1. Epsom Salt If you're covered in bites after a day in the woods, taking a bath with Epsom salts can give you quick relief. It reduces swelling around the bites, which stops itching because it keeps your body from producing the histamine that triggers the itch.
2. Witch hazel
Witch hazel is an astringent that's extracted from the bark of the witch hazel plant. Petly explains that applying it directly to bites will soothe the inflamed skin, kill bacteria, and tighten the tissue, helping the bites heal more quickly
3. Bathing in oatmeal instead. The grains have been clinically proven to soothe inflamed skin, so it will take the sting and itch out of annoying bites.
4. Apple Cider + White Vinegar
Many people swear by their trusty bottle of vinegar for dozens of home remedies, including bug bites. Vinegar might cause irritation when you first apply it, but it's an antibacterial and an antihistamine, so it should take away the itch and help bites to heal after that initial sting.
Many people swear by their trusty bottle of vinegar for dozens of home remedies, including bug bites. Vinegar might cause irritation when you first apply it, but it's an antibacterial and an antihistamine, so it should take away the itch and help bites to heal after that initial sting.
5. Plantain Leaf
Plantain is a common backyard weed that actually has a host of hidden healing powers, including the ability reduce pain and swelling on the skin. To use it for bug bites, crush the fresh leaves with your fingers and rub them on the bites.
6. Onion
Rubbing onions on your bites may burn at first, especially if the wound is open, but Petly says it could be beneficial long-term. "Onion is high in quercetin, an anti-inflammatory compound that can help the histimine outbreak," he explains. The downside, of course: you're going to smell like onions.
Rubbing onions on your bites may burn at first, especially if the wound is open, but Petly says it could be beneficial long-term. "Onion is high in quercetin, an anti-inflammatory compound that can help the histimine outbreak," he explains. The downside, of course: you're going to smell like onions.
7. Mud
Mud isn't the most practical method for finding itch relief in most situations. However, if you're out hiking in the woods and getting eaten alive, you might want to consider it. Mud will cool the bites and reduce swelling, and it may even protect you from getting more bites.
Mud isn't the most practical method for finding itch relief in most situations. However, if you're out hiking in the woods and getting eaten alive, you might want to consider it. Mud will cool the bites and reduce swelling, and it may even protect you from getting more bites.
8. Honey could theoretically help to heal bug bites because it's an antibacterial, but it's not exactly practical. You wouldn't want to use it outside because there's a chance the sweet stuff would attract more insects to you. Even if you only used it indoors, it would still be highly uncomfortable, especially if you had a lot of bites and slathered it all over your body. You'd be leaving a sticky trail everywhere you went, and you'd quickly be coated in an outer layer of dust, lint, and pet hair. We'll stick to the lavender oil.
9. Banana Peel
You may have read that rubbing a banana peel on mosquito bites will give you instant relief. Petly thinks there's a chance it could work by inducing a cooling sensation, but it's not something he'd necessarily recommend to a patient when there are many options that are more effective. That said, if you're out on a hike and the only thing you've got is the banana peel from your lunch, you may as well give it a shot.