Help with mosquito bites.
Has anyone got any tips for preventingmosquito bites.For some reason this year they seem to love taking chunks out of memore than usual.I went into the garden to do the first cut on my lawn and general tidy up etc, two weeks agoand my legs were covered in bites when I had finished, and since then each time I go out I get afew new ones.I've never had much trouble with getting bitten in this country before but about four years ago I went on my hols in Turkey and the little so and sos were mercyless up to the point where it ruined my holiday.I had that many bites that it made me feel ill.I'm going abroad in July and I'm concerned that the same thing will happen.Why do they attack me and not so much anyone else inmy family, is it something that I eat or don't eat?Has anyone got any ideas?I'd be most grateful for your replies.
Cheers,
Graham.
Answers:
HI graham - I was reading in the paper the other day about Avon skin-so soft which coincidentally is supposed to repel mozzies, and when I googled there were a few entries on it. It's only £3.99 from your local doorstep saleswoman. I believe parts of the armed forces have ordered in bucket loads.
Sharon.
Answers:
Probably not very ethical but i have always found that if you've had a drink or two they will leave you alone.
Now not sure why this is, but i imagine that the alcohol in your blood puts them off biting as well as the alcohol that seeps from your pores.
Now i'm not saying that you have to get hammered every night to avoid getting bitten, but if you are on your hols why not have a few beers/wine etc and see if they bite you the next day?
My mum has always got bitten to death, even just going out into the garden, but myself and my dad never seem to have any problems at all, who knows, maybe there is something in your genetic make-up that repels/attracts insects.
They should do more research as I know how some people can be affected by it!
Answers:
Dear Graham,
You must be sweet and juicy! ;)
Years ago, when I was flying Longhaul as cabin crew, I went into a forest in Alaska with two colleagues. Immediately, they disappeared under a cloud of the most enormous mosquitoes you’ve ever seen! Not one touched me. It wasn’t until I read about Avon Skin-so-soft bath oil repelling mozzies that I realised it must have been that as I’d used the oil in my bath that morning. (Incidentally, Skin-so-soft also dissolved the gloss paint the inside of a Victorian bathtub in Sri Lanka had been painted with, but that’s another story!)
I’ve just come back from a two week holiday, visiting several African malaria-infected areas. Now, I’m a Christian Scientist and reply on prayer for my health-care (I know of many who have had quick and permanent healings of malaria too) and normally do not ever take drugs or medication of any kind. I used to take malaria tablets in the 70’s when I flew as cabin crew to those areas as my airline required us to do so. The travel company was very insistent about malaria precautions, so I agreed with my husband that I would take them. I asked him to go to the doctors to get the prescription but he came back grumbling about the £10 cost – it must have been 10 years at least since he needed one. He then went to the chemist and found out it was going to cost over £100 for the drugs for both of us and he went ballistic and said “I’m not *****y paying that – your prayers can protect me.” Well, I wasn’t very happy being given that responsibility, so I said we’d pick up some when we got to the first stop as they’d probably be cheaper in Africa.
Meanwhile, (sorry, this is long story) I’d heard that mosquitoes HATE Marmite, so bought an extra small jar. The next thing that happened was that I opened a Sunday supplement and there was an article about stopping mosquitoes biting you. Apparently they hate the taste of Thiamin (vitamin B1 – in Marmite) but the writer said we should not take B1 on its own but get combination B vitamins. The B1 part should be at least 100mg.
So, we went off to Africa armed with Skin-so-soft (it was too much to expect hubby to use that – you smell like a Turkish brothel!) mosquito repellent (which dissolved my toe-nail varnish) Marmite and vitamin B (side effects are that all liquids leaving the body are bright yellow – don’t wear a white shirt.)
I did go to a chemist to buy some malaria tablets, but he only had a weekly one and when I read the possible side-effects I was so shocked – depression, psychosis, dizziness, nausea, headaches, limb pain, heart palpitations, diarrhoea, swollen limbs, to name but a few - all of which could continue for up to three months after you had stopped taking them! One of my fellow travellers told me she knew someone who got epilepsy from taking them and then I remembered that when they first came out, two of our cabin crew committed suicide as well as others having manic behaviour and they were banned by the airline, so they were immediately thrown in the bin.
