Summer days are here at last! There are lighting bugs to be caught, vegetables to be harvested, berries to be picked, and picnics to attend. Kids — young and old — are itching to spend as much time outside as possible.
Speaking of itching, summer comes hand-in-hand with bug bites. Even with homemade bug repellent, somehow you still get a bite or two. To easily and inexpensively relieve the itch, pick a plantain leaf (one that you know has not been sprayed), chew it up, and place it on the bite. However, this is messy and not everyone has plantain around, so this only works for some people.
Let me introduce the “bug bite stick”. It is a simple salve made from plantain, echinacea, and lavender, stored in a chapstick tube. I’ve made this salve for a few years now. I generally keep it in a tin but recently decided to make it into a stick easily applied on the go.
The Herbs
- Plantain draws out poisons and soothes the skin.
- Echinacea, the king of herbs, relieves itching and promotes healing.
- Lavender is a fragrant flower that repels insects and reduces swelling.
The Oils
- Olive oil is anti-inflammatory and rich in vitamin E.
- Coconut oil is anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial.
Bug Bite Stick
Summer comes hand-in-hand with bug bites. Even with homemade bug repellent, somehow you still get a bite or two. Let me introduce the “bug bite stick”.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon dried plantain leaf
- 1 tablespoon dried Echinacea purpurea leaf
- 1 tablespoon dried Echinacea purpurea root
- 1 tablespoon dried lavender flowers
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil extra virgin
- 3/4 to 1 cup beeswax pastilles pellets or grated
Instructions
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Combine all ingredients except beeswax in a crock pot and turn on lowest setting.
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Leave for 2 to 3 days. My crock pot runs hot, so I periodically check it and turn it off at night.
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After 3 days, strain the herbs out of your newly herb-infused oil with a stainless steel strainer or cheesecloth. I prefer the cheesecloth since it allows you to squeeze out as much of the oil as possible.
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Clean crock pot.
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Pour herb-infused oil back into it and turn it on medium heat.
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Add beeswax and slowly stir until it is completely dissolved.
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Carefully pour the mixture into tubes or containers of your choice.
Recipe Notes
- I live in a warm climate, so I use a full cup of beeswax. If you live in a cooler climate, you should use less so that your stick isn't too hard.
Have you ever made a natural bug bite stick? What do you use to relieve bites?
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How many chapstick containers will this fill?
I made various sizes, but when I compare it to my chapstick recipe I would guess that this would make about 30 chapstick tubes.
Katie Mae! This is great! After moving to Minnesota two months ago, we have been introduced to a nasty little pest called the noseeum. They LOVE me, apparently, and I have been covered in itchy bites for over a month! The locals say I’ll develop an “immunity” to them after a few years, but I cannot imagine a few summers’ worth of itching before that happens! So far, bentonite clay paste has been the only thing to relieve the itch for a few hours. I’m going to try your stick!
I hope it helps, that sounds awful! 🙁
Thank you! I can’t wait to try this. The mosquitoes are really bad right now.
Lindsey–in a pinch, you can also try fresh plantain. Just crush some of the leaves and rub them on the bites. It’s a very potent topical antihistamine that doesn’t make you drowsy. 🙂 Works great on bee stings as well. In my own experience, broad-leaf plantain (Greater Plantain) works slightly better than straight-leaf plantain (Ribwort Plantain), but both of them are very good.
Awesome tip! That’s very true, I’ve chewed up plantain many times for a bite.
I was so excited to make this recipe and I’m really disappointed! There’s too much beeswax! Have you made any changes to it since publishing?
I am so sorry that it was too hard for you! I live in a climate with very hot summers. We can add a note mentioning the need for adjustment depending on your climate.
Can I use a double broiler Instead of a crockpot?