Soothing insect bites

I am not sure whether this is the right forum or not. I hope so!

Does anybody know of an effective lotion/cream (or anything else for that matter) that will provide relief from insect bites. The chemist does not sell anything that is really effective and I am suffering...

Thank you in advance.

A product available in drug stores (chemist) here in Canada called Afterbite is pretty effective for a short term. It's main effect is from ammonia. Plain White Vinegar is also somewhat effective for a short term.

A more herbal alternative might include Plantian sp. leaves. (I believe Plantago major and Plantago lanciolata are both widespread throughout the UK) Lemon Balm (Melissa officianalis) is common in the wild as well but also is common in gardens. For both of these herbs the plant leaves can be crushed and then rubbed onto the bite. For a sting the Plantain can be left on as a poultice until the pain is gone. These herbs can also be infused into oil (Olive) and then used to make lotions, creams, balms etc...

There are a ton of videos related on YouTube my friend.

Cheers,

The best I have found is a poultice of plantain and calendula, or you can do an infusion over the stove to quicken the process and do a basic beeswax salve.

Neem oil and it can also be used as a natural insecticide in gardening

Here is the recipe I use:

4 ounces olive butter or shea butter
2 ounces neem seed oil
.5 ounce bees wax
1 ounce lanolin

lavender essential oil 45 drops
Eucalyptus essential oil 45 drops

In small container, over very low heat, melt the shea butter, beeswax and lanolin. When melted add to the neem seed oil. Stir and cool until mixture just starts to thicken, add essential oils, stirring constantly.

Thank you all. This is really useful.

I've been making a great soothing salve to awhile now. Its great for bug bites, sunburn and cuts/scrapes. I use coconut oil infused with comfrey, calendula, broadleaf plantain, and yarrow. Then add a bit of beeswax. Its amazing. I pick the broadleaf plantain fresh from my yard. I've been picking it daily now and drying so I'll have a winter supply. Don't forget you can use the seeds from this plant too. If your not familiar with broadleaf plantain, check it out, its an amazing plant.

Galena said:

I've been making a great soothing salve to awhile now. Its great for bug bites, sunburn and cuts/scrapes. I use coconut oil infused with comfrey, calendula, broadleaf plantain, and yarrow. Then add a bit of beeswax. Its amazing. I pick the broadleaf plantain fresh from my yard. I've been picking it daily now and drying so I'll have a winter supply. Don't forget you can use the seeds from this plant too. If your not familiar with broadleaf plantain, check it out, its an amazing plant.

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Is it possible to use dried herbs for this and how long do they need to infuse in the coconut oil? Several hours, days or weeks?

Dried herbs are fine to use. If its warm outside I will let the mix sit in the sun for a few days. I use a clean pasta sauce jar. I bring it in at night in case of rain or dew. If its cooler outside, I've used a crock pot on low. Put a washcloth in the bottom, fill half with water and put the jar in for the day. Strain out the herbs when your done.

Galena said:

Dried herbs are fine to use. If its warm outside I will let the mix sit in the sun for a few days. I use a clean pasta sauce jar. I bring it in at night in case of rain or dew. If its cooler outside, I've used a crock pot on low. Put a washcloth in the bottom, fill half with water and put the jar in for the day. Strain out the herbs when your done.

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Thank you so much. I will try this.

nframe said:

Does anybody know of an effective lotion/cream (or anything else for that matter) that will provide relief from insect bites. The chemist does not sell anything that is really effective and I am suffering.

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There's basically 3 bases of formulas for this that work that I know of. One has already been mentioned, ammonia. The others are the anesthetics and the antihistamine-anticholinergics. Calamine lotion is in wide use but isn't effective on bites in my experience.

I have trouble believing that between the anesthetic and antihistamine type, the chemist doesn't sell one that works for you, unless there are restrictions in the UK I'm not aware of. The anesthetics are based on benzocaine and lidocaine. The antihistamine in common use is diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which here was formulated with calamine lotion as Caladryl. An anticholinergic product that used to be sold was Calmitol, based on hyoscyamine.

