Apply one of the following to bites or stings to reduce pain and swelling: aloe vera gel, garlic oil, baking soda and water,vinegar, honey, plaintain tea, or safflower oil. Use lemon juice and corn starch or lobelia extract and myrrh to relieve persistant pain and itch. Pennyroyal tea mixed with a drop of eucalyptus oil can be applied to the skin as an insect repellant. Dried tomato leaves can keep bugs out of your house when hung by windows. Taking garlic supplements, or eating garlic will lessen your chances of bug bites (and vampire bites).