Best for Bites
☆ June 26, 2011
Mosquitoes are here. They’re probably there, too ~ is there anywhere where
there aren’t mosquitoes? Or spiders or biting ants? I kind of doubt it. And so, I feel compelled to share what I have determined to be the best for bites. I’ve been using this for years and it’s pretty magical: you get a bite, it itches, you put some Apinol on it and the itching vanishes. Immediately and permanently. And then it doesn’t drive you crazy and you don’t scratch it till it bleeds and you don’t end up covered in scabs. I hardly mind getting bitten anymore because I know I have this to neutralize.
In my experience it works on spider bites as well as mosquitoes. And according to their website it works on everything from bee stings to herpes and prevents infection on cuts and burns. Magical, I’m telling you. It’s made from pine oil. And it lasts ages ~ I’ve had this bottle for five years, use it daily in the summer and fall, and it’s still half full (maybe it’s so magical it regenerates).
PS: This is not an ad. I’ve never done a sponsored post but just in case anyone is wondering if my enthusiasm is pure… it is. I was not paid to write about this stuff.
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June 26th, 2011 @ 10:07 pm
Ive been searching for something for my guy who has crazy allergies and gets eczema that itches like crazy and scratches until he has sores…hopeing this is going to be a miracle for him….thank you so much!!
June 26th, 2011 @ 10:09 pm
Totally trying it. I am covered in those little scabs you mentioned. The new place has lots of watery, wetland areas, I think they breed some sort of vampire mosquito up here! Thanks for the tip.
June 26th, 2011 @ 10:52 pm
I love using lemongrass essential oil as a repellant. I’ll have to find this stuff for insect bites. I’m allergic to fire ants and living in Texas. I have a death wish.
June 26th, 2011 @ 11:03 pm
I’ll pass this on to my daughter. This time of year she and her husband spray their property with garlic to keep the mosquitoes & other insects under control. Normally we don’t have an insect problem here in AZ because its so hot but they live further from the city on land around farm critters.
June 27th, 2011 @ 6:36 am
Interesting… I’ve been using a product called “Ssssting stop” which works very well- far better than anything else I’ve found. But it does need to be reapplied now & then.
June 27th, 2011 @ 6:43 am
every morning you make me smile with your posts! that’s all…:-)
June 27th, 2011 @ 7:16 am
Have to try this, the mosquito’s are thick in Maine as we have had a very wet spring. My problem is however with Ticks. I pulled 2 on Saturday bringing this years count to 30! My legs look like somebody got me with birdshot. I will let you know if helps.
June 27th, 2011 @ 7:20 am
This sounds like the answer to my prayers. I used to use a bottle of campo-phenique that I inherited from my grandmother but I ran out and the stuff they sell now isn’t quite the same product. I guess they make more of a profit if they customize a bunch of different products to different ailments rather than creating one product that treats everything. This stuff sounds even better than campo-phenique, though. I’ll have to give it a try!
June 27th, 2011 @ 8:15 am
Great! Mosquitoes just LOVE my daughter, and she lives a bit north of you in Idaho where the critters grow big enough to carry off small children. So she will be delighted to have something that actually stops the itch and lasts a long time, too — the only other thing we’ve ever found that worked is Benadryl spray (not the cream or the gel, just the spray, for no known reason), but it gets real expensive real fast because it empties out in next to no time.
And don’t worry about sharing a product you love. That’s my favorite way to learn about wonderful new things, when someone is happy enough with a product to tell people about it even though there’s nothing in it for them but warm fuzzies! (Or, in this case, no itchies!)
June 27th, 2011 @ 8:24 am
THANK YOU. This is something I need in my life, as I attract mosquitoes like flies to a Rafflesia arnoldii. The bites will stop itching a little while after I’m bitten, but then the itch comes back a day or two later to torture me. I’m ordering some today.
June 27th, 2011 @ 8:30 am
This is really great to read today. The past couple weeks, my boyfriend has been complaining about getting bit up by ticks. I’ve seen his tick bites, and they’re awful. He’s always so itchy and I just feel bad because I didn’t know what to do! It’s as if the bugs know that he’s very sensitive to the bites, because when we’re outside together, I never get bit, but he winds up with a lot. I’ll have to get a bottle of this for him.