Slower-acting anti-inflammatories such as steroids are useless for a bite. Tannin-based products such as tea might marginally have some effect. Various counter-irritants can be used but are self-defeating in the long run, trading a long term irritation for a shorter term one--might as well just scratch.

If you're really desperate and at the same time ambitious and a bit of an herbalist, you could look for some plants that produce belladonna alkaloids and try to reproduce something like Calmitol. Herb shops probably won't sell something that toxic, but there are plenty of wild plants that do produce them, not just belladonna.

When I was little I almost always had a poison ivy rash and when I was about 12 my Mom heard about plantain. We went out and picked the leaves then crushed them with our hands and rubbed them on the rash. Since this seemed to help she decided to make a poultice in the blender with them. I can remember going to summer camp with a plastic jar of green goop to use on my poison ivy. Ahhhh good times. Thankfully I have out grown the poison ivy allergy!

Robert said:

An anticholinergic product that used to be sold was Calmitol, based on hyoscyamine.

If you're really desperate and at the same time ambitious and a bit of an herbalist, you could look for some plants that produce belladonna alkaloids and try to reproduce something like Calmitol. Herb shops probably won't sell something that toxic, but there are plenty of wild plants that do produce them, not just belladonna.

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As an Herbalist I need to respond to this. WARNING!!! Do not go looking for belladonna or belladonna like alkaloids to alleviate bug bites. Or anything else even if you consider yourself 'a bit' of an Herbalist.

The alkaloids in Belladonna and Belladonna like alkaloids are TOXIC! Yes, they are synthesized, standardized and used commonly in medicine - by TRAINED PHYSICIANS.

The alkaloids in Belladonna and Belladonna like alkaloids cross the blood brain barrier, they affect the central nervous system, they can affect your heart, they can put you in a coma, they can kill you.

If you have any interest in using Belladonna or Belladonna like alkaloids, go see a Cardiologist or GI specialist. If you want to try using Belladonna or Belladonna like alkaloids for any reason do it in an Emergency Room with trained Physicians available and aware of what you are doing before you do it. They will stop you.

Hycosciamine was used in Calmitol at 0.0001% and it was taken off the market.

http://drugs-about.com/drugs-c/calmitol-itching-relief.html

Even if you are desperate, stick with other herbs. Plantain and calendula are wonderul for skin irritations -as long as you are not allergic- as are many others herbs, but please do your homework before using and picking any herbs that you are not familiar with.

Edit: Belladonna is commonly called Deadly Nightshade. There is a reason for this.

bodhi said:

The alkaloids in Belladonna and Belladonna like alkaloids cross the blood brain barrier, they affect the central nervous system, they can affect your heart, they can put you in a coma, they can kill you.

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How do their therapeutic indices compare with that of comfrey, which was recommended upthread?

If you have any interest in using Belladonna or Belladonna like alkaloids, go see a Cardiologist or GI specialist.

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A cardiologist or GI specialist isn't going to treat you for bug bites. A GI specialist might prescribe Donnatal for diarrhea, but if you were going to grind up the tablets to make a salve, you might as well do the same with Benadryl!

belladonna and comfrey do not compare. I was going to put a bit in there about comfrey just in case someone decided that because comfrey contains alkaloids and they have been using comfrey for ages safely ... and now Robert who sounds intelligent and confident and like he has a solid background in something- recommended belladonna alkaloids, then that will be fine for them to use too.

No it is not. It is not, It is not!

A cardiologist or gastro isnt going to treat you for bug bites? Are you insane? You suggested to the over 300 people who have looked at this thread to go make something using a known poison and your response is something about doctors not treating bug bites?

Admins, I may be out of line here, but there may be some liability in letting this thread continue here.

bodhi said:

A cardiologist or gastro isnt going to treat you for bug bites? Are you insane?

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You were the one suggesting the person with the problem see a cardiologist or gastroenterologist, just because those people might have familiarity with belladonna alkaloids. That would not get the original poster closer to his solution of treating bug bites.

