Summer brings warm weather, outdoor activities, late nights out and unfortunately bug bites and stings. No doubt you have been bitten at least once already, maybe even stung by a bee? Essential oils can offer quick relief for the damage they leave behind. Find out which essential oils are best for your bug bite below!
- Lavender: this is one of the most versatile oils and is perfect for all skin types. It's also great when mixed with tea tree oil because it provides a nice cooling sensation on irritated skin and relieves pain in an area where there may be swelling or inflammation.
Most bites cause itching, irritation, and swelling. More serious bites from a black widow or a tick, for example, can be very harmful. Also, some people can get allergic reactions from bites or bee stings as well, follow up with medical care immediately if having a reaction.
If you have access to ice, putting ice or an ice pack immediately on a bite can help with swelling and pain right away. Follow up with topical essential oils.
Top 8 Essential Oils For Bug Bites
A bug bite can be a bothersome experience, but essential oils are the perfect solution. In order to quickly remedy common bites like mosquitoes, bees, and wasps, here are 8 essential oils that you can use. It is important to keep in mind that these essential oils can be irritating to the skin without proper dilution.
1. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is famous for its soothing and relaxing qualities. It is one of the most versatile oils and is perfect for all skin types. Lavender oil offers relief from the discomfort and itching of a bite. It also has antiseptic properties so it can lessen the chance of your insect bite getting infected.
As a natural insect repellent, lavender essential oil is perfect for those times when the bugs are out in full force. This oil can work to repel specific bugs like ticks and mosquitoes. Use a few drops of lavender diluted with a carrier oil like jojoba oil and applied to the skin before taking a walk outside.
2. Lemongrass Essential Oil
Although it’s common to see lemongrass in the kitchen, lemongrass oil is excellent when mixed with other essential oils such as lavender and tea tree to prevent and soothe mosquito bites.
3. Basil Essential Oil
Not only does basil smell great, but it’s also the perfect herbal essential oil. This oil was mainly used for tight muscles, but it is also an effective oil to soothe stings from insects. Olive oil is the best carrier for this herb.
4. Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary oil is popular for bug bites, especially from mosquitoes. Mixing this with other oils like tea tree oil can make it more effective for a larger bite. Ensure that you correctly dilute this oil as a mix in case of irritation happens.
5. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree oil has cleansing and antibacterial properties making it perfect for healing and soothing insect bites. It can prevent skin irritation from spreading if applied soon after being bitten by an insect. It can also boost your well-being and the quality of your skin. It’s found in places around the world such as Australia, Florida, and France.
6. Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus oil was used by Aborigines in Australia to remove irritations on their skin such as cuts, stings, and bites. It provides pain relief and cooling to irritated skin where there may be swelling or inflammation from the bug bite. This oil can also be used to stop them from happening in the first place because it has insect repellent properties.
7. Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile is anti-inflammatory so it can help with the pain, swelling, and redness. It soothes insect bites and reduce inflammation that occurs after a bug bite occurs. Combine this oil with lavender oil in order to enhance its calming and relaxing effects on your skin.
8. Peppermint Essential Oil
When it comes to bug bites, peppermint essential oil is a natural way to get relief from the itch. The oil can be applied directly to stings and different bites but make sure to correctly dilute it. Combine it with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil and apply onto the bite or insect sting for immediate cooling and numbing relief.
The antiseptic and cooling properties of this natural oil will help to soothe any pain and discomfort. On top of its other benefits, research has shown that peppermint oil can take the sting out of several bug bites.
Peppermint essential oil also has an uplifting scent that can make you feel less anxious about your bug bites! Why not apply some peppermint essential oil immediately? You'll love how it helps reduce swelling and redness in addition to relieving itchiness or irritation.
DIY Roller Recipe for Itchy Bug Bites
This roll on bug bite remedy packs a punch with an essential oil blend of 3 powerful oils from the list above. The oils used in this recipe are lavender, tea tree (melaleuca), and chamomile essential oils. They will help with the itchy discomfort of bug bites.
- 4 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 3 drops Chamomile Essential Oil
- 3 drops Tea Tree Oil
- Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 10 ml Roll-On bottle
Directions:
1. Add essential oils into roll-on bottle
2. Fill the remainder of the bottle with fractionated coconut oil.
3. Place roller insert and cap on and swirl oils together to blend.
4. To use, first cleanse bug bite area with soap and water, pat dry. Roll directly on and around the bug bite. Let air dry. Don't Scratch! 5% dilution.
Essential Oil Recipe for Bug Bites Tips:
- When using essential oils on skin be sure to use only high-quality essential oils that are safe to use topically.
- Lavender, chamomile and tea tree essential oil are excellent choices for this recipe but you can use just lavender oil if you do not have all the essential oils in this recipe.
- A different carrier oil can be used other than fractionated coconut oil in this recipe. You can sweet almond oil or jojoba oil as a substitute, both are good alternatives.
- This is a perfect recipe blend to take on hiking, camping or outdoor trips. Also good for a home first aid kit.
In conclusion, these 8 essential oils are effective in soothing those annoying bites that you might get, and some of the oils even have extra positive effects such as soothing muscle tension. You will need to mix them together and dilute them to discover which combination of oils is best for you. The best part about using essential oils for insect bites is that they will leave your skin smelling pleasant too!
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