Plantain leaves
Even though it shares the same name with the starchy fruit similar to a banana, the plantain that can help with bug bites is a different plant, explains St. Ours. “It’s a common weed that grows well in packed soil, which means it’s often easy to find at playgrounds, hiking trails, and even growing alongside the sidewalk in cities!” she says.
“You can recognize plantain species by the vertical veins that run along the leaves, which are organized like a circle of ‘rays’ emanating from a central point. This plant has impressive wound-healing abilities, which is why it’s an ingredient used in many healing salves and ointments. St. Ours recommends picking a few (clean) leaves of plantain and either mashing them with your fingers or chewing them until they’re soft before applying to the affected area.
1 thought on “10 Home Remedies for Bug Bites That Work Wonders”
I one time got a yellow jacket down my back inside my clothes. It stung me 7 times before I could get it out. My neighbor saw me and came out with a tube of toothpaste. She said she read once where a couple of construction workers disturbed a nest of yellow jackets and were repeated stung. All they had was toothpaste so they used it and it worked. She put it on my stings and the pain vanished almost immediately. Some years later I was working an emergency room when the police brought in a homeless woman because she had toothpaste smeared all over her face. The doctor was ready to agree just on that but I told him about the incident I’d had so he asked her why. She had windburn on her face (which we could see) and that was all she had to help the pain. I have also used baking soda paste on mosquito bites and my mom used oatmeal or baking soda paste when I had chicken pox. Worked great for both problems.