The natural remedies against insect bites are mainly of two types: preventive and soothing . The first ones protect the skin, thanks to the presence of substances that remove them, while the second ones are applied after the puncture, to calm the burning and itching sensation .
Insects and stings
With the arrival of summer, one of the most common problems of the period recurs: mosquitoes and other annoying insects that afflict us with their bites.
The most affected areas are head, arms and legs, which show the presence of one or more ponfi. The ponfo is a circumscribed swelling of the skin, of irregular and roundish shape, smooth, of reddish color, surrounded by a reddish halo, usually itchy, and has the characteristic of forming within a few seconds and disappearing more or less rapidly. Usually the saliva or the sting of the insect causes the ponfo.
In particular, the saliva of the mosquito has an anticoagulant function to promote bleeding; anesthetizing to delay the victim's reaction; and finally rubefacient, as it recalls blood flow to allow a better meal.
The stimuli that help insects to identify their targets are olfactory, but often the attraction of the body can be caused by the heat of the body or the colors of the clothes we wear.
The organs responsible for identifying the "victim" are particular receptors ( sensilla ) that are found on the antennas and that allow the insect to perceive odorous compounds, secreted by the skin and sweat, and released into the environment . By means of these organs they manage to intercept the target at night or in dark places.
In particular, for mosquito attacks, the hours most at risk are those that go from sunset to the early hours of the morning, although it is possible that in particular areas with high humidity (near a forest, lake or river), the bites can occur at any time of the day.
Preventive natural remedies against insects
Given that most of the time the insects are attracted to olfactory stimuli it is with an alteration of the cutaneous scent that man has always tried to keep away from them.
The natural remedies for insect bites are mainly lotions, sticks and creams based on or essential oil of citronella, basil and geranium .
Essential oils are the most powerful insect repellents provided by Nature, because they allow insects to be kept at a distance in a non-toxic way, creating a barrier of odors that annoy them and keeping them away.
Cultivating aromatic plants that are easy to find, with which to embellish windows and balconies, and which contain considerably the same substances found in the most common repellents on the market today, is one of the best ways to protect the house from insects.
Natural soothing remedies for insect bites
Always in essential oils we can identify effective natural remedies to soothe itching and burning and to relieve swelling, avoiding infections.
The essential oil of lavender is the solution to keep always at hand: in case of a puncture you can apply 1 or 2 drops directly on the affected area and in a few minutes you will feel the benefit.
Also aloe vera gel or calendula oleolite applied directly on the head can help to calm the itching and burning in a few minutes.