Thanks Shreve!
June 27th, 2011 @ 8:31 am
Add me to the list of people who can’t wait to try this… Thanks for sharing, Shreve! Couldn’t come at a better time.
June 27th, 2011 @ 8:38 am
Just ordered 4 oz. Thanks for the tip! I used Muskol for years….but I think this will be better as it isn’t as toxic…no DEET… anyway thanks Shreve!
June 27th, 2011 @ 9:21 am
Good info! Our county in Colorado announced that due to budget cuts they’re not doing mosquito control this year– uh oh! So, thanks for the tip!
June 27th, 2011 @ 9:36 am
Bought two!!
June 27th, 2011 @ 9:52 am
Guess I should say I live in Georgia the armpit of mosquito hell and am currently sporting a spider bite.
June 27th, 2011 @ 11:18 am
I second than Cin (about Georgia), I am outside Atlanta and I swear these things are huge…and the love me! Gonna have to get some of this.
June 27th, 2011 @ 11:36 am
Can you use this on animals? My cat is allergic to flea bites, and even using Advantage she always seems to get some.
June 27th, 2011 @ 12:02 pm
Hi Shreve, I emailed the company today to get an order form, and they wrote back to me asking where I heard of their product. They said that since yesterday they have recieved over 400 orders of Apinol. I thought this was funny and I should let you know>
Lori
June 27th, 2011 @ 12:16 pm
I placed an order for our trip to Idaho and received this question on my confirmation..
I have had over 400 orders come in since last night is there something going on with apinol or some type of publication that has featured Apinol? I am just so perplexed.
You’ve done it now Shreve….. LOL
June 27th, 2011 @ 12:30 pm
And to follow up:
Oh… Please tell her thank you.
You will love it..
Thanks so much for responding.
Cindy Simmons
June 27th, 2011 @ 12:38 pm
I placed my order for Apinol and got an email back asking how I’d heard of it. They’ve received over 400 orders since last night. Here is her response when I said I’d learned of her product from your blog:
Please tell her thank you.
You will love it..
Thanks so much for responding.
Cindy Simmons
June 27th, 2011 @ 12:53 pm
Thanks for tip, will order the stuff too as the biting bugs are alive and well in Chicago, and have me for breakfast, dinner and supper!
:( :( :(
June 27th, 2011 @ 1:40 pm
FYI, there are virtually no mosquitos in Seattle. ;) (A pleasant surprise since I moved here from the East coast!)
June 27th, 2011 @ 2:42 pm
oh! i wish i had know about this a week ago. we spent a week in belize and came back with AWFUL noseeum bites that itched like poison ivy. considering we are in texas, i’m sure i can scratch up a use for it in the near future! thanks!
June 27th, 2011 @ 2:44 pm
Will be buying some tonight!!!!
June 27th, 2011 @ 2:46 pm
The boyfriend is sensitive to mosquito and flea bites, so I will pass this link along to him. Thanks for the tip!
June 27th, 2011 @ 2:48 pm
Plain old rubbing alcohol from the 99¢ Store also works! Takes out the sting and itch in seconds. :)
June 27th, 2011 @ 3:52 pm
June ~ you must live in a different Seattle than from whence I came – they were awful when I was a kid!
Lori, Granny Nanny, & Sue ~ Oh my goodness that is hilarious!!!!! :)
June 27th, 2011 @ 4:12 pm
Have used this in the past and Shreve is RIGHT ON TARGET!! Apinol is amazing and the bottle seems to last forever. Really good stuff.
June 27th, 2011 @ 4:14 pm
Thanks Shreve I have been looking for something that stops the itching.
June 27th, 2011 @ 4:54 pm
Chicago here. Mosquitoes and spiders are legion this summer. (Was it the wet spring?) Our indoor cats pounce on and gobble up the spiders that skitter across the living room carpet. I’ll give Apinol a try. Hope there’s some left! ;) (My mom swears by meat tenderizer, mixes it with a little bit of water and makes a paste.)
