Home remedies for insect bites

There is a wide range of proprietary preparations available from the chemist both to prevent and treat insect bites. In addition Mrs E. Eardill from County Down recommends Bonjela: 'it forms a skin almost like cling-film and stops the intense itching.' Two home remedies have also been suggested.

Toothpaste: Mrs Linda Williams from St Albans reports that toothpaste topically applied stops the itching: 'I was told this in Botswana and have used it ever since.'

Hot water: Mrs Geraldine Hobson from Dorset was taught this remedy by her great grandmother. 'Hold a flannel by the end under a very hot tap. Wring out thoroughly and then press onto the bite. It will be almost too hot to bear but, of course, do not scald yourself. Repeat if necessary. The bite will itch even more furiously as the inflammation is 'drawn-out' by the heat - but after this the result is miraculous. It is more effective than any lotion or potion you can buy.

Wind: The main points are to avoid where possible wind-inducing foods, and if gas is trapped in the gut causing distension to try the 'Mecca position' to aid its expulsion.

Pain: The colicky pains of IBS are the symptoms that cause most distress. As with the treatment of diarrhoea, there are several home remedies including massaging the abdomen and the topical application of heat with a hot water bottle. But, once again, the treatments from the chemist, both painkillers and antispasmodics, are much more effective and thus to be preferred.