No matter how hard you try to prevent bug bites and stings, they will inevitably happen. Here are some of my favorite remedies for soothing the itch and inflammation as a result.

• Apple cider vinegar, applied directly to area.
• Apply cucumber slice to area.
• Apply an ice pack, cold cloth, or boo boo bag (anything hot or warm will only aggravate the condition).
• One day I had nothing but peppermint lip balm in my bag when a child was complaining of a mosquito bite, I pulled that out and it worked so well we use it all the time now.
• Bentonite Clay. Mix the dry clay with twice as much water in a glass jar and shake until the water is absorbed, consistency should be like ketchup. Place a thick chunk of gel right on the bite, the clay will draw the toxins right out of the bite and the itching immediately ceases.  Leave on until it starts to harden then wash off with warm water then apply one of the following. 

Any of these herbs can be chewed and applied right to the bite or sting. 

It’s that time of year when the bugs are out doing their business, some of it good, some of it bad and either way we need to be prepared for getting bit, stung, and harassed.  The next couple of posts will be focused on prevention, protection, and the inevitable attack.

Today we are going to talk about prevention.  The first line of action is to wear protective clothing.  When working in the garden, wear gloves and long sleeves (if you can handle them).  I have a light weight, light colored cardigan I wear, along with yoga pants tucked into my awesome purple garden boots.  Not only does this protect me from bug bites and stings, it also protects me from getting sunburned.  You can also tuck your pants into your socks so those suckers don’t try going up your legs. This approach is great and dandy for gardening and camping but what about just playing outside, especially in the evening.

The next line of defense is using a bug repellent.  Our skin is the biggest organ of our body and anything we put onto it is absorbed into it.  Keep this in mind when applying anything to your skin.  I personally do not put anything on my family’s body that I wouldn't feel comfortable having them ingest, so I make my own repellent using herbs and essential oils.  This is a tried and true recipe that out shines the conventional toxic ones you can purchase at the store.  Give it a try and you won't be sorry.

Mix the following ingredients in a 2 oz. spray bottle. Shake well before each use.
1 oz. witch hazel or catnip hydrosol
1 oz. grapeseed oil
35 drops citronella essential oil
20 drops peppermint essential oil
15 drops lemon essential oil
15 drops lemongrass essential oil
15 drops cedarwood essential oil
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