June 27th, 2011 @ 4:55 pm
Mary ~ I’ve not used this on my animals but I don’t see any reason why it couldn’t or shouldn’t be done – it’s way less harsh than Advantage and oh! just went to their site, there’s a whole section on animal use:
http://www.apinol.com/varioususesofapinol.html
scroll down and you’ll find it.
June 27th, 2011 @ 4:59 pm
Bugs are not usually a problem at home, but it’s always nice to have something more in the arsenal. Especially as my young nephew is getting old enough to backpack… Thanks!
June 27th, 2011 @ 5:46 pm
About six years ago on NPR’s The People’s Pharmacy they shared that Vick’s Vapor Rub would work. By gosh it works!
June 27th, 2011 @ 6:16 pm
I’ll keep Apinol in mind. A few years ago I discovered a product called Sting Eze. It has the same amazing properties as you describe for Apinol, except it does run out eventually:) The container is .5 fl. oz. I carry some with me at all times in the summer. If I get it on the bite as soon as I feel the itch, the itch and redness disappears. I have scars all over my arms from years of scratching mosquito bites…but not anymore! Thanks for the tip, just in case I ever need it:)
June 27th, 2011 @ 6:19 pm
So just bought some too – skeeters love me, and of course I’m allergic, breaking out into nice big welts that itch like nothing else.
June 28th, 2011 @ 12:33 am
I live in Canada, and hope they will sell to me.
Thanks for the tip, I like supporting and using products that are good for the skin.
June 28th, 2011 @ 5:22 am
Wow! this sounds intriguing!
I live in Europe and ordering things from the US is a hassle, but I will be looking into this, if nothing else, then for my US-american relatives.
What I have been doing is a bit risky, but does usually work.
You heat up a spoon over a candle until it is very very hot. Then you hold it JUST ABOVE a new bite, so that it gets hot enough to neutralise the toxins, but not to burn your skin.
NO more itch.
This must be done soon.
And, you can get burned, if you flinch.
Oh, and of course having a spoon, matches and a candle lying around might look somewhat suspicious.
June 28th, 2011 @ 6:08 am
I just ordered it, thank you for posting !
June 28th, 2011 @ 6:25 am
T ~ HA!!
June 28th, 2011 @ 8:21 am
Even as we speak I am itching. So I went to their web site and imagine my surprise when they are just up the road, here in Alabama!! I will be ordering some, and I am guessing you will be quite in demand as a spokesperson!! (I hope they have some left) Thanks for sharing!!
June 28th, 2011 @ 8:39 am
Shreve and Mary (#18) – I accessed their link last night and discovered two things:
1) Great for use on animals except for cats – they lick it off their fur, and that may cause a bit of a problem. However, if you are able to find the exact bite, I would imagine you could use a Q-tip to apply just a drop right on the skin, then fluff the fur back over it. I think if my little kitty had flea bites, I’d try that. Good luck!
2) I was so grateful to hear about this stuff, Shreve, that I read the info on the site specifically for poison ivy application. Hallelujah! It works on skin irritation of almost any variety, including poisonous plant contact. My son is an extreme sports guy and has an almost deadly reaction to poison ivy, which is everywhere, from wilderness climbing approaches to mtn. bike trails, etc.
Thank you, thank you!
p.s. – a kiss to Fiona, Daisy, Charlie, Chloe, Ranger… oh dear, kiss the entire farmily for me! I guess w/Ricardo a “Hey from Jenny” would be a better idea than a kiss. Hehe.
June 28th, 2011 @ 10:42 am
How funny Terry – I came up with a similar solution as I tend to scratch myself into a bloody pulp when bitten by mozzies. I figured I’d rather feel real pain than that f@#$%in itch. I heat up some water in the kettle, when it is hot I put some on a clean rag and then hold it as long as I can to the itch spot — sometimes it is too hot so you have to let it cool off a bit. This takes the itch away and I haven’t suffered any scars from it.
June 28th, 2011 @ 1:00 pm
You should also consider buying a couple of bat houses! Bats eat their weight in mosquitoes and a day, about 600 an hour!
