Bite relief

[Globetrotter.uk]

Which are the best relief creams/lotions on the Market.

When I get bitten I tend to use pinewoods cream but I think my body has got use to it.

[JonathanD]

I use the steel handle end of a spoon or knife dipped in boiling water for ten seconds. You then thrust it onto the bite, take the pain for a split second and then enjoy the amazing relief that follows. It works exceptionally well.

[spandit]

Heat works for me too - I tend to pour hot water on the bite (or hold it under the hot tap). Think the heat breaks down the poison and also brings the blood to the surface to help dissipate it

[Toddy]

Eurax.

It stops the itch, it eases the swelling, and it gives me peace :)

Failing that.....crushed cleavers or goosegrass (had enough sticky willie jokes :rolleyes:) works remarkably well, as does meadowsweet.

cheers,
Toddy

[shaggystu]

i seem to be getting bitten more and more these days, i never used to at all, not sure what's changed.
i've been using boots' own brand "bite & sting relief anithistamine cream", apparently the active ingredient is mapyramine maleate, about £3.50 for a 30g tube IIRC, it works pretty well for me

HTH

stuart

[bb07]

I'm almost afraid to say this, but some people swear by Preparation H for insect bites. After all, it is for stopping itch and reducing swelling.

[g4ghb]

I have a 'sting clicker' like this - http://www.roamingfox.co.uk/skin1/images/cache/5a361cead8e79d67ecd8ea19cb1639 99.jpg (http://www.roamingfox.co.uk/Click-Dont-Scratch-pr-16171.html)- it gives you a kinda pezto? shock and seems to work ok (when I remember to use it) to be honest the most common sting I get is nettle which it is no use for

[santaman2000]

Brand name really doesn't matter. Just make sure the itch relieving ingredient is 1% hydrocortizone (for itchy bites)

[Suomäki]

I also prefer 1% hydrocortizone or 2,5 % hydrocortizone

[mountainm]

We used to use Solarcaine
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Solarcaine-Aloe-Extra-Relief-Spray/dp/B000052XQK
as kids - you can occasionally find it in shops over here. Great for bites and sunburn. If I can't find that I get Eurax or just Man up and take the itches. :p

[The Big Lebowski]

Plain old malt vinegar works for me every time...

[mountainm]

Plain old malt vinegar works for me every time...

With the added Chip Shop smell bonus!

[The Big Lebowski]

LoL!

It works really, really well... If I get a mozzie/horse fly bite, it reacts badly and I get yellow itchy lumps. A quick scratch to open the bite, a drop of vinegar on the area and no more itching.

I have no idea why, but it works every time. Just cured an unexplained bite on my arm with vinegar thats been playing up for a day or so. No itching anymore and healing nicely after just a couple of hours since treatment.

al.

[Globetrotter.uk]

Blimey just tried the heat method with a spoon. Ouch can't feel any itching just a deep burning sensation.

[JonathanD]

Blimey just tried the heat method with a spoon. Ouch can't feel any itching just a deep burning sensation.

There you go :lmao:

[dave53]

shame he didn't see that one coming jon regards dave I'm in tears here:lmao::lmao::lmao:

[Hugo]

I use the steel handle end of a spoon or knife dipped in boiling water for ten seconds. You then thrust it onto the bite, take the pain for a split second and then enjoy the amazing relief that follows. It works exceptionally well.

Thanks JD this worked for me today, I was bitten on Sunday and it was giving me gip until the hot spoon trick.

