Insect bites: How to prevent and alleviate
With summer, insects and their bites are topical again … How can they escape, and once bitten, how to soothe pain and itching? The natural solutions are not lacking, and among them, essential oils, vinegar and alum stone give good results.
In preventive
First, to avoid the inconvenience caused by the bites of mites and insects (mosquitoes, horseflies, bees, wasps, chiggers, ticks, spiders …), it is best to seek protection by covering clothing (long sleeves, trousers), avoid perfume (smells of flowers or fruits attract insects), and for mosquito nets to install windows and do not turn the light on at night if windows are open.
It is also possible to drive away insects, with essential oils. You can use:
- In Transmission: placed in a diffuser, essential oils of citronella Java, geranium, lemon eucalyptus and rosemary camphor to deter mosquitoes … effective solution if you are indoors.
- Under the Skin: diluted to 50% in vegetable oil, the above mentioned EST protect you from insects (including mosquitoes) when you’re outside. Two or three drops of the mixture on the exposed areas (wrists, ankles).
- In the form of bracelet: there are excellent mosquito repellent bracelets, impregnated with essential oils. Not always very aesthetic, it’s true, but with the advantage of a long diffusion length (2 to 3 weeks after overt efficiency of the packaging). Ideal when on vacation in an area infested with mosquitoes, especially if it is an area at risk of malaria.
Curative
To soothe pain and itching caused by insect bites, the application of vinegar is an old recipe that works well.
If you have one on hand, stone alum is also effective, and it also serves to clean the bite.
Essential oils also give good results: fine lavender, lemon (do not expose to the sun then this is photo sensitizing ET), or diluted in oil or St. John’s worth, calendula, essential oils of cinnamon, cloves or basil (attention dermocaustic pure).
Remember that essential oils should not be used in children under 3 years of age or pregnant women or nursing.
Finally, another easy way to soothe the irritation caused by the venom or saliva of the insect: the heat. The venom of most insects (including spiders) is heat labile and heat helps to coagulate and inactivate it. Thus, a flame approached close to the skin (be careful, not too close anyway, do not burn!), or for greater security, a cloth soaked in warm water, usually sufficient to stop the inflammation.
Otherwise, there are also preparations ready herbal and essential oil to use as preventive or curative treatment: spray, roll-on, stick, balm, cream, lotion … The Tearoom Dr. Valnet is also a great classical proven!
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