Is there anything I can eat to keep mosquitoes from biting me?

Question

I live in South Florida and get attacked every time I go outside! Would prefer not to have to apply a lotion or cream or spray.

Not looking to eat any more garlic ... I don't want to scare any people away, just mosquitoes! Plus, I work in health care, and we're not supposed to smell offensive.

And staying inside isn't an option either!

Answer 1

Catnip Mosquito Repellent w/ Rosemary

Last year, several members of the Iowa State University Department of Entomology presented the results of a study on common catnip. Among their conclusions was the fact that an essential oil in catnip is 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than potent chemicals such as DEET.

Grow your own mosquito repellent

By ANN LOVEJOY
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER

The news is full of horror stories, including the spread of the West Nile Virus by mosquitoes. At the same time, a news item landed on my desk that seems to promise a simple, natural way to fend off the little buggers.

DEET is currently the most common active ingredient in commercial mosquito and bug repellents. Unfortunately, many studies indicate that DEET is also a dangerous chemical for humans, especially children. A study carried out at Duke University Medical Center revealed that DEET can cause brain-cell death and may trigger behavioral changes indicative of neurological damage in rats after frequent or prolonged use.

In an effort to find a safer alternative, the scientists investigated several plant essential oils that were commonly recommended as insect repellents by organic gardeners. Catnip ranks high on the list of natural bug-busters and evidently with good reason. In the Iowa study, the researchers noted that small doses of catnip oil were at least as effective at repelling mosquitoes as 10 times larger doses of DEET (which was used at typical recommended application rates for commercial products).

While the researchers don't know why mosquitoes don't like catnip oil, they do know a good thing when they see it. Recently, the Iowa State University Research Foundation applied for a patent for the use of catnip essential oils as compounds. Within a few years, we'll probably see many safe, non-toxic mosquito repellents on the market.

In the meantime, why not grow some mosquito repellent of your own? If you have a sunny, well-drained patch of lean garden soil, try planting some catnip. The plant you need is a perennial herb called Nepeta cataria. Closely related to ornamental catmint, or Nepeta faassenii (or N. mussinii), catnip is generally grown as a cat-pleasing or medicinal tea herb rather than for its looks.

Catnip is far from ugly, but its gentle blue flowers are definitely out-produced by its masses of softly hairy, gray-green foliage. Like most herbs, it prefers well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight. If you garden on heavy clay, you may succeed better with catnip and other herbs if you give them a mounded bed or grow them on a slope to improve winter drainage.

The first year you plant catnip, you may need to water it a time or two, especially if next summer is as hot and dry as this one has been. However, fall-planted herbs, including catnip, often need very little water the following summer. Fall and winter rains can help plants create deep, strong root systems that increase the natural drought resistance of catnip and many other herbs.

Don't feed your fall-planted herbs, but do mix some compost into their planting soil. A mix of half compost, half native soil is usually just right. Top off the soil with a light blanket of compost (2-3 inches) to help feed those actively growing roots through the cool months.

Even in spring, don't feed your herbs with anything but compost, or at most a mild all-purpose organic fertilizer such as Whitney Farms 5-5-5. Adding too much fertilizer can cause lush overgrowth in many herbs, leading to dilute or low-quality essential oil production. In some cases, herbs such as creeping thymes can be killed by commercial fertilizers, so when in doubt, use only a very mild fertilizer and apply it at half the suggested application rate.

This summer, I experimented with making both catnip vinegar spritzers and catnip infused oils. Both did a fine job of keeping mosquitoes and no-see-ums at bay during our warm summer evenings. If you would like to try this yourself, here are the simple recipes I used:


CATNIP MOSQUITO SPRITZ
MAKES ABOUT 3 CUPS

* 2 cups catnip, stemmed
* 3-4 cups mild rice vinegar

Rinse herbs, roll lightly with a rolling pin, then place them in a clean quart jar and cover with vinegar. Seal jar and store in a dark cupboard for two weeks.

Shake jar lightly every day or so for two weeks. Strain into a clean jar, seal and refrigerate for up to 6 months unused.

To use, spritz on exposed skin and around outdoor dining area.


