Make Bug Bite Oil That Really Works || Quick And Easy
Making bug bite oil doesn’t have to involve melting and pouring oils, waxes, and butters. It really can be much simpler than that.
And who doesn’t want to make things simpler?!?! We’re all trying to fit so much in every day, anytime we can make a task easier on ourselves, we should go for it. And this bug bite oil can’t really get any easier.
I moved to northern Maine 4 years ago, and the first spring that I was here introduced me to the hassle and discomfort of living where there are bug seasons.
The bugs here are absolutely relentless. There is no way to get away from them for months. There’s a black fly season, a mosquito season (I think it’s actually two seasons because there are two hatches), and a no-seeum season.
The only thing worse than dealing with those little buggers (get the pun? haha) is dealing with the itch of their bites, after you’ve inevitably lost the fight against them.
It goes without saying that bug season is an experience I definitely could have lived without.
It didn’t take me long to learn that keeping some bug bite oil close by is absolutely necessary. And it needed to be quick and easy to make, because I was going to be using a whole lot of it.
Ingredients For Bug Bite Oil
The recipe in this post is made with just three ingredients. They can all be found at your local health food store. OR … you can grab them from just about any grass roots herb shop.
These are the ingredients you’ll need …
- Coconut Oil – organic, extra virgin coconut oil is what you want to use, if possible. It is a semi-solid oil that has a melting point of 72°. Coconut oil is soothing to the skin and can help reduce the risk of infection.
- Peppermint Essential Oil – be sure that your peppermint oil is 100% pure essential oil. This can easily be done by reading the ingredients listed on the bottle. There should be just one ingredient … peppermint oil. This oil cools the skin, thereby reducing the effect of the histamine that is present around a bug bite. The histamine is what produces the redness, swelling, and itching sensation that occur as the result of a bite.
- Eucalyptus Essential Oil – refer to the information provided above for peppermint oil.
How To Make Bug Bite Oil
Once you’ve gathered the three simple ingredients above, you’re going to measure and mix. That’s all there is to it, nothing complicated going on here.
The absolute beauty of this simple remedy is that it can be done in just minutes, made ‘on the fly’ as they say.
It is not necessary to pull out pans and thermometers, as is so often required when making an itch relief remedy. A measuring cup, a small bowl, and a whisk will get the job done.
Heck, once you’ve made this bug bite oil a few times you won’t even need the measuring cup. You’ll be able to make it by eye alone.
Crude Oil Blend vs Salve vs balm
The bug bite oil recipe that is included in this post is considered a crude oil blend.
Typically crude oil blends are easily mixed by hand and they don’t become solid, or even semi-solid.
This particular blend may actually harden, at least a bit, as it contains coconut oil. Still, I would consider it a crude oil blend.
There are two other methods of making itch relief oils that are worth mentioning. And they are salves and balms.
The difference between these two methods can be pretty subtle.
Balms are usually made with a very high beeswax content. This makes them pretty hard. Balms sit on top of the skin longer, and are generally used to prevent damage to the skin.
Salves are also most often made with beeswax, but in lower concentrations. This produces a softer product, think of the consistency of vaseline.
Salves are more readily absorbed into the skin and they are often used for healing purposes.
Both salves and balms have an advantage over crude oil blends. And that is that they travel better. They are less likely to leak out of their container in transit. And they are a bit easier to use when your out and about because of their consistency.
With that said … I don’t know a lot of people who leave the house armed with bug bite oil. I never carry mine with me, it’s kept at home.
And so the fact that this oil is so easy to make far outweighs it’s inability to travel, in my opinion.
Turn Crude Oil Into Salve or Balm
Additionally, with some minimal research, you can simply add some beeswax to this blend and turn it into a salve or a balm. You will just need to figure out the amount of beeswax needed to do so, and then melt all of the oils down in a small pan on VERY LOW heat.
Once they are all melted, and blended well, they can be poured into a container and set out to cool.
Voila! Crude oil blend turned salve or balm in just minutes.
Does Bug Bite Oil Work?
Yes … and no.
Yes, bug bite oil works to relieve the itch caused by bug bites. It is far superior to the chemically-laden commercial itch relief products on the market today. And, if you are health conscious, it is really the only way to go.
No, bug bite oil will not eliminate all the itch from bites long term. I don’t know of a product that will.
This oil will provide relief for some time, perhaps an hour or two. It will need to be reapplyed frequently in order to get it’s full effect.
Itch Relief For More Than Bug Bites
All three of the ingredients that are used in this oil are known to provide itch relief for different skin conditions.
So, get the most out of your bug bite oil by using it for poison ivy and hives as well. It has also been know to be effective at reducing the skin irritation (itchiness) that can be caused by diabetes, liver disease, and kidney disease.
I often use it to relieve itchiness that accompanies candida, an imbalance in the gut microbiome that can cause itchy breakouts on the skin. It works rather well.
Other Uses For This Oil
AND, as if that isn’t enough alternative uses for this helpful oil, there are several other ways to use it that I’ve seen work pretty consistently.
As A Foot Oil
It can be rubbed on your feet to relieve the uncomfortable itch and burning that is caused by athlete’s foot. Simply apply a generous amount to your feet, and then rest them on an old towel for a half hour or so to allow the oils time to work.
Be sure to wipe your feet off well, before you get up, so that the oil doesn’t get all over your floor, clothes, etc.
For Headache Relief
You can apply a small amount of this oil blend to your temples the next time you have a headache. I’m always baffled by how this remedy actually works. Yet, I have seen it work for several different people.
It seems to work for some and not others. But, if you are suffering from a headache it is definitely worth a try. In the event that you are one of the people it works well for, it is a crazy easy relief method to use.
To Clear Nasal Passages
This blend can be used to clear clogged nasal passages. All you have to do is apply it directly under your nose and over time it will begin to unblock the passages.
As A Muscle Rub
And finally, this oil makes a pretty decent muscle rub. The peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils will penetrate sore muscles and begin loosening them up. The coconut oil aids in the massaging action that occurs during application, which also helps to loosen the muscles.
So, make yourself a batch of bug bite oil today. You’re going to be happy you did!
Recommended For You …
Pin This Post For Later
If you try this recipe and love it, please give it 5 stars! It supports my work more than you may realize, and I appreciate that a great deal!
You can also show your support by tagging me on Facebook @sustainableslowliving and/or Instagram @slowlivingbydianegail when you post a pic of your finished bug bite oil.
MAKE BUG BITE OIL
3 simple ingredients and just a few minutes of your time is all it takes to make a bug bite oil that will help you manage the itch of those nasty spring/summer bites. This simple oil will serve you well for years to come.
Materials
- 1/4 c coconut oil, organic, extra-virgin
- 25 drops peppermint essential oil
- 25 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Tools
- 1/4 cup measuring cup
- small bowl
- whisk
- spatula
- small jar with an airtight lid
Instructions
- Place coconut oil, peppermint oil, and eucalyptus oil in a small bowl.
- Whisk together, blend well.
- Pour into jar using spatula to completely clean out the bowl.
- Seal and store in a cool, dry place until needed.