Natural Remedy for Mosquito Bites

Why Mosquitoes Bite

Did you know that only female mosquitoes bite? When they are getting ready to lay their eggs they need nourishment, which they get from our blood. They have very poor eyesight. However, they can sense body heat and that is how they find you.

It's also thought that these little insects are attracted to scent, so wearing a lot of perfume when you go for a walk in the woods probably isn't a good idea. It's an urban legend that mosquitoes are attracted to people who have recently eaten bananas, however, so go ahead and have that piece of fruit.

Natural Remedy for Mosquito Bites

The first thing you should do as soon as possible after getting bitten by a mosquito is to wash the affected area well with soap and water. Make sure to keep the area clean and dry as your bite heals.

Of course it's easier said than done, but if you can avoid scratching or rubbing the affected area, you'll be a lot better off. This also gives the natural remedy for mosquito bites time to work before you rub it off.

One of the most commonly suggested ways to eliminate the itching of mosquito bites is to make a paste out of baking soda and water, with just enough water to make the baking soda sticky.

Apply this to your bites and it will form a kind of crust over the bites and make them less itchy. Other people suggest using clear fingernail polish or even pieces of tape for this purpose, but that's not exactly environmentally friendly.

Another remedy you can try is rubbing plain soap on the bites. If you happen to have a soap with German chamomile, echinacea or ginger in it, that will be even better, as all of these herbs have anti-inflammatory properties.

Aloe vera can also be applied to bites as it will stop itching, reduce inflammation and help heal the bites. Seek out an aloe vera gel or an organic aloe plant to grow and use for your own healing purposes.

In addition to reducing inflammation, it's important to cut your body's immune response, which is typically done by taking an antihistamine. For those who prefer to use herbal remedies, there are several choices, including rosemary (which is also an anti-inflammatory), capsicum and acerola cherry. Goldenseal root is an antibiotic when applied topically.

Cold compresses are another popular natural remedy for mosquito bites. Add a few drops of essential oil from any of the herbs mentioned above to the cold water you soak your compress in and you'll get an extra soothing benefit. Or make a tincture or tea using dried herbs to soak your compress in. This will provide immediate relief of itching and other symptoms.

Mosquito Bite Prevention

Of course we would all rather not be bitten by the mosquitoes in the first place. There are many theories on things you can use to make yourself less attractive to the little critters, most of which have to do with making it harder for the mosquitoes to find you.

Some people swear by carrying a dryer sheet or wiping themselves down with dryer sheets before leaving the house. Others apply a mixture of vanilla (not vanilla extract, but pure Mexican vanilla) and olive oil.

To keep mosquitoes off your property, try using products with citronella, a natural bug repellent. You can also try planting marigolds around your property, especially around the patio or where people congregate. It is said that mosquitoes don't like the smell of these plants and will stay away.

While no natural preventative is guaranteed to keep all mosquitoes away, with any luck some combination of these methods will leave you with fewer bites to deal with through the summer.