Insect Bites – What do you use?

[Michelle KochStudent]

MODERATOR: I brought this here from a different discussion. It is that time of year. What do you use to protect yourself? What do you do when you do get a bite?

Fundog:

Hmmm… A tea made with the bite formula! That might be fun for the little, aggravating, but otherwise harmless bites that happen in summertime– just keep a spritzer in the fridge to spritzer onto mosquitoes bites, ant bites, and bee stings. *Cue lightbulb emoticon.*

IdahoHerblaist:

We try to completely AVOID the bites altogether. We have LEMON BALM growing where we spend most of our time. It is applied liberally and that seems to keep the little buggers at bay. Your favorite aromatic herb should be effective as well. Anything that will break up the CO2 signature and confuse them.

Fundog:

How do you prepare the lemon balm for rubbing into the skin? I have several herbs reputed to repel beasties in the bed next to my porch, but it doesn’t deter those evil mosquitoes. 🙁

Do you just crush the leaves and apply like plantain? Do you make it into a balm? A spritzer? I wonder if I could spritzer some on my dog, To help prevent heartworms?

IdahoHerbalist:

You could try all of them. We just pick leaves and rub them on. Anything else would have a tendency to dilute.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

I have just ground up the lemon balm leaves in my hands and rubbed them on my skin. There are probably more elegant ways to do it. 🙄

Plantain topically is a good remedy once the bite happens. The Mrs. got stung by a wasp yesterday. Plantain leaves ground up in the hands and taped onto the bite completely eliminated the pain very quickly.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

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