Question:
How to Prevent Mosquito Bites
http://www.mercola.com/2003/jun/7/mosquito_bites.htm
Mosquitoes are not only a nuisance--their bites can cause serious
complications including the transmission of diseases such as malaria,
yellow fever, encephalitis, and West Nile virus (WN) to humans and
animals.
Mosquitoes belong to the Diptera order, otherwise known as the True
Flies.
There are over 2,500 different species of mosquitoes throughout the
world
with about 200 species in the United States. There are 77 species in
Florida alone, and a new species, Anopheles grabhamii, was reported in
the
Florida Keys in 2001.
While there are many ways to deter mosquitoes from biting you, some
are
more toxic than others. The following suggestions give you easy ways
to
repel these pests:
Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets--just wipe on and go. This is great
for
babies.
Supplement with one vitamin B-1 tablet a day from April through
October.
Add 100 mg of B-1 to a B-100 Complex daily during the mosquito season.
Don't eat bananas during mosquito season--mosquitoes love bananas!
There is
something about how your body processes the banana oil that attracts
these
female sugar-loving insects.
One of the best natural insect repellents is Vick's Vaporub®.
Planting marigolds around your yard works great as a bug repellent
because
the flowers give off a fragrance bugs do not like. This is a great way
to
ward off mosquitoes without using chemical insecticides.
Campers agree that the very best mosquito repellant is Avon
Skin-So-Soft®
bath oil mixed half and half with rubbing alcohol.
One of the best natural insect repellants we use in Texas is made from
the
clear liquid vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It is reported to work
great
for mosquitoes and ticks, and spreading a little vanilla mixed with
olive
oil on your skin smells great.
Commercial mosquito dunks will kill mosquito larvae before they become
mosquitoes. There are fairly environmentally sound biological mosquito
controls containing no toxic chemicals. Each dunk affectively treats
up to
100 square feet of surface water regardless of depth for about 30
days.
Dunks may be broken into smaller pieces to treat small areas. Unused
and
dried out dunks retain their potency indefinitely, so you can store
extras
for the long summer season. Put them in fountains, ponds, rain
gutters,
flowerpot trays, and anywhere water may pool.
Citronella soap is a product that started in the Bahamas and Belize.
The
soaps are made with olive oil for moisture and great lather, Aloe Vera
to
soothe the skin, and citronella oil to repel mosquitoes. For high
intensity
protection you can burn citronella incense. Mosquitoes avoid
citronella and
they hate the smoke.
Citronella essential oil (Java Citronella) is considered to be the
highest
quality citronella on the market. The best quality is steam distilled
from
the grass giving it a fresh, sweet woody aroma. It blends well with
geranium, cedar wood and other citrus oils. It is 100 percent pure
essential oil--no additives, no dilutants, no adulteration, just safe
mosquito repellent.
Electronic repellents utilize one to two sound frequencies to simulate
dragonflies and other male mosquitoes, creating a competitive
environment
for the blood-sucking female. These devices come with Velcro bands for
wearing on your wrist or ankle, or on your pocket or belt. This makes
for a
versatile, compact unit that you can take anywhere for protection.
Some
units even have a built-in red flashlight for nighttime use.
Traditional repellents are the concentrated chemical solutions such as
DEET®, Cutter® or Backwoods OFF®. Each application lasts four to six
hours.
When the environment is 'deep woods,' these repellents can make the
difference between having a good time or a miserable time. If chemical
repellents are necessary, protect your eyes and nose from absorbing
ambient
spray, protect small children, and bathe as soon as possible to remove
toxic residues.
When all else fails--get a frog!
Answer:
Although I have to worry a bit about the diseases I don't worry about
getting the itchy bumps. Although I've never researched this I assume
that the bumps are an allergic reaction to the bite. I can watch a
mosquito bite me (yeah, sick I suppose) and not get a bump so I'd
guess I'm not allergic to them. Some years I may get one at the
beginning of the season but that's it. No other allergies that I know
of either.
