Bug Bite Relief with Essential Oils

August 1, 2019

Written by Hannah Bulicsek

Bug Bite Relief with Essential Oils

Summer is quite the beautiful season to enjoy outdoor weather. The only problem, we are faced with annoying bugs, gnats, and other biting insects that can leave us feeling itchy, annoyed and frustrated! Essential oils can be used as bug repellents as well as bug bite relief! Here are our top 5 essential oils for bug bite relief.

1. Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is an incredible skin healer. Lavender essential oil has many therapeutic benefits, mainly stress relief and skin care. Lavender is also antibacterial and can help calm inflammation, soothe bug bites, and nourish skin rashes and burns. Lavender can be used on any skin type and helps reduce wrinkles. Lavender is a gentle essential oil that has no known safety concerns; as always properly dilute.

Other Holistic Benefits of Lavender

• Emotionally balancing
• Safe for skin
• Soothes depression and anxiety
• Calms stress
• Great for all skin and hair types

2. Blue Tansy Essential Oil

Blue tansy is an anti-inflammatory essential oil, making it wonderful for reducing swelling caused by bug bites. Steam distilled from the flowers, this essential oil also helps reduce hay fever and hives, soothes rashes, and calms ezcema. Blue tansy oil has a deep, beautiful blue hue to it due to the chamazulene content. A rich, pleasant, flowery aroma, blue tansy essential oil is deeply relaxing and calming. Like lavender, blue tansy is a gentler oil.

Blue Tansy Holistic Benefits

• Antibacterial
• Promotes deep relaxation
• Soothes anxiety
• Pain relieving
• Calming and gentle enough for asthma

3. Cedarwood Essential Oil

Cedarwood atlas is a double duty oil when it comes to bugs. The essential oil is a natural insect repellent as well as a bug bite soother. Cedarwood is an astringent and is good for oily skin and hair. Overall, cedarwood is a great skin essential oil as it soothes dermatitis and other skin conditions. Cedarwood essential oil is steam distilled from the wood of the tree.

Cedarwood Essential Oil Holistic Benefits

• Good for cellulite
• Combats acne
• Soothes tension, sadness, and anger
• Enhances meditation

4. Patchouli Essential Oil

Patchouli is a generally safe oil and, like cedarwood, repels bugs and calms irritation due to itchy bug bites. Patchouli essential oil rejuvenates the skin and reduces inflammation. Unlike most oils, oxidation before bottling actually helps bring the earthy aroma out of patchouli. Aging usually causes oils to lose their therapeutic benefits while patchouli should be matured. Patchouli essential oil can also help combat acne and soothe rashes.

More Benefits of Patchouli

• Calms anxiety
• Gentle on skin
• Antifungal
• Natural bug deterrent

5. Helichrysum Essential Oil

Helichrysum is a wound healing oil that is cell regenerative. It soothes inflamed skin and calms bug bites. Also known as imortelle or everlasting, helichrysum essential oil is steam distilled from the flower tops. Helichrysum has a fresh, herbaceous aroma with underlying floral notes.

Holistic Benefits of Helichrysum Essential Oil

• Soothes allergy coughs
• Gentle for asthma
• Relaxes muscle spasms
• Helpful for deep emotional trauma
• Good for bruising

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Resources: 1. Salvatore Battaglia. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy Second Edition. The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy, Australia, 2003 2. Robert Tisserand. Essential Oil Safety Second Edition, Elsevier, USA, 2014 3. K. Keville and M. Green. Aromatherapy A Complete Guide to the Healing Art Second Edition. Crossing Press, USA, 2009