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Title: Bug Wars, Part III: First Aid for Your War Wounds
Article Summary: A look at summer pests and effective ways to protect you and your family from them.
Word Count: 574
First Published: 2002

Contact Info:
Paula Polman
paula@TheLearningCenterForEntrepreneurs.com
780-270-8146 MST
Edmonton AB Canada


Mosquitoes, black flies, horse flies, heel flies, sand flies, spiders, ants, chiggers, ticks, fleas. Scratching in sympathy yet? Getting a little bit itchy? All of these insects and many others not listed, love to dine on human flesh and blood. Well they have to eat too you know.

Not on you, you say? Well, if you can ante up the bug dope that is 100% effective in all conditions and all environments and I'll show you a northern Inuit people in the middle of a howling winter blizzard. They don't get bit then either. However, moving up to Baffin Island is not necessarily the solution.

If you live where it is warmer then there's going to be insects and there's going to be bites. Lots of red, swollen, puffy and incredibly itchy bites.

Why do they itch so bad? Insects inject an anticoagulant with their bite to prevent their dinner from coagulating or clotting. Most of these anticoagulants are also antigenic, meaning the majority of people suffer an allergic reaction to the injected venom.

How to control the compelling need to scratch becomes foremost in the affected person's conscience and productivity begins to wan. So digging through granny's miracle cures for itching, here's a list of home made treatments you can concoct to help control the itch.

For mosquito, fly, ant, spider & other small insect bites:
* Bath in tepid water containing any one of the following: 1/2 lb baking soda, 1 cup vinegar, 4 cups peppermint tea or 1/2 cup sea salt. Use 1/3-1/2 these amounts for children.
* Use a poultice - make a paste by combining water or tea (green or herbal), cider vinegar and a dry base like baking soda, clay (white or green) or grated potato; apply to the bites and let dry.
* Crush a plantain leaf and rub on the bite. Yarrow, oak or maple tree leaves work well too.
* Use fresh aloe vera juice on a bite.
* Dab an oil blend of olive or sweet almond oil containing 10% lavender & tea tree oils (50/50).
* Rub on equal parts of lemon and vinegar.
* Moisten an aspirin and dab it on.
* Mix vinegar and salt and apply.
* Rub on equal parts of lemon and vinegar.
* Echinacea tincture can be used topically to help reduce inflammation.


For Bee/Wasp Stings
If there is no allergic reaction, the use a poultice (recipe above) after reducing some of the swelling by alternating ice with a raw potato. If there is an allergic reaction and the person is not carrying their kit with them get emergency care immediately. This can be a life threatening situation that can progress in minutes not hours.

For Ticks
As most ticks take a long time to decide where to dine, most are easily removed in a shower or by picking them off. If you've been in the brush where ticks are around, strip down and examine yourself. Have a friend look in the places you can't see. When they do attach, they like places like behind ears, scalps, waistlines (binding clothes), legs, toes. To remove a tick that is attached, press a hot needle or match head against the bug. If it does not withdraw, do not forcibly pull it out as the head will detach and remain in the skin, causing infection. If the bug does not release, smother it in vaseline and it will pull out naturally and then suffocate. This method takes a little longer but does work.

Paula Polman, B.Sc. ran a natural cosmetics and toiletries company for 6 years and has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years. She is now involved in offering online instructional courses for small business at The Learning Center for Entrepreneurs, supporting the growth of small business thorugh extended learning. Email her at paula [at] TheLearningCenterForEntrepreneurs [dot] com or visit http://www.TheLearningCenterForEntrepreneurs.com

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