Mosquitoes

dipbait

dipbait

Joined
Feb 9, 2008
Messages
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Does anything other than Deet work? I hate going to bed smelling like Off.
 
I grew up on the coast of South Texas, where the mosquitoes can carry of small children. The Karankawa Indians that lived there used alligator fat, dung and mud to protect against bugs. Of course, they were giant (6-7 feet tall!!) cannibals with a reputation for being tough as nails and having a nasty disposition (because of the mosquitoes ?).
I personally can not stand DEET, it makes me feel funny if I put too much on. It does work pretty good on the little buggers, but there are other things. Just google "deet alternative". I use citronella, lemongrass oil, tea-tree oil, even crushing an aromatic plant like Rosemary and rub it on yourelf...just about anything aromatic to confuse them...but if they are bad I do use DEET. Even that won't help much if they are REALLY bad. If you are stationary, smoke drives them away really well. For sleeping a mosquito net is absolutely wonderfull.
I have this theory that you gain some immunity and possibly even start to exude some anti-mosquito scent if you spend a long time among them. Mosquitos don't bite me nearly as bad as most other people I am with, and the bites don't raise welts like a lot of people either.
 
A long term remedy is to eat a lot of Garlic and B vitamins. The trick is to use them constantly. People will try them for a couple of days and say they don't work. I use both all year long and it definately works. Everytime I go (About 145 days a year) I hear complaints about the bugs and they never bother me. Also smoking a good cigar helps, I like Backwoods cigars.
Oldman/Marty
 
Oh yeah, forgot garlic. Try to eat it raw if you can. If you eat enough it will drive away any anoying people you encounter too :D.
Also, If you don't smoke you can carry a smudge stick instead.
 
I believe the FDA approved an ALTERNATIVE to DEET made from lemon eucalyptus leave oils

Among plant-based repellents, only one has FDA and CDC approval. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is designed to work for up to several hours, just like the lower concentration of Deet and Picaridin. Self Magazine testers called the spray "refreshing," but labels warn it's not for kids under three years old.
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The lemon eucalyptus oil is available in OFF! Botanicals Insect Repellent, Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, and other sprays and lotions containing the ingredient. While nearly as effective and long-lasting as DEET, lemon eucalyptus can cause skin reactions and isn't safe for children under 3 years of age.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/17/AR2005081700517.html
 
I remember seeing something about a test that was pretty legit involving the eucalyptus and lemon oils. Apparently they're just as effective as deet. I wonder if you could use all three.
 
I heard that catnip oil worked well, if you can stand being chased by cougar allen :D jk cougar.
 
oldman/Marty said:
A long term remedy is to eat a lot of Garlic and B vitamins. The trick is to use them constantly. People will try them for a couple of days and say they don't work. I use both all year long and it definately works. Everytime I go (About 145 days a year) I hear complaints about the bugs and they never bother me. Also smoking a good cigar helps, I like Backwoods cigars.
Oldman/Marty
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Marty's got it.

I got eaten alive at a campout last summer and used so much DEET that I got sick on the third day. I came home determined to find a solution to this problem and came up with some studies using Vitamin B1.

Taken for two weeks prior to the outdoor activity it builds up in your system and is supposed to make your smell offensive to the biting female mosquitoes.

I don't know if that part works but what I did find out is that the B1 (a vitamin found in broadleaf plantain) minimizes the effects of a bite.

I spent a week at Briar Patch Outdoors' Primitive Skills class where I'd been eaten alive a month earlier and I'm sure I got bitten but I never had a bump or itching.

I continued the B1 for the rest of the summer and never had a problem with mosquitoes.

I don't know if there's some long-term issue with taking B1 but I'm going to do it again this coming summer.

B
 
Hey Brian,
Don't want to hijack this post but how the Hell are you. Long time no see. Give me a call some night.
Oldman/Marty simon
 
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