Summer brings warm weather, plenty of outdoor activities, fun with family and friends, but it also brings pesky mosquitoes. Of course, it is everyone’s goal to avoid mosquito bites, but sometimes they happen anyway. You might be wondering, is there anything natural that can relieve the pain and itch of a mosquito bite? In this post you’ll learn how to use lavender essential oil for mosquito bites. Stop the itch of mosquito bites, naturally!
Lavender Essential Oil to The Rescue
Fortunately, there are natural remedies that can relieve the pain and itch of a mosquito bite without resorting to modern pharmaceuticals. Lavender essential oil has a double benefit. It is a bug repellant and can reduce the pain and itch of a mosquito bite (source). If you are allergic to mosquito bites and develop skeeter syndrome, lavender essential oil is what works best.
Mosquito bites itch because the mosquito injects some of their saliva when they draw out the blood. This saliva contains foreign substances, including an anticoagulant and proteins that trigger the body’s immune reaction. This causes the body to release a histamine that brings white blood cells to the area and causes itching, swelling, and inflammation.
What Attracts Mosquitos?
You might be wondering why mosquitoes are attracted to you. Some people tend to be a magnet for mosquitoes, while others hardly get bit at all. The bad news is, there is not much that you can do about it because they are attracted to body scents that we cannot control.
Different types of mosquitoes are attracted to different body scents. They are attracted to the carbon dioxide that we breathe, bacteria colonies on our skin, the secretion of saccharides, lactic acid on the skin, and blood type (source). Unfortunately, there is little that we can do about these savory secretions.
Fortunately, lavender essential oil is a great remedy when you do get bit by those tiny blood suckers.
How to Use Lavender Essential Oil for Mosquito Bites?
Lavender essential oil should be used as soon as you discover the mosquito bite. It is one of the few oils that can be used in undiluted form and applied directly to the skin. It can also be mixed with a carrier oil, such as almond or avocado oil, if you prefer.
Although it can be used directly on the skin, dilution with another oil is generally advised to prevent sensitization. This is indicated by a rash from the essential oil, which would increase the itching too. Once you develop sensitization, you will have it for life (source).
The most typical dilution is approximately 2 percent, which consists of:
- 2 drops of lavender essential oil
- 75 drops (5 ml) of carrier oil
For the elderly or children, you should use a 1 percent dilution, which is 1 drop of lavender essential oil to 75 drops (5 ml) of carrier oil. Although it can be done, it is typically advised to dilute lavender essential oil before placing it directly on the skin.
You may also try a mix of essential oils that are helpful to calm the pain and itch of a mosquito bite. Here’s a DIY recipe to make a soothing clay paste with essential oils (Frankincense and lavender) :
Which brand of lavender oil should you buy?
I recommend the brand Plant Therapy. But there are lots of other great brands that you can find in health food stores. Ideally, opt for organic lavender essential oil.
Contraindications
There are times when lavender essential oil should not be used. One of these is if you know that you have an allergy to it. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are also advised not to use it, as it can be passed to the child (source)
There are several other groups of people who should not use it. These include people with any type of liver disease, neurological diseases, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, peptic ulcers, gastritis, colitis, Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (source). It should also not be given to children under two years of age.
Lavender essential oil should not be taken by mouth, except under the direction of a professional. The high concentration of the essential oil can be fatal in high doses. It is recommended for external use only, and then only in diluted form.
Properties of Lavender Essential Oil
The strength of lavender oil varies according to the altitude in which it is grown. Those grown in high altitudes tend to be sharp and a bit more pungent. Those grown in lower altitudes tend to be sweeter and a bit gentler fragrance.
Aside from relieving mosquito bites, lavender essential oil has also been used to treat cuts for its anti-septic properties. It has also been used to treat headaches and migraines. It is excellent for relieving tired muscles and as a stress reliever.
Final Advice
Lavender essential oil is an excellent remedy for the itch and pain of a mosquito bite. It is important to know whether the oil you are buying is diluted or undiluted. It is also important to obtain your lavender essential oil from a reputable source.
When used as directed, lavender essential oil is an excellent way to relieve the sting and itch of mosquito bites and other bug bites without resorting to dangerous modern chemical remedies.
If you are particularly sensitive to mosquito bites, you may develop blisters. If you develop a severe reaction to a mosquito bite, consult a doctor as soon as possible to avoid serious health complications.
Let us know if you have used lavender essential oil for mosquito bites or other bug bites and how well it worked in the comments below.
How Long Do Mosquito Bites Itch For?
- Disclaimer
Article by
J. Beck
DISCLAIMER
The information provided on Optiderma.com is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified practitioner.
If you are allergic to the foods, herbs, essential oils, any remedies listed here, you must of course avoid them. For example, consuming food that you’re sensitive to will only cause more (not reduce!) inflammation.
Please consult a practitioner (such as Naturopath, Homeopath, Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Dermatologist, ...) to follow the most appropriate treatment to heal your skin. All legal mentions »
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