Mosquitoes - Who Needs Them?
I love most things wild and naturally occurring. But I’ve really got to wonder what purpose mosquitoes serve.
I’m one of those people that seem to attract them and I get really large welts when bitten.
We’ve taken all the standard precautions to cut down on the population and risk:
- NO STANDING WATER. If you have containers, bird baths, cups that get left outside - you’ve got to get rid of the standing water. They only need a thimble size pocket of water to lay eggs.
- AVOID DAWN AND DUSK. This is the one that hurts me. These are my most favorite times of the day and when I tend to be out in the grass with the dog AND when I get eaten up.
I’ve been trying out some different natural repellents that do help tremendously. The problems with any kind of body product for insect repellent is that you really should wash off before going to bed or sitting on indoor furniture, it can be very strong smelling (although pleasant depending upon what you use), and the oils are oils - so they can get in your hair, can stain your clothes, etc.
Here are some of the products I’ve used that I would recommend for insect repellents and bite relief:
Burts Bees Herbal Insect Repellent - Burt’s Bees - I’ve been using this at home in New Jersey for mosquito repellent. It has a pleasant, very strong odor. I love the smell and since it’s oil-based it helps with dry skin as a bonus. But as I mentioned, you many not want to go sit on your furniture if it’s not soaked in.
Anything with Neem Oil - Neem Oil - Check the label and ingredients - this is something you’re more likely to find at a natural goods store or online. I have a bottle at our cabin in the Adirondacks to help with the black flies. Again, I love the smell and it is pretty effective. I don’t remember the specific name or manufacturer of what I have but I know there are various products on the market. Also, Neem Oil has shown to be an treatment for various skin ailments.
After Bite Remedies - I’m loving this Sting Stop, made by Boericke & Tafel. It immediately takes the itch away as well as diminish the swelling and redness.
My husband also bought me something a couple of years ago from a healthy goods store. It comes in the form of a pen and has a spongy tip on it. The first time I used it I was overwhelmed by the smell of ammonia. Yup, it’s basically ammonia. So, not the best smelling thing and I have some misgivings about applying it to my body - but it worked!
One of the best preventative measures I’ve found is - DON’T WEAR ANY SCENT! I like soaps and shampoos with a slight scent - like cucumber, melon and tea tree oil. But I think this is one of the reasons that pests like mosquitoes swarm more around the women than the men. I’m always shaking my head in disbelief when hiking and I can smell a woman well before I can see her. First of all, that’s just silly; secondly, it’s like putting out a welcome mat for pests.
I’d love to hear of any organic, non-chemical means that you’ve found to keep the mosquitoes and other biting insects at bay. Feel free to post a comment or email me directly.
Here’s to being bite-free!
Namaste ~ ~ ~
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