Essential oils have been proven to be a natural solution for a variety of problems. They’ve survived millennia for a reason, and they still surprise us in the second decade of the 21st century.
Essential oils aren’t just fancy aromatic oils. They have countless benefits that help treat the skin from irritation and treat it faster. So, the next time a fire ant bites you, make sure you’re well-prepared with these suggestions.
If you’re interested in knowing how to fight bugs naturally, continue reading for the best essential oils and what makes them perfect for this job.
What Essential Oils Stop Bug Bites From Itching?
Whether it’s because they’re anti-inflammatory, anti-swelling, anti-pain, or antimicrobial, many essential oils have so much to give to reduce the irritation resulting from the toughest fire ant bites. So, let’s have a look at some of the essential oils that can help us fight bug bites.
1. Lavender
Lavender essential oil is one of the most popular essential oils on the planet. It can be used in many applications, which makes it a staple in every house. If you already have lavender oil to calm your mind and help you sleep, it’s so versatile that it can help in bug bite relief, as well.
Lavender essential oil has been proven to help with all kinds of skin irritation, whether it’s due to sun exposure, eczema, or painful bites of all kinds, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. So, you can use it with bee stings, spider bites, fire ant bites, and mosquito bites.
You can also use lavender essential oil to repel bugs. A study on hairless mice has shown lavender oil to be effective in repelling mosquitoes.
How to Use
As an essential oil, you’ll need to dilute lavender before it’s applied directly to the skin. So, add a few drops of lavender oil to a carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil, coconut oil, or jojoba oil. Then, proceed with topical application. Repeat application for up to three times a day until the bug bite heals.
You can also use it in a bug bit spray. Add ten drops of lavender and a cup of water to a spray bottle and spray yourself as a relief from those itchy bug bites.
Try not to use lavender before driving or performing any other task that requires full concentration because of its sedative properties.
2. Basil
Basil is underrated, aside from being a staple in Italian cuisine. So, let’s talk about basil essential oil, known for its anti-inflammatory properties that help treat bug bites. It’s also anti-swelling and does a great job of reducing redness.
In addition, its antimicrobial properties help combat infections, which is exactly what you need to prevent when bitten by fire ants, spiders, fleas, snakes, bees, and more.
How to Use
You can crush basil leaves and spread them on your skin for an instant remedy for bug bites. However, if you don’t have basil leaves at hand, get ready-made basil essential oil.
Add one drop of basil oil or more to a teaspoon of carrier oil like coconut oil or any other carrier oil. Then, apply the mix to your bug bite multiple times a day to relieve pain and discomfort.
Remember not to use basil for bug bites if you’re pregnant or have epilepsy or cancer.
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3. Chamomile
Like lavender, chamomile has a reputation for calming things down. People drink chamomile tea at night to prepare for sleep and use it in after-sun products to soothe the inflammation. So, it comes as no surprise that it has a more significant soothing effect on bug bites than most other essential oils.
Chamomile oil is your key to relieving itchy bug bites. If your bug bite is already swollen, chamomile can help you with that. Even better, it speeds up the healing process so that you won’t have to spend more time googling how to use essential oils to reduce itching and pain.
How to Use
Add a few drops of chamomile oil to a roll-on bottle that’s almost filled with fractionated coconut oil to dilute it. Shake the bottle to mix them well. Then, roll the natural mixture of oils on the bug bite. Of course, drinking chamomile tea for fighting the inflammation more intensely won’t hurt either.
4. Tea Tree
If you already have tea tree essential oil for treating acne and toenail fungus, you’d be surprised with how much more it can do. The antifungal activities of tea tree oil help it disinfect and reduce the swelling of the toughest mosquito bites. It can also reduce the unbearable itching after a bite.
Tea tree essential oil won’t let you down if you want to repel bugs that bite you altogether.
How to Use
Add three drops of this multitasking essential oil to your carrier oil of choice. We recommend olive oil because it’s perfect for the skin. Rub this combination gently on the bug bite and repeat as needed.
Tea tree is one potent antiseptic, so you have to be careful with it. If you feel your skin reacting strongly to it, you should wipe it off.
5. Peppermint
The first things that pop in our minds when we hear the word “peppermint” are the shape, aroma, and taste. Now, you need to add peppermint oil to your collection of natural solutions to bug bites.
Peppermint oil is a beast when it comes to fighting inflammation. Its cooling effect tones the burning itchiness of bug bites down. You can also use it to keep bugs away from your skin, thanks to its repelling properties.