Anyway, everyone else seemed to get covered with bites, but we didn’t have a single one, despite jungle walks etc. Now whether that was the prayer, the Marmite, the vitamin B or the mosquito repellent (it couldn’t have been the Avon Skin-so-soft as Ian didn’t use that) or a combination of all, I’ll never know, but we had a very pleasant bug and scratch-free holiday.
So perhaps Graham, if you try them all (plus the alcohol?) you’ll be free too!
[sm=flylicker.gif]
Judy
Answers:
I heard the smell of eucalyptus puts them off, hence aussies plant eucy trees round swamp areas. just buy some from Boots, soak a tissue and carry it around with you, i guess.
Answers:
Thankseveryone,especially to Judy for that great story,I'll certainly give your tips a try,except maybe the Marmite.I'll probably attract all the dogs in the area with that rubbed all over me.Someone did tell me about the Avon skin -so -soft a few days ago, so I think I'll go for that first seeing as it's tried and tested. And the alcohol as wellsounds a perfect combination.I'll get back to you after a few trials and let you know how I got on.
Thanks again ,
Graham
Answers:
Oh Graham, you did make me laugh - you EAT the Marmite (or drink it) - it's the taste that comes out of your pores they don't like! [sm=rollaugh.gif]
Judy
Answers:
If you have thick skin they usually don't bother to bite you, as its much easier for them to bite somebody with soft/thin skin. When I went on holiday to New Mexico, my family live by the side of the Rio Grande river, so the mosquitos are terrible, my whole body was covered in them. Yet none of my family that lived by the river got bitten.
I also found back home, that if you have a container that collects the water from the gutters around your house the mosquitos love this. As they will live and breed in it.We don't have many around our house since we got rid of the water sources.....
Answers:
Thanks Hewitt,
I have noticed them gathering around the gutters on my garage so I'll do something about that.
And Judy, how daft am I?I automatically thought you rubbed it on.Anyway you wouldn't need to get a suntan if you did,and imagine wearing a white shirt with that on you.
Cheers
Graham.
Answers:
Hi
my first posting so please excuse
I realise this is not avery holistic answer coming from an aromatherapist: however, AVONS Skin So Soft oil body spray( must be Green coloured one) staves thoe nasty nippers off , I have used it in India with no bites.It also works for the demon Scottish midge
Answers:
I have found that Bergamot Cologne spray from the body shop works wonders. I don't get bitten very often anyway, but i always travel with this spray just incase. It smells fresh and is not too feminine or masculine, so it can be used by both sexes. I think it has other ingredients in it too which the mossies hate.
Alos, citrinella oil diluted in water and decanted in a spray bottle may also come in handy. They hate the smell of that!
Hope this helps
Kate
xxxxx
Answers:
What a juicy topic (ho ho)!
I heard about the marmite (or vegemite in this case) thing in Australia. I love the stuff but still got eaten alive (Kakadu national park is a nightmare at night!). However, i started taking berocca to stock up on the vit b and that helped a bit.
Apparently they prefer to feed from women rather than men due to men have slightly higher levels of vit b., but not sure about that really... They are attracted to perfume/ aftershave so these are best avoided and similarly with dark materials.
But the conclusion I've come to is that often other people are bitten butthey just don't have such a strong reaction to the bite. And so,if you can bear it, don't scratch - it really will make it worse. And believe it or not the best way to soothe that itch is to put vicks vapo-rub on the bite. Bona fide advice froma Queenslander fisherman!
The only other thing I did whilst up in Kakadu was to liberally spray my clothes with repellent and kept a close eye on the sun. The repellent is so strong it will strip off nail varnish (and tarnish jewellery) so it's not the best stuff to put straight on to your skin. And then, as soon as the sun started to move near the horizon on went the trousers and the hoodie, both drenched in jungle spray!
Answers:
As Bush baby said, it depends on how sensitive you are to the bites. I hardly ever get bitten by mossies, but my husband always gets bitten wherever we go (his blood must taste better than mine!!!) I have been bitten a few times, but it always just shows up as a small pin prick rather than a huge red spot. However, i have been bitten by a horse fly once and it was so painfull. I didn't really notice at first, but then my leg started to swell up and become all blistered. It was only when i visited A & E that they told me that it was a horse fly bite. Apparently they can be quite nasty......as i found out! Anyone else been bitten by one of these?