I have one up in my front yard and will put one up in my backyard.
June 28th, 2011 @ 1:33 pm
Just what I need! I’m up North in Canada, just ordered myself a bottle. I hate being covered in itchy mosquito bumps as much as the next person, but I’m more curious to see if it helps relieve the constant pain I get in my bunions!
June 28th, 2011 @ 2:07 pm
FYI, the poor (lucky) sales person at Apinol is mystified as to why she has suddenly gotten 400 orders for Apinol in one day and emailed me to ask why. I referred her to your blog. :)
June 28th, 2011 @ 2:50 pm
The timing of this post is so appropriate. I was just at a bbq and got bitten up and I’m severely allergic. There’s one bite that’s legitimately swelled up to the size of my fist. Definitely ordering.
June 28th, 2011 @ 4:48 pm
Mosquito’s love me. I came home from a 4 day backpacking trip in your bighorns a few yrs ago with 75 bites (yes, I counted), including on my face. Thanks for the info, I’ll purchase some for sure.
June 28th, 2011 @ 10:07 pm
This is going to sound funny, but I use a highlighter. I don’t have to deal with a lot of bugbites but the occasional one still sucks, and that’s how I take care of them. Something about highlighter ink heals bites, the itching stops after a few seconds and the bump from the bite is gone in about a minute. Then you can just wash off the ink from the highlighter. Obviously not good if you’re bitten on the face but it’s perfect for arms and hands if you just have a bump or two to deal with.
June 29th, 2011 @ 4:12 am
Thank you for the tip. My daughter will love the product. Shreve,I love the once a month pictures of Charlie and the clan. I look forward to seeing who will be in it every month. That is a lovely gesture. I love it.
June 29th, 2011 @ 9:23 am
I think you single handed put more people in Alabama to work than the Governor! Yes I just bought some, I looked around at the 2 places that might carry it, got a look like “What” maybe now they will. Now you can add to your resume, Spokesperson”! :-)
June 29th, 2011 @ 11:26 am
thank you SO much for the info…! I’m still healing from 11 mosquito bites on my legs from one evening over a week ago. (big, swollen lumps = long pants all week) the Google search results for “bug bite itch relief” were either inadequate or too temporary. I’ve placed my order, and look forward to Apinol’s many uses. Your blog is a life-saver! :) xo
June 29th, 2011 @ 2:20 pm
Trish (#48) – are you ok?
Heatherface (#50) – I had a nice little chuckle over the lovely funny vision of a bunch o’ people running around w/yellow or green highlighter all over their bites while they wait for the Apinol to arrive at their doorstep…
June 29th, 2011 @ 2:27 pm
Trish (#48) – are you ok?
Heatherface (#50) – I had a nice little chuckle over the funny vision of a bunch o’ people running around w/yellow or green highlighter all over their bites while they wait for the Apinol to arrive at their doorstep…
June 29th, 2011 @ 4:39 pm
Thanks for posting this! I live in thick, steamy Florida, and we get everything from Mosquitoes to Dog Ticks. The bites for me are itchy enough, but my friend’s bites can swell to the size of a quarter! I’ll need to get a bottle of this amazing elixir before I go out herping again~
June 29th, 2011 @ 4:57 pm
Remember “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” well most commercial bite stuff contains ammonia like Windex. As we are all waiting around for Apinol using our highlighters, ammonia and water works for most bites, it stings and do not use lemon scent, that burns. Going to the store to check out ladies with highlighter marks tomorrow, maybe start a Friend of Shreve club! ;-)
June 29th, 2011 @ 7:57 pm
I’ve tried all the remedies people claim one year. My boyfriend and I were up in a mountain resort in British Columbia. I forgot bug spray and paid for it with being dinner for everything that flies – from skeeters to no see ums. I had huge itchy welts that swelled to about twonie size.
I went to the pharmacy the next day and bought Benadryl for the swelling, dabbed them with toothpaste, alcohol, windex, salt, whatever else common wisdom suggested, and not only did NOTHING help, but the little no see um bites itched for several weeks.
