Natural Bug Repellants a Better Choice than DEET
While most people do not experience more than annoying itching and pain, some of these can end up being downright dangerous. When insects bite you, you are often injected with small amounts of toxic venom, and for some people, symptoms can become serious, including things like severe swelling, fever, diseases such as Lyme Disease, or severe allergic reactions. Unbelievably, insect bites are linked to anywhere from 50 to 150 deaths in the U.S. annually!
So what can you do when you have been the target of an angry or hungry insect? Just remember that the first thing you should do is to remove the stinger if one is there, and wash the area with soap and water. Then, head to your herb and vitamin store for help big relief from these tiny predators.
GEEZY PETE! STAY AWAY FROM DEET!
If you take a look at your local discount store, you will find that the most common active ingredient in most commercial insect repellants is a chemical known as DEET. In fact, “every year, approximately one-third of the U.S. population uses [these products], and DEET is used in more than 230 products with concentrations up to 100 percent.” Much research has been done on DEET recently, and the findings are enough to bug anybody. Duke University revealed that DEET “causes brain cell death and behavioral changes after frequent and prolonged use.” Continued exposure to this chemical is dangerous, particularly in children and elderly folks, because it can cause symptoms such as memory loss, headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, tremors, and shortness of breath. The symptoms may not even be evident until years after exposure. Considering this shocking information, perhaps mosquitoes are not the only creatures that should stay away from DEET!
A better, safer alternative is the common herb CATNIP. “While researchers don’t know why mosquitoes don’t like catnip oil, t ranks high on the list of natural bug-busters.” The Iowa State University Department of Entomology discovered that very small doses of catnip oil were “at least as effective at repelling mosquitoes as 10 times larger doses of DEET.”
RUB IT IN, RUB IT IN!
If you have been unable to avoid being bitten, there are several herbs that can be applied topically. LAVENDER OIL will soothe itching. ARNICA CALENDULA HEATING CREAM can be rubbed on several times a day to mitigate swelling and itching and act as an antiseptic to prevent infection. TEA TREE OIL is also an excellent choice. Creating a poultice of COMFREY or PLAINTAIN is also helpful, particularly in the case of bee stings. Other herbs that can be made into a paste and applied topically include BLACK COHOSH, CHARCOAL, and ROMAN CHAMOMILE. MSM LOTION stops stinging immediately, so it is also a good thing to have on hand during bug season.
SWAT OUT SWELLING FROM WITHIN!
Many people experience mild to severe swelling with the various types of insect bites. BROMELAIN, a protein-digesting enzyme derived from pineapple, can be taken internally to reduce swelling. VITAMIN C and QUERCETIN can also be taken to inhibit the release of histamines and control swelling and relieve pain. All of these can be taken as soon as possible after a sting and continued until the symptoms go away. BLACK COHOSH can also be taken internally to neutralize poison.
