It’s mosquito season and already they are out in full force. My son recently went camping and came home with over 40 bites. I thought he forgot his bug spray but claimed to have sprayed it daily. The bites didn’t seem to bother him too much but I had about five on my ankle and the itch was driving me batty. Since, I try to be as chemical free as possible and I have smaller children who I don’t want sprayed chemicals, I decided to use myself as an experiment. It was too late for my teen or I to prevent the bites but I could put my bites to good use. Since my son claimed his bites did not itch; I left him out. So, I became a mad scientist trying every natural remedy for bug bites. Here is my data…
- Banana Peel: I heard amazing things about rubbing a banana peel on a mosquito bite but it did nothing for me. Don’t allow that to dissuade you as everyone is different.
- Lavender Oil: Apply a few drops of lavender oil was like a miracle. The downside is it only lasts a few minutes.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: I only buy Bragg’s but any organic ACV with the mother should do. I did not notice a huge relief but it took the edge off.
- Benoite Clay: Apply it as a mask or soak the area in a mix of the clay and water. The idea is the toxin is drawn out of your skin by the Benoite clay. While, it probably did that, the relief was not there.
- Baking Soda: Sweet relief! The absolute best solution I tried for me. I applied it as a paste directly to the bites and the relief lasted for hours. I also applied it like a powder so I could leave the house without looking insane. It is best when applied as a paste but it did bring relief either way.
I happened to have all these products on hand. However, you can also try toothpaste, peppermint oil, camomile tea bag, or even mouthwash or sunburn ointment as it contains lanocaine. It is nice to know our little ones can find relief without any harsh chemicals.