Answers:
Yes, Kate - me, and several times. I come out in huge blisters from them as well. I don't know how they can bite without you noticing, then you react SOOOO badly. I react to Mossie bites and bee and wasp stings too. Think I'll try the Avon stuff - thanks for that tip holistic los2
Nellx
Answers:
if you do get bitten try putting lavender oil on the bite it will soothe also try spraying it around you
Cheers,
Graham.
Answers:
HI graham - I was reading in the paper the other day about Avon skin-so soft which coincidentally is supposed to repel mozzies, and when I googled there were a few entries on it. It's only £3.99 from your local doorstep saleswoman. I believe parts of the armed forces have ordered in bucket loads.
Sharon.
Answers:
Probably not very ethical but i have always found that if you've had a drink or two they will leave you alone.
Now not sure why this is, but i imagine that the alcohol in your blood puts them off biting as well as the alcohol that seeps from your pores.
Now i'm not saying that you have to get hammered every night to avoid getting bitten, but if you are on your hols why not have a few beers/wine etc and see if they bite you the next day?
My mum has always got bitten to death, even just going out into the garden, but myself and my dad never seem to have any problems at all, who knows, maybe there is something in your genetic make-up that repels/attracts insects.
They should do more research as I know how some people can be affected by it!
Answers:
Dear Graham,
You must be sweet and juicy! ;)
Years ago, when I was flying Longhaul as cabin crew, I went into a forest in Alaska with two colleagues. Immediately, they disappeared under a cloud of the most enormous mosquitoes you’ve ever seen! Not one touched me. It wasn’t until I read about Avon Skin-so-soft bath oil repelling mozzies that I realised it must have been that as I’d used the oil in my bath that morning. (Incidentally, Skin-so-soft also dissolved the gloss paint the inside of a Victorian bathtub in Sri Lanka had been painted with, but that’s another story!)
I’ve just come back from a two week holiday, visiting several African malaria-infected areas. Now, I’m a Christian Scientist and reply on prayer for my health-care (I know of many who have had quick and permanent healings of malaria too) and normally do not ever take drugs or medication of any kind. I used to take malaria tablets in the 70’s when I flew as cabin crew to those areas as my airline required us to do so. The travel company was very insistent about malaria precautions, so I agreed with my husband that I would take them. I asked him to go to the doctors to get the prescription but he came back grumbling about the £10 cost – it must have been 10 years at least since he needed one. He then went to the chemist and found out it was going to cost over £100 for the drugs for both of us and he went ballistic and said “I’m not *****y paying that – your prayers can protect me.” Well, I wasn’t very happy being given that responsibility, so I said we’d pick up some when we got to the first stop as they’d probably be cheaper in Africa.
Meanwhile, (sorry, this is long story) I’d heard that mosquitoes HATE Marmite, so bought an extra small jar. The next thing that happened was that I opened a Sunday supplement and there was an article about stopping mosquitoes biting you. Apparently they hate the taste of Thiamin (vitamin B1 – in Marmite) but the writer said we should not take B1 on its own but get combination B vitamins. The B1 part should be at least 100mg.
So, we went off to Africa armed with Skin-so-soft (it was too much to expect hubby to use that – you smell like a Turkish brothel!) mosquito repellent (which dissolved my toe-nail varnish) Marmite and vitamin B (side effects are that all liquids leaving the body are bright yellow – don’t wear a white shirt.)
I did go to a chemist to buy some malaria tablets, but he only had a weekly one and when I read the possible side-effects I was so shocked – depression, psychosis, dizziness, nausea, headaches, limb pain, heart palpitations, diarrhoea, swollen limbs, to name but a few - all of which could continue for up to three months after you had stopped taking them! One of my fellow travellers told me she knew someone who got epilepsy from taking them and then I remembered that when they first came out, two of our cabin crew committed suicide as well as others having manic behaviour and they were banned by the airline, so they were immediately thrown in the bin.
Anyway, everyone else seemed to get covered with bites, but we didn’t have a single one, despite jungle walks etc. Now whether that was the prayer, the Marmite, the vitamin B or the mosquito repellent (it couldn’t have been the Avon Skin-so-soft as Ian didn’t use that) or a combination of all, I’ll never know, but we had a very pleasant bug and scratch-free holiday.
So perhaps Graham, if you try them all (plus the alcohol?) you’ll be free too!
