Warm summer days and nights can sometimes be a struggle if you are hurting from too much sun, poison ivy, poison oak, mosquito, fire ants, bug bites, or jellyfish stings.
So, here are a few emergency remedies that may help you have a smooth sailing summer of fun!
What’s bugging you?
While summer is the optimal time for showing off toned skin and flaunting revealing fashions, it’s the absolute worst for bug bites, sunburns, and itchy rashes.
Whether it is a mosquito or beach fleas, some of these bites can be downright painful. They can also itch so much you almost want to scratch the skin off, which can create scars and wounds.
Stop skin blunders from ruining the way you feel or look with any of the following natural skin relief treatments.
Mosquitoes don’t normally sting through loose-fitting clothing, so this is a good preventative measure. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors, while wasps and bees are attracted to light, bright, floral colors.
Non-Toxic, Anti Bug Bite Recipe
A bug bite deterrent that is easy to make yourself is made of a blend of one or more of the following ingredients.
Choose one or two of these organic essential oils (2 tsp. total oil):
1 cup of 180 proof grain alcohol (you can buy this at a liquor store.) You could also use pure water, if you don’t have alcohol.
Directions:
Combine a total of 2 tsp. of essential oil and combine that with 1 cup of 180 proof grain alcohol.
Place it in a bottle with a tight-fitting lid.
(You can also put it in a spray bottle to easily spray on before going outdoors.)
Shake well.
Test it on a small patch of skin first to make sure you are not sensitive to the oil and alcohol.
If you are ok with the test, use it on your skin to avoid bites.
If you are already bitten and you are itching and wanting to scratch the pain away, here are a few remedies.
- Rub aloe vera (either freshly cut or from a bottle) on bites and stings to ease burning.
- Get relief from itches by applying a few drops of lavender oil to the affected area as needed.
Once, I was bitten by some kind of small black bug or flea in Panama. It was absolutely miserable for at least a week. I thought it was never going to stop. I read that sometimes these bugs lay eggs in your skin. I also read that it could have been parasites.
Since I had been all over the jungle and visited wild animal rehabilitation places, I was not sure where I received all the bites, or if they were even all the same type of bug or flea bite. It seemed to get worse a few days later and it wasn’t stopping. I was overwhelmed with the itch and was getting quite desperate to find a natural remedy.
For the most extreme cases, where you can’t get the itching to stop, I have found that food grade hydrogen peroxide can be dabbed on the itching spots with a cotton swab or a cotton ball. This solution will kill any parasite that may be inside the skin, but also oxygenate and destroy any infection in the bite.
It can hurt and burn a lot, so I would apply the hydrogen peroxide immediately before getting into the shower to scrub with tea tree oil soap and a body brush. It was very effective and stopped the extreme itching. (I used a 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide, which is extremely strong compared to the 3% grade sold at the pharmacy).
You may need to do this each day, until you are sure it has stopped the itch, killed the parasite, or stopped the infection. With much relief, you can be on the road to healing.
I order food grade hydrogen peroxide through the internet. It is extremely strong. You will need to be very careful when handling this and keep it out of the reach of children. You may want to use normal over the counter (3% grade) hydrogen peroxide, but the food grade is much stronger (35%) for more extreme cases. You can water it down a bit, if it’s too strong for you.
Two brands I have purchased are: Oxygen Wellness Co. and Pure Health Discounts.
If the backbone is out of alignment, it can cause itching. If the atlas bone at the top of the spine is out of alignment, that can cause extreme itching in the upper arms. (Just on a side note, if the atlas bone is out of alignment, that can also be misdiagnosed as a stroke in elderly people and MS in younger people.)
I personally go regularly to my chiropractor to maintain my alignment. My chiropractor, Dr. Michael Hall, is also a neurologist, and he has treated me on a regular basis for over 15 years. Chiropractors all have different techniques, so find one that is best for you.
Poison Ivy or Poison Oak
Once I went with my husband to hike in the woods with our dog. Our dog was running around in the woods and got poison ivy on his fur. I was petting him and brushing off the sticker burrs, and unknowingly got the poison ivy from his fur. I used tea tree oil on the poison ivy and it was almost gone the next day. I used tea tree oil shampoo on the dog also.
A few years later, one of our house remodeling contractors had a terrible case of poison ivy. He had used cortisone, medicines from the doctor, and everything he could think of for more than four months. He was absolutely miserable. I gave him my tea tree oil to try.
The next day, he came back absolutely astounded at how well it had worked. His poison ivy was gone in a matter of days. Tea tree oil also works extremely well for poison oak and fire ant bites as well.
I use the tea tree oil on any itchy place, bite, or rash. It is especially good for bites that have a fluid in them. Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties. It is not supposed to be used on an open wound.
I used it on a large swollen bite my son had on his back. It was the middle of the night and we were staying in a remote hotel built into the side of a mountain in Greece, with no medical care nearby. I didn’t know what to do, so I kept putting tea tree oil on it. The next day, the swelling had gone down to half, then the next day it was almost gone. We were so thankful.
Another use for tea tree oil is for chickenpox. My son got chickenpox when he was four. He is a redhead and has very sensitive skin. I put tea tree oil directly on each spot all over his body. I thought it would help him not to itch or scratch. In the morning, his chickenpox outbreak was gone, with no scars, no itching, and no complications. It was amazing. His doctor was completely astonished, as was his preschool teacher. I have used it on just about everything ever since.
In my opinion, the New Zealand variety of tea tree oil smells better than the Australian type, but both work really well.
You can also use aloe vera leaf gel on the rash to soothe and promote healing.
Oatmeal baths are also good for calming us down, as well as calming the skin irritation.
If you go to the beach, a jellyfish sting can really hurt. If you have some lemon or limes, rub the cut fruit on the place that hurts. The citrus can help take the pain out.
Drinking carrot juice or eating carrots or sweet potatoes is a natural way to protect yourself from too much sun during summer. The beta-carotene in these vegetables gives the body some natural sun protection.
You can also wear thick clothing that covers your skin but doesn’t contain chemicals. Clothing treated with chemicals such as titanium or zinc oxide will break down in the wash, enter the water supply, and create hazards to the ecosystem.
So, whenever you are outside, get some natural Vitamin D, put on some natural bug protection, wear natural clothing to protect yourself from too much sun, eat beta-carotene-rich foods, and get into the shade if you feel you have been out too long. Enjoy your sunshine and fresh air!
I hope this helps make your summer adventures more enjoyable!
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The information from Nancy Alisa Gibbons Addison, Organic Healthy Lifestyle is not offered for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease or disorder nor have any statements herein been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We strongly encourage you to discuss topics of concern with your health care provider.
Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this article, book, podcast, website, email, etc. is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC, AADP. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professionals, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.
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The author and publisher are not liable for the misuse of this material. This article, website, podcasts, and books are strictly for informational and educational purposes. Nancy Alisa Gibbons Addison offers information and opinions, not a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or healthcare provider before taking any home remedies or supplements, or following any treatment suggested by Nancy Addison or by anyone listed in the books, articles, or other information contained here. Only your healthcare provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
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