CATNIP AND ROSEMARY MOSQUITO CHASING OIL
MAKES ABOUT 2 CUPS.

* 2 cups catnip, stemmed
* 1 cup rosemary, cut in 6-inch sprigs
* 2 cups grapeseed oil or any light body-care oil

Roll herbs lightly with a rolling pin and pack into a clean jar. Cover with oil, seal jar and place in a cool, dark cupboard for two weeks.

Shake jar lightly every day or so for two weeks. Strain into a clean jar, seal and refrigerate for up to 8 months unused.

To use, rub on exposed skin.
http://curezone.com/blogs/m.asp?f=634&i=13

Other Methods I have used and or researched:

Eat a healthy diet with mostly raw vegetables and most fruits. Eating meat attracts mosquitoes.

*Avoid bannanas, chocolates, yogurt as they attract mosquitoes

*Wear long pants and socks with closed shoes during mosquito season

* Vitamin B-1 or B Complex will help prevent bites

* Avoid dairy as dairy plugs up the elimination system

* Bathe with unscented soap and shampoo to avoid attracting mosquitoes

* Avoid wheat products if the virus infection is coming on

*Use catnip, rosemary, and neem oil to spray on exposed areas of skin (I would add lavender for aroma improvement)

*Make a bath with the above essential oils

*Avoid going out of doors during the greatest risk times at dusk and dawn, or at least cover the legs, arms, and feet during the early moring and evening

*Avoid sugary drinks and alcohol

*Eliminate standing water in your area(put a few drops of neem oil or catnip oil in pools of water to prevent eggs from hatching)

Grow Your Own Mosquito Repellent
http://curezone.com/blogs/m.asp?f=634&i=17

Answer 2

Garlic is a good one or cayenne peppers or pepper. If you go for the cayenne, it is really spicy but if you eat enough of it, it oozes out of you skin and the mosquitos leave you alone. Kids in South American jungles have done it for years and no bites. They chew it like bubble gum but it is a required taste. B vitamins are good also. The popular Skin so soft from Avon is supposed to work but is only good for an hour or so. Good luck.

Answer 3

when outside or knowing your gonna be outside, don't eat sweets or anything with sugar in it. Mosquitoes are attracted to water and sugar. THAT DOESN'T MEAN GIVE UP WATER!!!! and use bug spray. There is unscented. But the best is the kind with Ucaliptus Leaves in it. you put it on like lotion.

Answer 4

Get a good portable mosquito repellent (runs with a battery) in a camping store i use the brand Sunbeam it work for me i was in the jungle it give you a 4 ft round protection, i hope this will help you

Answer 5

I remember reading somewhere that extra Vit B's can help you be less irresistible to mosquitoes...it seemed to work for me...my husband would be eatin alive while the mosquito's rarely bothered me and I always took extra Vit B's & he didn't. You don't have to worry about extra Vit B Complex....whatever your body doesnt need is excreted harmlessly in your urine.

Answer 6

I take Vitamin B Complex and it works! It's not expensive and you can get them in any pharmacy, any trusted brands will do. Vitamin B Complex produce an adour that keeps mosquitos away. Don't worry, we human aren't able to smell them so no harm.

Answer 7

Mugwort. It is an herb, in a liquid suspension (oil, I thinkg) and it can be used as a topical once biten to stop the itching. You put a few drops in water, based on body weight (directions on the bottles) and it will help keep you from itching/being bitten in the future. It also works very well against poison ivy, oak, sumac, etc.

Answer 8

Garlic. I am a mosquito magnet also, but the year I started eating roasted garlic, garlic cloves, etc. They stopped leaving me alone. What great stuff you can put in salads, in sauces, etc.

Answer 9

Mosquitos are attracted to body odor (even that which we cannot detect). If you want the bugs to stay away, then you have to stay away from foods that might cause you to smell: onions, garlic, etc.

Answer 10

I don't know about eating something to keep them away... but I've heard if ya take chewin' tobacoo and put it on the bit it'll take the itch away and might help get rid of the bite faster...

Answer 11

i have always heard garlic lots of garlic.....here is a site of little tricks!!!...if you decide not to look at the link i will tell you that it says bananas attract mesquites so don't eat them during the time mosquito's are really bad!!