe plant or use store bought gel, aloe is a great healer.
Honey. Honey is also amazing at healing wounds. Apply some raw honey to your sting. Just don’t go back outside or the bees might think you are dessert!
Allergy Meds. I really suffered with pain and itching this year, especially at night. I found that an allergy pill at night really helped me sleep.
Mud? A friend and I were climbing Mount Si with a guide (many years ago) and he was stung by a bee. He headed to a shady area and put some cool, wet mud on his sting. He swore it took away the pain.
Chances are you have at least one of these ingredients in your home already. Give one or more of these remedies a try.
PC: Ann Kirsten
How about a bug repellent recipe since we’re on the subject? An easy recipe says to mix: 2 tablespoons witch hazel, 2 tablespoons distilled water, 15 drops of lemon, orange, or peppermint essential oil. You begin by combining the essential oils in a small bowl, then add witch hazel and water, and stir thoroughly. Transfer the mixture to a spray bottle.
If you want to experiment with creating your own bug spray, the top natural repellents are: citronella, lemon eucalyptus oil (this works by masking human scent from insects), and many essential oils like lavender, peppermint, rosemary, lemongrass, and tea tree oil.
PC: Ann Kirsten
Likewise, you can now buy natural bug sprays without added chemicals, no muss, no fuss.
We’ve come a long way from the days of yore. My husband was one of those kids who used to ride his bike behind the trucks that drove through his small town spraying chemical mosquito repellent out the back. I cringe to think about it.
And speaking of stings, 1 Corinthians 15:55-56 reads, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.”
Thank you, Jesus, for taking away the sting of death, no lemons required.
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Read more of Ann’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
