There are a lot of things that can cause itching, and the sensation can be intense. Adults can usually manage to avoid scratching to much, but young children don’t understand why they can’t relieve the feeling. I remember when my younger brother and I had chicken pox that mom had to tie socks on his hands to prevent him from doing so.
There are things you can do, and some of those are probably in your kitchen right now. How you use them depends on what is causing the rash and over how large of an area.
Stings:
The first thing to do is make a paste of baking powder and water. Place this over the sting site and leave it on for several minutes. Gently rinse it off, and see if the site is swelling or turning red. If it is, apply a second paste. If the sting is on a hand or foot, you can also put baking soda in warm water to soak to relieve the swelling that can be caused by an allergy to the insect.
Bug Bites:
You can use the baking soda routine, but meat tenderizer may work better. If the bite is from a chigger, get some nail polish and paint the bites with it. Clear is best, but any will work.
Chicken Pox:
This works for any rash, but I can’t put the whole list in the article. Draw a warm bath and add a half to a whole cup of corn starch. Our children practically lived in the tub when they had chicken pox.
Poison Ivy:
This works for poison oak and sumac as well. Make a paste of baking soda, place it over the rash and tie a cloth around it. Repeat as needed. If you happen to have a walnut tree around and the season is right, you can use the juice from the green hull as well. Be careful with that, as it will stain any surface it touches.
The Author:
Mary Bodel is a master herbalist since 2004 although my training began long before I reached that level. I believe that health encompasses more than taking care of our bodies. It involves everything from what we eat to what we read. It involves our spirit as well as our body.