Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      Kick-start your day by making habits out of these mood-boosting tips. Read More
    • Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      It's one of your favorite fruits, but does it belong on the counter or in the refrigerator? Read More
    • This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      A few easy-to-find ingredients are all you need to create a powerful formula that squashes weeds. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    Show your love of country by displaying these varieties on America's birthday.
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    Make gathering with loved ones a priority.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We asked the experts to weigh in on this popular home design concept.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    Confused about when to do what to your favorite flowering shrubs? We have you covered.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Wash Pillows

    How to Wash Pillows

    They're an essential element of a comfortable bed, so keep yours fresh and in their best shape ever with these expert-approved tips.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Get the traditional rules for who pays for the wedding details.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    Our easy melt-and-pour method saves the last bit of this home essential.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    This buzzy ingredient is a star player in many new-age hair care products.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Health and Wellness
  3. Bug Off! Natural Repellents and Bite Treatments

Bug Off! Natural Repellents and Bite Treatments

By Alexandra Churchill
Skip gallery slides
Pin
bas_jul06_sting.jpg
Mosquitoes, spiders, and ticks... summer is crawling with pesky, unwanted guests. When they bite, here are a few natural alternatives that will relieve itching, control swelling, and reduce redness and irritation.
Start Slideshow

1 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
0206_kids_gtbugbites.jpg

Mosquitoes, spiders, and ticks ... summer is crawling with pesky, unwanted guest. When they bite, here are a few natural alternatives that will relieve itching, control swelling, and reduce redness and irritation....plus a few ways to keep them at bay!

Ice

First, soothe the bite. Here's a clever idea that will keep your fingertips from freezing: Use ice frozen in a film canister! Wash canister with soap and water beforehand, fill with water (allowing room for its expansion), cover, and freeze. To use, run cool water over the canister, then uncap, and gently squeeze to loosen the ice. Apply like you would a stick of deodorant.

1 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Orange-Oil

med106155_1110_sea_citrus.jpg

To get rid of ants, dampen a cotton swab with a few drops of orange essential oil, then wipe it on baseboards and entryways. This will deter whole armies from entering, since the compound d-limonene in the oil is toxic to them.

2 of 12

3 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Clay

bd101628_1005_clay.jpg

Composed of mineral deposits, clay helps soothe the itch and sting of an insect bite. Find it in powdered form at natural-foods stores and many pharmacies. There are a variety of types of clay in a range of colors -- white, blue, green, red, and pink. All are effective, but herbalists tend to prefer green or red clays; darker clays contain higher mineral content and thus more healing properties. To use, form a paste by mixing the powder with a small amount of water or peppermint tea and apply directly to the bite.

3 of 12

Advertisement

4 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Lavender, peppermint, or tea-tree essential oil

ba_0606_aroma.jpg
Credit: Rita Maas

These concentrated oils neutralize toxicity and reduce inflammation and itchiness. Add a few drops to the clay or baking soda mixtures to increase their effectiveness, or apply a drop or two directly to the bite. Any of the oils can be mixed with honey (a few drops of oil to a teaspoon of honey) for additional disinfectant properties.

4 of 12

5 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Tobacco

bas_jul06_sting.jpg

Applied topically, loose tobacco eases the pain from a bite almost instantly. To use, mix enough water and/or apple-cider vinegar into a small wad of tobacco to make a paste and apply directly to the bite. Leave on until the swelling is gone. (Safety note: If redness or irritation occurs, remove the tobacco.)

5 of 12

6 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Plantain

herb-spread-017-d111563.jpg
Credit: Con Poulos

The common plantain, a weed found in many yards, has powerful "drawing" properties. You can use the fresh or dried herb, available at herb stores or online (try mountainroseherbs.com). To use, mix the chopped herb with a small amount of water and apply to the bite or sting. Within minutes the area will become warm as toxins are drawn from the skin. Add more plantain as needed until the pain and swelling have subsided.

6 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Baking Soda

a100668_0404_bakingsoda.jpg

Among the most versatile household remedies, baking soda quickly eases itchiness. To use, mix a few teaspoons with a small amount of water to form a paste and apply directly to skin. If you have multiple bites or stings, try an anti-itch bath: Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of baking soda to warm bath water; soak for 15 minutes.

7 of 12

8 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bananas

ingredients-banana-019-med109281.jpg
Credit: Anson Smart

Close encounters of the buzzing kind are inevitable when you spend time outdoors. But you'll find quick relief in the fruit bowl. With its high antioxidant content, "banana peel can calm inflamed bug bites, especially itchy mosquito bites," says David Grotto, R.D., author of "101 Foods That Could Save Your Life." Keep bananas around on the deck, on the porch, or by the pool, he advises. Try It Apply the banana peel, fruit-side down, directly on the bite and hold it there until the itching or burning subsides.

8 of 12

9 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Coconut and Calendula Oil

pot-marigold-mbd108713.jpg

Here's a home-made solution you can reapply all day to keep bugs away:

Coconut oil solidifies at 76 degrees, so when cool, it will be a balm. Run the tightly closed jar under warm water for an oil. Place 1 cup coconut oil in the top of a double boiler and heat gently until the oil turns to liquid. Add 2 cups dried organic calendula petals, making sure they are submerged. Cover and simmer 6 hours, or until oil turns orange. Using a piece of muslin to catch the leaves, strain oil into a glass jar, squeezing the fabric to get every last drop. Close tightly. Refrigerated, the balm will keep for one year.

9 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Witch Hazel

bd0607_summer2.jpg

Make your own DEET-free insect repellent by blending five drops of patchouli essential oil, 2 ounces of witch hazel, and eight to 10 drops of cedarwood essential oil in a spray bottle, says essential-oil educator Andrea Butje. Apply it frequently.

10 of 12

11 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bug Catchers

bas_jul06_wl_begone.jpg

Of course, it doesn't hurt to repel them before they ever get near your skin. Keep wasps and mosquitoes away from your outdoor gatherings this summer with the help of these two elegant vessels from Red Envelope. Colored-glass bug catchers lure and trap flying pests when filled with sugary water and hung from trees. Triple-wick citronella candles, adorned with Moroccan-inspired prints, dress up the picnic table, while repelling mosquitoes and other biting insects.

11 of 12

12 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Nest Decoy

beekeeping-lessons-waxing-kara-01-0723.jpg

You may be able to ward off wasps by fashioning a fake hive out of an inflated brown paper bag. Embellish it with marker lines, and hang it upside down in your yard; the territorial stingers might think another colony has already claimed the spot.

12 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Alexandra Churchill

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 12
    2 of 12 Orange-Oil
    3 of 12 Clay
    4 of 12 Lavender, peppermint, or tea-tree essential oil
    5 of 12 Tobacco
    6 of 12 Plantain
    7 of 12 Baking Soda
    8 of 12 Bananas
    9 of 12 Coconut and Calendula Oil
    10 of 12 Witch Hazel
    11 of 12 Bug Catchers
    12 of 12 Nest Decoy

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Bug Off! Natural Repellents and Bite Treatments
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.