You suggested to the over 300 people who have looked at this thread to go make something using a known poison and your response is something about doctors not treating bug bites?

Admins, I may be out of line here, but there may be some liability in letting this thread continue here.

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I would assume people here would be used to discussion of toxic substances.

For most of the materials discussed here, drug effects, if any, are only incidental to their action. The main topics are toiletries, materials having only gross physical effects on the body's surface. But what do you do when you get a question that's looking for a drug answer, like one about mosquito bites? Sorry the world is as it is, but when you want a drug effect, you must accept the possibility of adverse drug effects. Practically everything that really works for anything drug-wise is a known poison.

For some reason nothing this person gets at the chemist's (British for pharmacy) has been working; that means the person is looking for a drug that's likely not licensed for sale as a drug in that country, or for some other reason is unavailable. Once you get into that territory, you have to accept more risk than you would otherwise. I could have suggested cocaine, for another example, if lidocaine & benzocaine creams are for some reason not available. And cocaine is widely available, albeit not legally, and would be very likely to work; considering its widespread use, there's even a chance the original poster has some on hand and never thought to use it on bug-bitten skin.

Good morning, everyone. Back in your corners, please!

Yes, this thread is getting out of control.

@ nframe -

I'm so sorry to hear you're suffering and I can empathize with how itchy and painful insect bites can be. I've been bitten twice in the past, don't know what bit me but experienced redness and swelling - the bites spread out and were the diameter of a small orange. They puffed up, inflamed and felt really hot. I felt sick and feverish. Both times were horrible experiences so I can understand how miserable you might feel. I'd recommend you see your regular doctor if you can't find anything at the chemist's to help you. A doctor can prescribe something stronger than an OTC remedy.

The only other thing I could mention that has worked for smaller insect bites is making a paste of baking soda and dabbing it on the bites. My grandmother and mother used to do this for me when I was a child and I still use it when I have itchy bites. I don't know if it would work for you since everyone responds differently.

Actually, I just thought of something else but I'm not sure if it's available in the UK. It's a liquid called ST37 and it's awesome. I've put it on everything from sunburn to poison ivy. I don't think it's recommended for these but it worked for me.

I hope you feel better soon.

Robert said:

You were the one suggesting the person with the problem see a cardiologist or gastroenterologist, just because those people might have familiarity with belladonna alkaloids. That would not get the original poster closer to his solution of treating bug bites.

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I made that suggestion so that any person considering its use because of your recommendation would get an understanding of their dangers from someone trained in using them. They could also go see an anesthesiologist. I also suggested that if someone was considering using Belladonna or similar alkaloids to do so in an emergency room - with physicians aware of what they are about to do -so they will be stopped. Because they would be stopped and probably sent to a psych ward for an eval for attempting something so insane.

I also assumed that there may be people reading your suggestion that are not aware of its toxicity. This is generally a hobbyist soap forum and not a medical or toxic substances forum. There could be some unsuspecting teenager out there right now picking and eating and slathering belladonna all over themselves right now because of your suggestion. Pray there is an emergency room close and they get there in time.

Belladonna and Belladonna like alkaloids drug like effects are not incidental to other actions. They are their actions, They are toxic, and they are poisonous. They have been used to kill people since time began.

WARNING. BELLADONNA IS POISONOUS. DO NOT SELF TREAT WITH BELLADONNA. DO NOT SELF TREAT WITH ANY PLANT CONTAINING BELLADONNA LIKE ALKALOIDS.

Edit: posted a the same time hazel... retreating to corner

bodhi said:

Edit: posted a the same time hazel... retreating to corner

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You're all right.

I understand your concern. Just because something is herbal or natural doesn't mean it's safe. Even something which is safe in a tiny dose can be harmful in a larger amount. Foxglove, anyone? Not that I'd ever recommend someone to eat one. There are holistic treatments and herbal remedies, etc but I'd suggest going to someone who is licensed in naturopathic medicine.

Plain Finger Polish is all you need for insect bites and cracked/ dry cuticles.