For us, insects are an occasional nuisance, but for the Native Americans they were a way of life. Living face-to-face with nature, often sleeping with nothing but pine needles beneath them and the stars above, they undoubtedly were viewed as “dinner” by more than a few hungry members of the insect world. They didn’t have commercial repellents like we do, but they did discover ways to make themselves a little less desirable to hungry insects.
Repel them with herbs. One way Native Americans avoided close encounters of the biting kind was to cover themselves with bear oil. A more attractive remedy today is pennyroyal, a member of the mint family. You can crush pennyroyal leaves and rub the juice on exposed skin. Hanging dried pennyroyal plants in your home can also repel insects.
Soothe the sting. To ease the discomfort of insect bites and stings, Native Americans would apply a poultice made from mullein, plantain, echinacea, onion, and garlic. For serious bites, they would suck the affected area to remove as much venom as possible, followed by an application of a soothing herb.
These remedies may sound primitive, but there’s good evidence that they worked, says James Duke. He has found, for example, that rubbing your skin and clothes with any member of the mint family makes a very effective repellent. If you do get bitten or stung, go ahead and use a poultice made with any of the herbs the Native Americans used. Poultices can help reduce pain and swelling. They’re most effective when used right after the bite or sting occurs.
This Insect Bite Treatment article is taken from :
Healing Secrets of the Native Americans - Porter Shimer
