Make It Yourself Monday- Recipes for Relief

It is that time of year, the time when we spend hours outside, time at the beach or the lake, camping or hiking in woods, working in gardens, or just playing in the yard. So today's Make it Yourself Monday AND tomorrow's Teaching Tuesday will focus on recipes that soothe. Recipes that provide relief from over-exposure to the elements, from insect bites, and even some that  offer relief from dirt and heat. 


Today we will go through some bug bite remedies that are for AFTER you are bitten, not preventative treatments. Then tomorrow we will look at a few preventative recipes, as well as some recipes for relief from other annoyances. 

For those times when you are attacked by a whole pack of mosquitoes, try this recipe for relief! 
Take 1 cup of apple cider vinegar, mix in 10 drops of lavender essential oil, and   5 drops of thyme essential oil. Blend this well and then add it to a tub full of tepid bath water. Swish it around to get it mixed well before you get into the tub, or before you put a child into the tub. Once in the tub, soak a washcloth or a sponge in the water,  and use it to (liberally) wipe down the body areas with the bites. Make EXTRA sure to keep this bath water away from the eyes, you really don't want to experience vinegar and EO's in the eyes, even this diluted! Don't ask me how I know this! LOL

Don't want to get into the tub? Don't need an all-over treatment? Try this recipe as a "spot" treatment for any bug bite. Take 1/4 cup sweet oil (ask the pharmacist for this if you can't find it), and mix in 5 drops each of eucalyptus, thyme, chamomile, and oregano essential oils (you may substitute oregano extract if you'd prefer), This bug bite soother recipe will last about 6 months, so you can have a bottle on hand all summer long!


For stinging bites, take 1/4 cup of baking powder and add enough water (a little at a time) to make it into a paste, then stir in 3-4 drops of lavender and chamomile essential oils. Apply the paste to the affected area and leave it on for about 15-20 minutes. Then rinse it off with cool water, and allow the water to run over the skin for a few minutes. This recipe will help pull the stinging out and keep swelling down if you get it applied within a minute or two of getting stung. It will also help if you keep the affected area under a cold rag or cold running water until the paste can be applied.