Can CBD relieve the pain of insect bites in summer?

We're in the middle of summer, the time to enjoy the great outdoors with barbecues, picnics, beach trips, hikes, or simply gardening outside. They let the body soak up the sun and absorb as much vitamin D as possible. But with the benefits of the summer months comes one pesky nuisance…bug bites. It seems that bugs, especially mosquitoes, are attracted to certain people. And that can be an irritating, itchy mess. Warm weather attracts other types of bugs too, but can CBD ease the pain of bug bites in the summer?

RELATED: 3 Ways CBD Can Help You Get in Swimsuit Shape

Like humans, insects love summer. Since they are cold-blooded, the environment regulates their body temperature, making them much more active. Larvae grow faster, their speed increases, and mating season reaches its peak. It's a feast for flies, mosquitoes, and bees. Food is plentiful and mates are plentiful. Since their numbers are growing rapidly, they see humans as a quick, tasty reward.

Photo by KAL VISUALS via Unsplash

There are a variety of reasons why insects are attracted to humans. The smell of lactic acid and ammonia in your sweat is a magnet for insects. Mosquitoes have a special receptor that helps them detect the smell of your body. Even traces of it on your socks and shoes can be enough to ring the dinner bell. Eating and drinking outdoors attracts insects, as many of our food sources are also theirs.

Blood types O and A seem to be the blood types preferred by mosquitoes, compared to B and AB. There is not much you can do to change your genes.

When an insect sees light, it knows that its path is not blocked by a predator or obstacles. It also lets it detect food, which could be an innocent human sitting there minding its own business.

Photo by Egor Kamelev via Unsplash

Cannabis, CBD and hemp help repel insects. Consuming cannabis is one way to keep the pests away. The smoke can have a repulsive effect. CBD and hemp oils and creams can also help. The composition of hemp oil is dominated by (E)-caryophyllene, myrcene and α-pinene and is toxic to houseflies.

RELATED TOPICS: Americans like to try new drugs in the summer, science says

CBD oil and lotions are helpful for insect bites. The bites are sometimes inflamed and swollen, causing redness of the skin. CBD topicals can reduce the inflammation and swelling, so the bites become less frequent and less itchy. Definitely a benefit.

And one final note: Although they have a reputation for being very hardworking, bees, flies, ants and many other insects love their cocktails, especially beer. They get a similar buzz to humans. Keeping your soft drink covered can help prevent them from hanging around.