Mosquito Bite Remedies

Mosquitoes have been around for 170 million years with more than 3,500 known species in the U.S. Mosquitoes can smell dinner from a distance up to 30 meters. Bites are caused by female mosquitoes searching for isoleucine, an amino acid that makes up protein found in blood.  Female mosquitoes have feeding stylets to pierce skin and siphon blood because they need human blood to develop fertile eggs. Male mosquitoes lack this blood-sucking ability because they don't produce eggs.

Everyone attracts mosquitoes, because all humans breathe and omit carbon dioxide. Mosquitoes search and fly in the direction of higher carbon dioxide concentration, leading then to a warm body. A female mosquito usually finds a blood vessel in our skin in less than a minute, fills up with up to four times her weight in blood, and injects saliva, an anticoagulant, to keep our blood from clotting. The mosquito saliva causes a histamine response, creating itching around the bite area from a mild allergic reaction.

The differences in our appeal to mosquitoes is affected by bodily odors and elements of our body chemistry. People are covered in hundreds of species of bacteria which is responsible for personal odor. Concentrations of steroids, uric acid, and cholesterol on skin surface can attract mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are attracted to movement, heavy breathing, lactic acid from sweat, and heat.

The signs of a mosquito bite are puffy, white bumps on the skin that appear right after the bite or a hard, itchy, reddish-brown bump, appearing a day or so after the bite. In people with immune system disorders, mosquito bites can also trigger a large area of swelling and redness, low-grade fever, hives, and swollen lymph nodes. If mosquito bites seem to trigger fever, headache, and body aches, contact a doctor. Scratching the itch aggravates the bite, making it itch more and can lead to infection. Most mosquito bites stop itching and heal on their own without medical treatment.

To help with itching you can topically apply an anti itch cream, calamine lotion, Quantum Sting Soothe, Ssssting Stop homeopathic gel, lavender essential oil, peppermint essential oil, tea tree essential oil, apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, and aloe vera gel to bites. Taking an oral homeopathic antihistamine may ease your body's response.

Source: wikipedia, control-mosquitoes.com

Here are two natural remedies to help reduce itching:

Baking soda paste

1 tbs baking soda 

1 pint warm water

Directions: Mix ingredients together and gently apply to the affected area using a cotton swab. Allow to dry for a few minutes and wash off with warm water.

Hot bath 

2 tbs apple cider vinegar

2 cups ground oatmeal

Directions: Prepare hot water in bath tub and add all ingredients.  Soak for 15-20 minutes and rinse.

Mona Claypoole, Director of Marketing & Wellness Support

Have “Beach Feet” Whether You Go to the Beach or Not

After a week at the shore don’t your feet feel fantastic? It’s like magic, but it’s not. The sand exfoliates and the salt water cleanses, while lotion nourishes your skin.

Summer’s not over yet and whether you will be hitting the beach or staying in Central PA this August, there are natural ways to get that sandal-worthy “beach feet” look and feel.

At the Beach Scrub

3 Tbsp beach sand

3 Tbsp Sea Salt (I prefer fine, but coarse is more effective on rougher skin)

6 Tbsp Coconut Oil

3 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

1 drop Tea Tree Oil

Combine all ingredients. Wet your feet and rub the mixture over each foot, taking particular care on extra dry areas. Wash off and pat dry, or even better, soak in freshly-brewed Peppermint tea for 10-15 minutes before rinsing and drying.

NOT at the Beach Scrub

Simply exchange the 3 Tbsp of beach sand for 3 Tbsp of Sugar (try Raw Turbinado) and follow the instructions above.

I finish my fabulous “Beach Feet” look with nail polish from Mineral Fusion. They’re formaldehyde-free and come in plenty of colors. Rock Candy is my personal favorite. 

-Nancy Mayne, Director of Wellness

Staff Pick of the Month

Kind Organics Multi-Vitamins

-Mona, Director of Marketing and Wellness Support

Kind Organics is a certified organic, non-gmo, whole food multivitamin with a concentration of nutrients that come from real food.  Real food from organic apples, strawberries, lemons, spinach, blueberries and tomatoes. Over 30 fruits, vegetables and herbs making them rich in plant-derived phytochemicals and cofactors such as antioxidants, carotenoids, flavanols, isoflavones, catechins, anthocyanins, polyphenols, vitamins and trace minerals. The packaging is renewable energy with recycled packaging materials and vegetable inks on forest friendly paper.  This is an excellent mutivitamin for anyone seeking energy and support from food sources.

Vegan Teriyaki Udon Noodles
-Victoria, Baker
A new item in the deli cold case has rocketed to the top of my list of favorites: the Vegan Teriyaki Udon Noodles. While the summer weather might be too warm to enjoy this dish hot, these noodles are equally scrumptious chilled.  What really stands out is our in-house teriyaki sauce which, unlike a lot of commercial sauces I have tried, isn’t overly sweet.  The recipe also uses toasted sesame oil which gives the noodles a subtle smokiness.  Broccoli, carrots, and scallions give the dish color and crunch, while seasoned tofu diversifies the texture and brings the warm, spicy-sweet flavors of Asian Five Spice. Often used in Chinese cuisine, this spice blend contains cinnamon, fennel, cloves, star anise and white pepper.  If you love noodles and Asian food like I do, I recommend that you give this new dish a try!  You’ll be happy you did.

EO Bath Salts

-CJ, Supervisor

With the spring upon us and summer fast approaching, and with everyone outdoors – whether they be running, jogging, hiking, biking, yoga, or simply just taking a stroll, now is the time to give our bodies a little TLC. EO makes this amazing bath salt and soak called Be Well. Be Well consists of not only eucalyptus for rejuvenation but arnica as well to ease and mend those aching muscles. As a horseback-rider and practitioner of yoga and cardio, I love this blend. Not only does the eucalyptus help mend sore muscles, but it also helps with sinus and allergy issues. As an avid user of arnica, I can say this bath salt blend truly does help the body mend and ease muscle pain and discomfort. This product is one of my favorites and I will gladly suggest it to any one who walks into The Healthy Grocer needing assistance with muscle pain.

Captain Dan

-Claudia, Head Buyer

Recently, I was listening to Terry Gross on  NPR’s “Fresh Air” interviewing Paul Greenberg. Mr. Greenberg was addressing the plight of seafood in the United States, a topic he has researched quite thoroughly for his two books: American Catch, The Fight for our Local Seafood  and Four Fish, The Future of the Last Wild Food. I was shocked to find out that 91% of the seafood American’s consume comes from abroad.  

We export millions of tons of our wild Alaskan salmon and import mostly farmed salmon. And some of our wild Alaskan salmon is actually sent to China, defrosted, boned, refrozen and sent back to us to consume.

Since I am a real fan of salmon, it is a comfort to me to be able to reach into our freezer at The Healthy Grocer and grab a package of Captain Dan’s Wild Alaskan Salmon. Captain Dan spends his summers catching the salmon in Alaska.  The fish is cleaned packed and frozen right there on location. That’s as fresh as you can get it!  And that is why it is the most amazing salmon you will ever taste.