Natural treatments for insect bites and stings

• DEFINITION: Treatment of the bites and stings of insects.
• PRINCIPAL PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: None
• OTHER PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: INSECT REPELLENT (TOPICAL): Proprietary products containing soybean oil and germanium oil, proprietary bath lotions, garlic, essential oils (citronella grass, Ocimum americanum, Citrus hystrix, lemongrass, turmeric, and vanilla)

• Insect repellent (local): Citronella candles, incense
• Insect repellent (oral): Garlic
• Insect bite treatment: Topical creams containing such herbs as aloe, Calendula, chamomile, goldenseal, licorice, and marshmallow

• OTHER PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: Aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, plantain, chamomile, echinacea, quercetin, Sonic wrist strap repellents, vitamin B₁

Introduction

Insects are the most successful group of creatures on Earth, significantly outdoing mammals in number of species and sheer mass of life. Human attempts to eliminate certain insects, such as mosquitoes, have failed despite great effort. People will be subjected to stings and bites because of the seeming inevitability of contact with insects. When this occurs, remedies can help alleviate their negative impacts.

However, humans are becoming more effective in trying to avoid insect bites. The chemical DEET (N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide), found in almost all insect repellents, is highly successful, especially against mosquitoes, flies, fleas, and ticks. Contrary to some popular narratives, DEET, when used as advised, is largely a safe substance when used in a typical fashion. After many decades of use by millions of people, DEET has been associated with only a few adverse reactions, and those side effects that have been reported represent unusual personal responses rather than toxicity in the ordinary sense. Medical treatment for bites that have already occurred consists primarily of soothing topical treatments.

Proposed Natural Treatments

Because of mostly unfounded fears about the safety of DEET, many natural products have been marketed as safer substitutes. However, while some of these may be effective to a certain extent, none match the power of the chemical.

One of the best of these natural treatments appears to be a proprietary product containing soybean oil and geranium oil. In a small but well-designed study, when applied to the skin, this product prevented insects from biting for an average of about ninety minutes. This benefit was equivalent to a low-strength DEET repellent (4.75 percent). However, researchers found that high-strength DEET repellents (24 percent) provided about three hundred minutes of protection.

Proprietary bath lotions marketed to repel insects do not appear to provide more than a slight bite protection (unless DEET is added). Various essential oils, applied topically, have also shown promise for preventing insect bites, but the supporting evidence remains preliminary. Some commonly used essential oils include the oil of eucalyptus, citronella grass (Cymbopogon winterianus), clove, hairy basil (Ocimum americanum), kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix), lemongrass, Patchouli, pine, turmeric, and vanilla. Citronella candles and incense appear to reduce the number of bites by less than 50 percent.

When taken by mouth, garlic may act as a mild insect repellent. A twenty-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial followed eighty Swedish soldiers and measured the number of tick bites received during the garlic and the placebo treatments. The results showed a modest but statistically significant reduction in tick bites when soldiers consumed 1,200 milligrams of garlic daily. However, another study failed to find that the one-time use of garlic is helpful for repelling mosquitoes.

Wristbands containing mosquito repellents do not appear to offer more than marginal efficacy. Sonic mosquito repellers do not appear to work, and oral vitamin B₁ also appears to be completely ineffective.

For people who have already been bitten, topical creams containing such herbs as aloe, Calendula, chamomile, goldenseal, licorice, and marshmallow are often recommended. Still, more evidence is needed to show they are effective.

Several other natural treatments have been proposed for the treatment of insect bites and stings. Aloe vera, known for its soothing properties, can be applied topically to a bite or sting, helping to reduce redness, swelling, and itching. Apple cider vinegar may also provide relief topically, as can witch hazel, which also has anti-inflammatory properties. Plantain leaves can be dried and crushed and then applied to the skin. They have anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties that can alleviate bite and sting symptoms. Soaking chamomile tea bags in water and applying them to a bite or sting may also be beneficial. Taking echinacea orally can help to boost the immune system and lessen adverse reactions. Finally, quercetin is also an antihistamine that can lessen the severity of reactions to insect bites and stings.

Natural foods can also provide measures of relief against painful insect bites. An example is oatmeal, which can be made into a paste by mixing with equal parts of water. This can be applied to an affected area and then wiped clean. If insect bites are in widespread areas of the body, a soak in oatmeal can be used. This can be done by mixing a cup of oatmeal into a warm tub of water. Honey applied against a bite can help reduce inflammation and serve as a deterrent against the urge to scratch an itch. Like oatmeal, baking soda can be formed into a paste and applied against stings. A non-seasoned meat tenderizer will also do this. Ice, an effective countermeasure against all types of inflammation, is similarly beneficial against insect bites. Heat compresses can also be beneficial. Prevention will always be the best cure for insect bites. Effective practices include reducing scented products such as perfumes and avoiding bright-colored clothing in outdoor settings where insects inhabit. A safe insect repellent is recommended, as well as wearing shoes when outdoors. 

Bibliography

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Oyedele, A. O., et al. "Formulation of an Effective Mosquito-Repellent Topical Product from Lemongrass Oil." Phytomedicine, vol. 9, 2002, pp. 259-262.

Rajan, T. V., et al. "A Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Garlic as a Mosquito Repellant." Medical and Veterinary Entomology, vol. 19, 2005, pp. 84-89.

Trongtokit, Y., et al. "Comparative Repellency of Thirty-Eight Essential Oils Against Mosquito Bites." Phytotherapy Research, vol. 19, 2005, pp. 303-309.