Anyone else been itching like crazy lately? I woke up this morning thinking we had bedbugs, but have now been reassured that it is only mites. Is that a good thing? Apparently Illinois doesn’t typically have this many mites, but this summer we got lucky.

In doing Google search to find relief from the three little bites on my arms and legs, I came across an article in the Tribune with some remedies. Here are a few of the suggestions:

• Lavender and tea tree oil: A good solution. “Lavender is essentially an anti-inflammatory and helps with itching,” Dy said. “Tea tree is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, so when people itch the area, they prevent the secondary infection.”
• Bread and milk poultice: The pressure from applying it “may release endorphins and distract from itching, like skin rubbing,” Sundaram said. A warm compress can help bring out the puss from boils; when it comes to a head and ruptures, it may provide relief, Dy added.

OK. Anyone got some lavender or tea tree oil laying around? How about bread and milk poultice? I have no idea what poultice even is. And what’s this business about “puss from boils”? I don’t like the sound of that. Kind of disgusting actually.

All right… I’m off to harvest some tea tree oil.