Tired of pesky mosquito, spider, or other insect bites getting you down? You could try using Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia), an extract made from the leaves of an Australian tree. Tea Tree Oil has strong activity against Staphylococcus aureus including MRSA, and is a potent antimicrobial drug.

Please note that Tea Tree Oil “is toxic when swallowed. It has been reported to cause drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, coma, unsteadiness, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, blood cell abnormalities, and severe rashes. It should be kept away from pets and children.” If applied inside ears, it can cause hearing loss, or if applied in great concentration to the skin, and also be toxic.

You can buy it any local pharmacy over the counter or at grocery stores. Amazon also sells it: Tea Tree 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil – 30 ml.

I’ve been using it on a spider bite and a couple mosquito bites (hmm, bugs like to bite me… ) and it’s working well and helping them heal much more rapidly than usual. It has an interesting smell, but a thin application twice a day for a week seems to be working well.