I am very excited to try Apinol, and very apprehensive at the same time. :)
June 30th, 2011 @ 9:23 am
Ammonia works well for Hornets, Wasps, and most biting ants. Ammonia is a base, Formic acid is irritant that make bite and sting hurt, same as stinging nettles. Baking soda is also a base, a base is a neutralizer for acid compounds. It has limited use on Bees and Fire ants as they carry a complex venom.
June 30th, 2011 @ 9:45 am
#58 Tatiana, Was it no-see-um as in the flying kind or was it chiggers? Chiggers are on grass and are like a tiny spider that burrow into the skins pores. If you lay on grass south of the mason dixon line you get them, however they are moving north. A soft wax on the bite like Chapstick or lipstick smothers them.
Biting flies have a venom also as do leeches and mosquits. As for spiders I got a brown recluse bite this spring, no cure just a open wound until the dead skin sloughs off.
July 1st, 2011 @ 9:29 am
Ordered and done. Thank you! We have woods everywhere around us, my Daughter gets like 60 bites a day. Thanks for the tip!
July 3rd, 2011 @ 1:28 am
Shreve…. I purchased apinol –the company – about 12 years ago. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you posted about Apinol. I just bought the company because I did not want them to close. No other selfish reasons. But when I started going through the 1903 founded product papers I found remarks and remedies that made tears come to my eyes. Curing facial skin cancer. Wow. I knew that I had something special. To you Shreve….a huge thank you. To all your very loyal readers who ordered, I would absolutely love to hear how well you like Apinol. Again, I should have already told you THANKS !!!…
July 4th, 2011 @ 8:48 am
Wow, Cindy – Thanks a MILLION for purchasing the company and making this wonderful remedy available!
July 5th, 2011 @ 12:09 pm
Thanks so much for the tip, Shreve! I purchased some as soon as I read this, and have used it on (multiple) fresh mosquito bites twice. Both times, the itch and swelling (I’m somewhat allergic to bites and end up with swelling and bruising) was relieved like you said- immediately and permanently. I wish I’d known about this 20 years ago. It’s working wonderfully for me so far. I was happy to have it in my purse yesterday- I got eaten up during 4th of July celebrations here in Oklahoma!
July 8th, 2011 @ 6:57 pm
I’m so sad to post this. I ordered a big (8 oz) bottle of Apinol after reading this post, and it just isn’t working as well as I had hoped! In my experience, it doesn’t seem to instantly neutralize the itching…I’ve had to apply it several times in a couple of instances. It makes me smell like Pine Sol, which would be fine if it neutralized the itch, but that just hasn’t been the case. I’m so, so, SO sad to report that it hasn’t been as effective for me as it was for you, Shreve. No offense. :(
July 11th, 2011 @ 10:17 am
I ordered some because we have always had a bad mosquito problem (the bat house is going up come fall!) and while it has a VERY strong (though not unpleasant) odor, it really does do the trick. I got a rash from somewhere and it worked on that, too. So thanks for the tip, Shreve!
July 13th, 2011 @ 1:41 pm
I received my Apinol about a week and a half ago. I finally had a reason to use it. I think it was a spider bite and it hurt and itched so much…so I got some Apinol on it and it WORKS! Yay…this is the best stuff ever. :)
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
November 18th, 2012 @ 11:30 pm
If we are talking about common spider bites, it would be not to serious and just a dab of Calamine would solve the problem. ,
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November 19th, 2012 @ 3:26 am
If we are talking about common spider bites, it would be not to serious and just a dab of Calamine would solve the problem. .
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November 19th, 2012 @ 7:36 pm
tick bites can be dangerous too because ticks are cariers of other pathogens. :
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April 3rd, 2013 @ 7:12 am
Several spiders can protect your home from pesky invaders. Cellar spiders-the web-spinning species most common in homes-have been known to prey on black widow spiders. Some, like the spiny orb weaver and house spiders, can hunt crickets and small flying insects. Wolf spiders can help rid lawns and gardens of common pests. Even the brown recluse-the most dangerous spider to humans-can assist by eating cockroaches, silverfish and other soft-bodied insects.’
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