Battling the bugs and the bees, naturally

by Jacki Hart, MD

Just as you are venturing out to enjoy the beautiful weather, so too are the insects that love to bite or sting. Here, Ill review some easy, natural ways to protect yourself from these pesky bugs. Lessening the occurrence and discomfort of bites and stings will hopefully make your summer more enjoyable.

Before these irritating insects even get you, take action to keep them at bay. Taking vitamin B complex regularly (50 to 100 mg per day for adults) may act as a natural bug repellent, preventing mosquito and other bites.

Several herbs can be combined to act as a natural repellent as well:

• Lavender (Lavendula augustifolia)
• Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus)
• Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus)
• Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)

To prepare this herbal mixture, combine 15 drops of each essential oil with one ounce of either almond or olive oil. In order to be effective, this mixture must be applied to the skin at least three or four times per day. Pennyroyal should not be used by children or pregnant women. The mixture works for many even without the pennyroyal.

Mosquitoes, horseflies, deerflies, spiders, black flies, and other biting insects can cause red, raised lesions and itching at the site of the bite. Stinging insects include honeybees, bumble bees, yellow jackets, hornets, wasps, and fire ants. Up to 4% of Americans experience allergic reactions to these stinging bugs, which cause anything from hives to shortness of breath to shock and loss of consciousness.

If you have a history of an allergic reaction to one of these stingers, you should carry medication in the form of an epinephrine pen to be given immediately after a sting. Even if you do not have a known allergy, if you experience throat tightness, itching or swelling around your lips or eyes, hives all over your body, or shortness of breath, call 911 immediately.

The majority of people, however, experience only a minor reaction at the site of the sting or bite. To ease this discomfort, apply a cool compress or ice pack to the area. This will alleviate itching, burning, and pain. Adding a few drops of witch hazel mixed with lavender oil to the cool compress may induce faster, more effective relief. Even before applying the compress (which you can keep in a cooler when on a picnic or other outing), clean the area carefully and remove the stinger if present.

Applying meat tenderizer may soften the area and bring the stinger to the surface, as well as reduce swelling, itching, and discomfort. The ingredient in meat tenderizer that may be responsible for this relief is an enzyme called bromelain(Ananas comosus). This is a natural enzyme made from the juice of pineapples that helps to reduce inflammation.

Another option to alleviate the pain and itching from a sting or bite is peppermint (Mentha piperita). Make a tea using one teaspoon of the whole peppermint herb in one cup of hot water. After steeping for 20 to 30 minutes, place the liquid in a spray bottle and chill. Take the peppermint spray with you for outdoor activities and use as needed, but dont spray it on your face.

If the skin is not broken, one of the following homeopathic remedies, which can be bought over-the-counter as an ointment and applied to the skin, will likely soothe the itch and diminish any swelling or redness:

• Ledum (Marsh tea) - generally considered the first line homeopathic remedy for bites or stings. If the swelling is very severe, Ledum may also be used orally at a dose of 30C every two to three hours; do not take more than three doses.
• Apis mellifica (Honey bee) - use if Ledum has not alleviated the pain or swelling after four hours.
• Hypericum (St. John's Wort) - useful if there are shooting pains traveling from the site of the bite or sting.
• Urtica urens (tinging nettle) - useful when there is a lot of stinging at the site of the bite.
• Staphysagria (Stavesacre) - good for children with mosquito bites.

Although not proven, some say that if you have a history of an allergy to insect stings, regular acupuncture may lessen the severity of the reaction in the future.

Others suggest that taking certain substances that have anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine properties after a bite or sting may lessen the severity of the reaction. (Histamines are the chemicals responsible for the unpleasant symptoms of an allergic reaction). Such substances include:

• Vitamin C, 250 to 500 mg two times per day
• Quercetin, 500 mg four times per day
• Bromelain (Ananas comosus), 250 to 500 mg four times per day
• Turmeric (Curcuma longa), 250 to 500 mg four times per day along with the bromelain

There is no definitive proof that that these substances will help, but they are fairly safe to try for adults and many of my patients have reported faster relief. I hope these tips help to prevent and relieve the annoying but all too familiar summer ailments of bug bites and stings.