[sm=flylicker.gif]
Judy
Answers:
I heard the smell of eucalyptus puts them off, hence aussies plant eucy trees round swamp areas. just buy some from Boots, soak a tissue and carry it around with you, i guess.
Answers:
Thankseveryone,especially to Judy for that great story,I'll certainly give your tips a try,except maybe the Marmite.I'll probably attract all the dogs in the area with that rubbed all over me.Someone did tell me about the Avon skin -so -soft a few days ago, so I think I'll go for that first seeing as it's tried and tested. And the alcohol as wellsounds a perfect combination.I'll get back to you after a few trials and let you know how I got on.
Thanks again ,
Graham
Answers:
Oh Graham, you did make me laugh - you EAT the Marmite (or drink it) - it's the taste that comes out of your pores they don't like! [sm=rollaugh.gif]
Judy
Answers:
If you have thick skin they usually don't bother to bite you, as its much easier for them to bite somebody with soft/thin skin. When I went on holiday to New Mexico, my family live by the side of the Rio Grande river, so the mosquitos are terrible, my whole body was covered in them. Yet none of my family that lived by the river got bitten.
I also found back home, that if you have a container that collects the water from the gutters around your house the mosquitos love this. As they will live and breed in it.We don't have many around our house since we got rid of the water sources.....
Answers:
Thanks Hewitt,
I have noticed them gathering around the gutters on my garage so I'll do something about that.
And Judy, how daft am I?I automatically thought you rubbed it on.Anyway you wouldn't need to get a suntan if you did,and imagine wearing a white shirt with that on you.
Cheers
Graham.
Answers:
Hi
my first posting so please excuse
I realise this is not avery holistic answer coming from an aromatherapist: however, AVONS Skin So Soft oil body spray( must be Green coloured one) staves thoe nasty nippers off , I have used it in India with no bites.It also works for the demon Scottish midge
Answers:
I have found that Bergamot Cologne spray from the body shop works wonders. I don't get bitten very often anyway, but i always travel with this spray just incase. It smells fresh and is not too feminine or masculine, so it can be used by both sexes. I think it has other ingredients in it too which the mossies hate.
Alos, citrinella oil diluted in water and decanted in a spray bottle may also come in handy. They hate the smell of that!
Hope this helps
Kate
xxxxx
Answers:
What a juicy topic (ho ho)!
I heard about the marmite (or vegemite in this case) thing in Australia. I love the stuff but still got eaten alive (Kakadu national park is a nightmare at night!). However, i started taking berocca to stock up on the vit b and that helped a bit.
Apparently they prefer to feed from women rather than men due to men have slightly higher levels of vit b., but not sure about that really... They are attracted to perfume/ aftershave so these are best avoided and similarly with dark materials.
But the conclusion I've come to is that often other people are bitten butthey just don't have such a strong reaction to the bite. And so,if you can bear it, don't scratch - it really will make it worse. And believe it or not the best way to soothe that itch is to put vicks vapo-rub on the bite. Bona fide advice froma Queenslander fisherman!
The only other thing I did whilst up in Kakadu was to liberally spray my clothes with repellent and kept a close eye on the sun. The repellent is so strong it will strip off nail varnish (and tarnish jewellery) so it's not the best stuff to put straight on to your skin. And then, as soon as the sun started to move near the horizon on went the trousers and the hoodie, both drenched in jungle spray!
Answers:
As Bush baby said, it depends on how sensitive you are to the bites. I hardly ever get bitten by mossies, but my husband always gets bitten wherever we go (his blood must taste better than mine!!!) I have been bitten a few times, but it always just shows up as a small pin prick rather than a huge red spot. However, i have been bitten by a horse fly once and it was so painfull. I didn't really notice at first, but then my leg started to swell up and become all blistered. It was only when i visited A & E that they told me that it was a horse fly bite. Apparently they can be quite nasty......as i found out! Anyone else been bitten by one of these?
Answers:
Yes, Kate - me, and several times. I come out in huge blisters from them as well. I don't know how they can bite without you noticing, then you react SOOOO badly. I react to Mossie bites and bee and wasp stings too. Think I'll try the Avon stuff - thanks for that tip holistic los2
Nellx
Answers:
if you do get bitten try putting lavender oil on the bite it will soothe also try spraying it around you