Little Suckers

That little itch might be telling something... you NEED ice!

My husband and I had a bug bite off this morning. For the first time in recent memory he has more bug bites than I do. I am happy to concede a win. His end of summer bites look more like chicken pox than bug bites actually. Between the biting flies and the mosquitoes, I'm nearly anemic! 

I posted some tips about bug bites once before but all this itching and scratching got me to thinking, 'what to do' about it so here are few home remedies that might prepare you for the garden, the beach or wherever.

According to Parents Magazine at http://www.parents.com/health/bug-bites/home-remedies-for-soothing-bug-bites/ here are some home remedies: 
Ice which helps constrict blood vessels.
Green Tea which is an anti inflammatory.
Vinegar and basil, both applied topically to neutralize and cool the area.
Lemon Balm and Milk to soothe the itch and reduce the swelling.
Tea Tree Oil to prevent bites in the first place.

Head into your bathroom to grab the tea tree oil, apply it to your skin (be careful applying essential oil directly to the skin) then head into the garden to harvest some basil and lemon balm if you have it (I have both.) When you come in, brew some green tea, tea bags and place them in the refrigerator for later. Drink the tea from the green tea bags because it's good for you. Dilute some vinegar and apply to the bug bites you got because you omitted the first direction... (No judging here, ever.) Collect some ice from the freezer and apply it wherever those little suckers got you but draw the curtains in case they nibbled your tail-feather. Curse those little suckers because cursing is a great stress release. (I added this step.) Make a paste with the basil you went outside to harvest; heck, make a quick pesto too! Feel excellent about yourself because you made something for dinner! Yay! Woot! Woot! for mulit-tasking! (I added this step too.) Apply a bit of milk to the bitten area and drink some too because you have not been consuming enough calcium...Try not to itch or pick... (This is the most difficult instruction, I know, believe me. I have a doozy on my face right now I messed with and cursed about so I feel a bit better.)

Take a nap! You must be exhausted from all that!

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