Bug Bites? I have a remedy for that!

My kids have been playing outside almost all day since the weather here in South Texas has been amazing. My kids aren’t the only ones out and about right now. Bugs have been waking up and they’re hungry! Bug bites have been a common topic of conversation in my house. Of course, I have remedies for bug bites! They don’t scare me and they shouldn’t scare you either!

We often don’t realize we’ve been bitten by a bug until we start to itch or feel that telltale sting. Unfortunately, bug bites are very difficult to distinguish from one another. The only way to tell what kind of bug bit you is to catch it in the act. Everyone’s immune system is different and handles bites differently, too. A mosquito bite on an adult will react differently than one on a child.

Symptoms and What to Look For

According to Prevention.com, “Mild itchiness and pain are normal reactions to insect bites and stings, but if you experience anything more severe than these, including shortness of breath and swelling away from the original site, you should contact a doctor or seek medical attention immediately. It’s possible you could be having a severe allergic reaction, suffering from an insect-borne disease, or experiencing an infection.”

We want to be ready and prepared when (notice I didn’t say “if”) bug bites happen. Stock up on remedies for bugs that are common to your area. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, having these remedies for bug bites will get you started and headed in the right direction.

Types of Bites:

Mosquito

Mosquito bites start as small, puffy, round bumps that are lighter or redder than the surrounding skin. Bites can center around ankles, hairline, and the backs of knees and neck, and they’re likely to be isolated—not part of a cluster (unless you were hanging out in South Texas in the evening). As you most likely know, mosquito bites are painless at first, then very itchy. Some people suffer from “Skeeter syndrome,” which causes the bites to grow into painful, swollen welts. Children seem to suffer from this more often than adults. Mosquitoes do carry a risk of certain diseases like West Nile, so monitor for cold- or flu-like symptoms after a bite.

Tick

The best way to know if you have a tick bite is to find one of the insects attached to you, and they can linger for three to six days as they feed on your blood. Some leave a dime-sized red spot, but not everyone reacts this way. Tick bites often occur on warmer parts of the body, like the hairline, armpits, behind the knees, and groin. Tick bites are pretty painless and a bit itchy at first with more serious symptoms appearing days to weeks after a bite. A bullseye-type rash (pictured above) signals Lyme disease, but there are other tick-borne illnesses depending on the species of tick. HERE is an article describing the best ways to remove a tick.

Ant

The ants here in Texas are so tough that during the last hurricane fire ants created floating islands in the flooding. We’re tough down here. Fire ants, because they’re so mean, will actually bite you so they can hold themselves against your body…and then proceed to sting you with their backend. The result can cause a pimple-like pustule, although some people don’t react at all. Fire ant stings are very painful due to the potency of their venom, and since ants don’t lose their stingers when they attack, you’ll probably end up with multiple wounds. The inflammation and pain can take days or weeks to go away.

Spider

If you’ve got two tiny puncture marks on your skin or actually see a spider crawling and wiping its mouth with a napkin, you are probably dealing with a spider bite. Redness and swelling at the site of the bite are also common. Thankfully, most spiders bite only when provoked. Most spider bites often cause mild pain (like a bee sting) and even itching. But watch out for more dangerous types like the brown recluse and black widow. The former can cause necrotic lesions, while the latter can bring on muscle spasms, tremors, and nausea. Seek medical help if you suspect a bite from either of these spiders.

Bed Bugs

Often confused with mosquito bites, bed bug bites are small, red, puffy bumps that appear in lines or clusters, usually three or more. They can have distinct red marks at their center, and they often appear on exposed skin that touches the bed at night, including the arms, neck, or trunk of the body. With a close examination of your room, you can often find the bugs (or their droppings) in your mattress, particularly around the corners, the head end, and the thick cord that goes around the edge of the mattress. Bed bug bites aren’t too painful, but they can be very itchy and swollen. The parasites don’t spread diseases like ticks do; however, they’re difficult to remove and won’t stop biting you until they’re eradicated from your home. Consequently, the thought of bed bugs will drive fear in the heart of all fathers and mothers.

Remedies for Bug Bites

Homeopathic remedies are very effective at reducing the pain, stinging, and prickling sensation at the site of the bug bite. They also help to soothe the itching or burning and redness and swelling. These remedies for bug bites are helpful for managing hives without any other symptom linked with anaphylaxis. Note: in severe cases where symptoms indicate severe allergic reaction/anaphylaxis, it is advised to get immediate help from a conventional form of treatment as it is a medical emergency.

• Ledum – Our premier remedy for cases of bites, stings, and especially mosquito bites. In cases needing this remedy, the wounded skin feels cold to the touch. Additionally, there may be swelling. It is also a good remedy for bee or wasps stings and all puncture wounds.
• Apis – An effective medicine for hives that can happen with bug bites and stings. The wound will look like red circles that are painful and tender to the touch. There is a marked burning and stinging sensation. The itching can be intense and intolerable at night. I always kept Apis 200 in my bag when we would go to the park. If we had ant bites, it would take away the burning pain immediately.
• Hypericum – The main indication for using this medicine is excessive soreness at the site of insect bite, sting, and puncture wounds.
• Arnica – This remedy is useful for the swelling that can appear with bug bites. The swelling is hot, hard, and shiny when Arnica is indicated.
• Caladium – In cases where there is intense itching on the skin along with a severe burning sensation.
• Echinacea – When the skin is irritated, dry, and red with papules (small, red, well-defined bumps.)

One of my little girls suffers terribly when she gets mosquito bites. I will dissolve Mag phos 6x in a bowl of water. Next, I soak a clean cotton cloth in the medicated water and lay it on her bites. It brings her instant relief. I’m not sure where I saw to do this, but it works well.

If you would like to have a 4×6 card of the remedies and their description, today is your day! I have created a printable card just for you!

With the card and these remedies for bug bites, we don’t have to worry about our children playing outside. I am not scared of bug bites. And with homeopathy, you won’t be either.