[Crowe]

Similar trick to Johnathon D. If you smoke, hold the glowing tip of the cigarrette just above the bite until you cannot stand the pain. Et Voila the irritation stops.
Crowe

[heavylevy]

We use the "sting clicker" the wife was recommended it by someone who took it on safari and we havnt looked back BLOODY brilliant if you excuse the pun.cheers

[sasquatch]

Tiger Balm or similar works as well

[TurboGirl]

Dunno if this is apt for this thread but here goes! Its my recipe for a medicinal massage bar which works just fab on most bites and skin irritations, smells amazing and I'll bet it'd be handy for firelighting too =)
4 tabs/ 3 floz Grapeseed (or vegetable or infused) oil*
2 oz Cocoa butter (broken into small chunks)
½ oz Beeswax
12 drops Lavender essential oil
• Put all the ingredients but the perfume oils into a pudding bowl on top of a saucepan of simmering water.
• Melt gently together & remove from the heat.
• Cool for a minute or two off the saucepan, then add the essential oil.
• Stir well & pour into clingfilm- lined moulds of your choice.
• Leave to set for an hour then use!
*I first infuse the oil with chopped cleavers (sticky weed) by filling a pudding bowl with them, adding rapeseed (vegetable) oil and heating over a saucepan of boiling water until the oil took a green tinge- about 1-1 ½ hr.

[Man of Tanith]

Dunno if this is apt for this thread but here goes! Its my recipe for a medicinal massage bar which works just fab on most bites and skin irritations, smells amazing and I'll bet it'd be handy for firelighting too =)
4 tabs/ 3 floz Grapeseed (or vegetable or infused) oil*
2 oz Cocoa butter (broken into small chunks)
½ oz Beeswax
12 drops Lavender essential oil
• Put all the ingredients but the perfume oils into a pudding bowl on top of a saucepan of simmering water.
• Melt gently together & remove from the heat.
• Cool for a minute or two off the saucepan, then add the essential oil.
• Stir well & pour into clingfilm- lined moulds of your choice.
• Leave to set for an hour then use!
*I first infuse the oil with chopped cleavers (sticky weed) by filling a pudding bowl with them, adding rapeseed (vegetable) oil and heating over a saucepan of boiling water until the oil took a green tinge- about 1-1 ½ hr.

interesting, i shall give this a go

[daveO]

Failing that.....crushed cleavers or goosegrass (had enough sticky willie jokes :rolleyes:) works remarkably well, as does meadowsweet.

cheers,
Toddy

I've found ribwort plantain to be really good as well.

[stuey]

Home made Plantain Balm works well for most bites.

Infuse olive oil with plantain leaves.
Filter through muslin
Add pure beeswax slowly, taking setting "samples regularly" (drizzle a bitonto cold platefrom freezer like making jam)
Pour into lip balm tins and allow to set.

[TurboGirl]

Meadowseet helps with pain too doesn't it? If it works topically as well, thats a top tip there m8! Brilliant to have some more useful medicinal recipes too, gonna try your method stuey :)

[stuey]

Hi TurboGirl :)

Ive not used meadowsweet personally so cant say really but ive read it work for pain... you could do a cocktail of plantain and meadowsweet!
I reckon my method is exactly the same as yours but not as refined!! ;)
It makes a balm a little more solid and far less sticky than Vaseline lip balm. I got the lip balm tins from ebay. Perfect size to chuck in your pocket or pack and when its quite new you can slather it on with the tin! Great for nettle stings, scrages or anything else really :)

The very first batch I made I packed the plantain leaves into a jar contaning olive oil and left it in the sun for a couple of weeks then strained it, heated it and added wax to thicken it. Your way if infusing the oil is way quicker and much more convenient.

I wish I could give you exact aamounts of wax but it really is trial and error adding a small amount at a time until you get the required consistency on your cold plate.

The above method works with most plants apart from the very watery ones like Aloe vera in which case you are best making a water based gel.

[2trapper]

Here in Italy we have a very good product with a mix of low dose capsaicin and aldemidrol. Very useful. Howewer, only for pain, also the lidocaine based product are useful

[spandit]

I use the steel handle end of a spoon or knife dipped in boiling water for ten seconds. You then thrust it onto the bite, take the pain for a split second and then enjoy the amazing relief that follows. It works exceptionally well.

Tried this yesterday. Now have a large burn blister on my leg :(

[resnikov]

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