So, if you’re out there looking for essential oils that can help your itchy skin, don’t forget the anti-inflammatory peppermint.
How to Use
Like other essential oils, peppermint is too strong to apply to the skin undiluted. So, add one drop of peppermint oil or more to a carrier oil, then apply them to your skin.
You can also make a natural bug spray with this oil. Fill a spray bottle with water and five drops of that essential oil, then spray it where bugs enter the house, such as door frames and windowsills.
Remember not to apply this oil on the skin of pregnant women or younger children, as it’s too powerful.
6. Rosemary
You may be already using rosemary essential oil to stimulate hair growth or relieve stress, but did you know that it can effectively reduce the pain of bug bites? Yes, it turns out that anti-pain natural solutions can make fire ant bites hurt way less than they usually do.
In addition, if everyone around you is already bitten and you don’t want to become the next victim, use rosemary oil.
How to Use
Mix two to four drops of this oil into a bottle of water. Then, shake the bottle well and soak a cotton ball with the solution. Finally, apply the cotton ball to the itching parts of your body for instant relief. Furthermore, you can add it to water in a spray bottle to make a surprisingly powerful bug spray.
That being said, if you’re pregnant or suffer from hypertension, rosemary oil isn’t recommended for you.
What Is a Carrying Oil?
Whenever essential oils are discussed, carrier oils are always mentioned. What about them makes them “carriers”?
Well, to put it simply, essential oils are pretty strong. But, if you put them directly on your skin without mixing them into anything or diluting them, you’re bound to suffer from skin irritation, which would be incredibly counterproductive if you’re using essential oils to soothe already irritated skin. So, to benefit from versatile essential oils without suffering from their potency, carrier oils are used.
These carrier oils, which are also plant-based, are either unscented or lightly scented and don’t irritate the skin as much. In fact, they are used directly on the skin, such as hair and body moisturizers. So, whenever you use any essential oil, you have to dilute it with a carrier oil.
The most famous carrier oils are coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, argan oil, black seed oil, rosehip oil, grape seed oil, and sunflower oil. The most lightweight ones, which are perfect for use in the summer, are jojoba oil, argan oil, grape seed oil, and rosehip oil.
What Scent Do Bed Bugs Hate?
While treating fresh itchy bug bites, it’s smarter to know how to repel them in the future. So, here are a few scents that bed bugs and many other biting insects can’t stand.
Numerous Essential Oils
As you probably expect, insects and essential oils hate each other. Essential oils treat painful bug bites while pushing them away. So, if you’re dealing with bed bugs, you can fight them by the smell of peppermint, spearmint, lemon, lavender, blood orange, tea tree, and clove essential oils.
Other Types of Oil
If you don’t have essential oils at the moment but want to repel these nightmares, consider neem, paraffin, and silicone oils. Their smells may or may not annoy you, but those bed bugs won’t stand a chance.
Random Kitchen and Household Items
Let’s say that you don’t have the suggested oils, essential or not. Does that mean you have nothing to help at home? No, it doesn’t. Bed bugs are repulsed by the smell of cinnamon sticks, rubbing alcohol, diatomaceous earth, dryer sheets, vinegar, peppercorns, and garlic.
How to Prevent Bug Bites?
Okay, you’ve already been bitten, but you want to make sure that it never happens again to you or your family. What do you do? First things first, you should always wear insect repellents. Then, whether they’re natural or chemical, find a way to keep these bugs off your skin.
In addition, protective clothing is a no-brainer if you’re going somewhere that’s packed with insects that’ll be after you for a bite. Wear those long pants and sleeves. Don’t forget to protect your legs and feet with long and thick socks and shoes. Always make use of mosquito netting and oscillating fans whenever and wherever possible.
Prevent your grass from attracting mosquitoes by trimming it regularly. Maintain your lawn and keep it clean of extra debris and leaves. Also, get rid of any standing bodies of water because they’re like a gold mine to plenty of insects. Finally, please make use of any coffee or tea waste that you have because mosquitoes don’t reproduce around it, which is great news for your household.
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Final Thoughts
As you can see, essential oils have a lot more to offer than we think. Whether you already had them at home for different uses or had no idea about them and will get some now, essential oils are too versatile that they should be in handy at all times, especially during bug season.
Lavender and chamomile are famous for their calming properties, which extend to calming the skin after a nasty bite. Tea tree and peppermint will cool your skin better than any other gel medication that doesn’t have them. Rosemary and basil may be underrated in the world of fighting redness and pain, but you can utilize them now that you’re armored with the knowledge.
