The Top 5 Natural Remedies For Insect Bites

Nothing is quite as irritating as persistent itching, whether it is caused by insect bites, rash or some other allergen.  When your skin comes in contact with certain substances, it can become red and irritated and then comes the itch. 

There are several over the counter medications you can use to combat itching, but nothing works quite as effectively as natural remedies. 

So the next time you’re dealing with a pesky itch that just won’t go away, why not try one of these handy remedies direct from Mother Nature.

Best Herbal Insect Bite Treatments

Aloe Vera – This versatile ingredient actually has a host of healing properties that make it very good for the skin.  Among its many benefits, aloe vera has anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties.  It also works to soothe irritated skin and reduce itching.  You can get the healing benefits of aloe vera directly from the plant itself, by merely squeezing the gel out of the leaves, but it is also found in many natural skin care products, including Aloe Vera Gel by Lily of the Desert.

Basil – This amazing herb isn’t only useful for cooking.  Basil actually contains camphor and thymol, two ingredients that are known to combat itching.  To get maximum relief, simply crush a few basil leaves and dab them on the irritated section of skin.  You can also use basil essential oil diluted in a carrier oil.  As with the crushed leaves, simply dab onto the affected skin for instant relief.

Peppermint – Another handy herbal remedy, Peppermint contains cooling oils that can temporarily overload the nerves to stop itching.  Just apply crushed peppermint leaves or a few drops of peppermint essential oil and feel the cooling, soothing relief!  And the best part of using Peppermint or Basil is that they are readily available at your local market or you can grow them in your own garden to have them immediately available.

Tea Tree Oil –This is yet another natural essential oil that has many healing properties.  Tea Tree Oil is a powerful anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory, which means it can not only ease itching but also promote healing and reduce the chance of infection.  Like all essential oils, it can be found in most natural foods stores, or you can pick up a set of oils including tea tree and peppermint from Eden’s Garden.

Neem Oil – Yet another natural option, the extract of the neem plant is quite effective at combating itching.  In fact, crushed neem leaves can actually be used as a mosquito repellant.  And not only does neem oil soothe itching, it also has anti-fungal properties and can help to fight off infection caused by scratching too much. 

What's the Bottom Line?

Though these are at the top of most lists of natural cures, there are a host of other natural remedies you can try, including bathing in colloidal oatmeal, applying dampened white tea bags to the irritated area and soothing the itch with ice.  

All of these work quite well without having to rely on chemicals and additives to get the job done.  So don’t assume that you just have to live with the itch.  The next time you’ve got itching and redness that just won’t go away, try relying on nature’s bounty to get the relief you need.

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