The Alka Seltzer Hack You'll Want To Know About When Dealing With Garden Pests

Alka-Seltzer is pretty much a staple in many homes, and for good reason. It's well-known for providing quick relief from those all-too-common discomforts stomach upsets, and heartburn. That's why it's a no-brainer to include it in your first-aid kit, especially when you're heading outdoors or traveling. It's always handy to have it around for those just-in-case moments! And if you're out and about and end up with a swollen, itchy insect bite but realize you're out of insect bite cream or antihistamines, don't worry — your trusty fizzy Alka-Seltzer tablet can come to the rescue!

If you're not allergic to aspirin, you can use Alka-Seltzer to soothe your insect bite. Just plop one tablet into a glass of water and let it fizz. Dip a cotton ball into the solution and apply it to the affected area. While it's not the best treatment for an insect bite, it can help reduce the redness, itch, and inflammation caused by the bite.

Alka-Seltzer's effectiveness on insect bites can be attributed to its composition. It contains three active ingredients: anhydrous citric acid, sodium bicarbonate, and aspirin. Aspirin gives the tablet its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, which makes it a go-to remedy for headaches and minor pains. As a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), aspirin reduces the prostaglandins your body makes. Prostaglandins are key players in the body's inflammatory response, leading to symptoms like redness, pain, and swelling. Prostaglandins also contribute to allergic reactions. In fact, there's a type of prostaglandin that causes the skin to itch, according to a study published in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology.

Aspirin's pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties make it a valuable remedy for bug bites, especially when they're swollen, red, and itchy. This versatility of aspirin is highlighted in a 2015 study published in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal, which outlined various off-label dermatological applications, capitalizing on aspirin's properties to address a range of skin conditions effectively. If this made you a fan of Alka-Seltzer, why not explore different Alka-Seltzer hacks to try around the house to keep it clean? For example, you can use it to have an immaculately clean water bottle!