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Smearing Smashed Avocado on Mosquito Bites Stopped the Itching

This Moroccan avocado based home remedy to get rid of mosquito itch is just one of many home remedies people will turn to to get rid of an annoying itch.

Q. I was cured of terrible itching from mosquito bites all over my back. My Moroccan friend squashed a ripe avocado and rubbed it on the bitten area.

The relief was sweet, instant and permanent. Have you ever heard of this Old World treatment?

A. We’ve never heard of this unusual remedy. The medical literature has no clues as to why it would work, but it certainly is innovative and doesn’t seem dangerous. It could be quite messy, though, so we’re not sure how many other people will want to try it.

Readers have reported relief from the itch of a mosquito bite with various other remedies. They include application of juice from plantain leaves, sap from a bracken fern, Vicks VapoRub, Listerine, Cepacol, vanilla extract or soy sauce.

A brief application of heat, in the form of hot water, a heated spoon or a Therapik device, often interrupts the itch signal and offers hours of relief.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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