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It’s no wonder everyone hates mosquitoes. They deliver painful bites, carry disease, and are a constant aggravation to anyone trying to enjoy time outdoors during warm months.
Mosquitoes are attracted to animals and people by a combination of carbon dioxide, temperature, smell, colors, moisture, and movement.
Some Basic Tips
- Mosquitoes are most likely to bite at dusk and dawn, but some are active throughout the day. This is especially true in areas that are shaded, wooded, or overgrown with weeds. Staying inside and avoiding activity in these areas when mosquitoes are most active is the easiest way to avoid bites.
- As this is not always possible, you should cover as much skin as you can by wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, and socks in these situations. Wearing white, tan, or light green clothes are less attractive to bugs and may help to keep the mosquito’s attention elsewhere,
- Also taking 3 to 4 capsules of garlic a day will make you a much less appetizing host.
- Essential oils can be used to help repel pests. Apply cedarwood, citronella, lavender, or tea tree oil topically to pulse points; the wrists, behind the knees, and behind the ears. Reapply every 1-2 hours.
- When mosquitoes do get through your defenses, the bites cause itchy welts due to the saliva they inject. It’s best to avoid scratching the area as this can break the skin and cause infection.
Here Are Several Home Remedies That Will Help Stop The Itching
1. Essential Oils
Apply 3 to 5 drops essential oil of lavender, tea tree oil or lemon balm.
The following recipe can also be prepared and rubbed into skin:
2 teaspoons St. John’s wort oil
1 teaspoon of pot marigold oil
6 drops of vitamin E
3 teaspoons lavender essential oil
48 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
32 drops of geranium essential oil
Combine ingredients and store in a small bottle. Shake well and apply to affected areas as needed.
This oil also offers some protection from bites as geranium oil is very effective at repelling mosquitoes.
2. Aloe Vera
Split open a leaf and apply the plant milk inside directly to the bite. The liquid in the leaf will last for several hours, so you can reapply from the same leaf as the irritation returns.
3. Hot Water
Holding the affected area under hot water for a few seconds can ease the itching caused by bites. The hot water blocks the itch signal from the bites temporarily. A metal spoon can be heated under hot water and applied to the bite.
4. Mint Poultice
A poultice made of mint leaves will work quickly to relieve the itch. Rinse the leaves of a raw plant first to remove any dirt, and then gently bruise the leaves to release the juice before applying directly to the bites.
Basil or parsley leaves can be used the same way to stop the itching and relieve swelling.
5. Kitchen Remedies
Ordinary items from the kitchen that can be used for relief from mosquito bites are slices of cucumber or tomato applied directly to the bite, green tea, or fresh plantain leaves.
Fresh garlic or onion will help lessen the swelling and ease the pain of a bite. Moistening the area of the bite and applying regular table salt will stop the itching immediately.
Any of the above remedies should offer some relief from the irritation caused by mosquito bites, but you should experiment and decide which works best for your skin. Some people will experience an allergic reaction after being bitten. If a rash, severe swelling, or hives develop, it’s best to see a physician for treatment.
Related:
How To Effectively Use Essential Oils For Cleaning and Disinfection
