2006-09-15 14:40:41 · 21 answers · asked by linguini11 3 in Health ➔ Alternative Medicine
If you are looking for a natural mosquito repellent, you've probably noticed that there are many natural topical products available, all with different active ingredients. So which one works?
Lemon eucalyptus oil
The most effective natural mosquito repellent at the time of writing is Repel Lemon Eucalyptus.
A 2002 study in the New England Journal of Medicine compared different synthetic chemical and herbal repellents:
Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Repellent provided 120.1 minutes of mosquito protection, more than a repellent with a low concentration of the chemical DEET (Off Skintastic for Kids with 4.75% DEET provided 88.4 minutes of protection) and less than Off Deep Woods with 23.8% DEET, which provided 301.5 minutes of protection.
A study by the US Department of Agriculture compared four synthetic mosquito repellents and eight natural mosquito repellents and found that Repel Lemon Eucalyptus was the most effective repellent, more so than a 7% DEET repellent.
Lemon eucalyptus oil repellents, in addition to the chemicals DEET and picaridin, have been registered with the U.S.
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Environmental Protection Agency (which means that the materials have been reviewed and approved for effectiveness and human safety) and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for mosquitoes that may carry the West Nile virus.
A June 2006 Consumer Reports article stated that after conducting their own tests, Repel Lemon Eucalyptus was the best non-DEET mosquito repellent. However, volunteers criticized its odor.
Repel can be found online or is available at REI, Target and Wal-Mart.
Geranium oil and soybean oil
A repellent called Bite Blocker ranks second.
The New England Journal of Medicine study found that Bite Blocker provided 94.6 minutes of protection against mosquitos. This is slightly more effective than Off Skintastic for Kids (containing 4.75% DEET), which provided 88.4 minutes of protection.
The study by the United States Department of Agriculture ranked Bite Blocker number two in effectiveness after Repel. Bite Blocker was rated more effective than a synthetic 7% DEET mosquito repellent.
Bite Blocker contains the oils of geranium, soybean and coconut and is available as a spray or lotion. It can be purchased online at the Bite Blocker website for about $9 per bottle.
Citronella
A well-known natural mosquito repellent. The oils from the plant are used to make lotions, sprays, and candles.
A University of Guelph study assessed the effectiveness of 3% citronella candles and 5% citronella incense in protecting subjects from bites.
They found that subjects who were positioned near the citronella candles had 42.3% less bites and those near the citronella incense had 24.2% fewer bites.
Based on these results, citronella candles shouldn't be used as a stand-alone repellent, all though they may help in combination with topical repellents.
Other natural mosquito repellents
Although the above repellents are the most promising, there are other natural mosquito repellents that are being researched:
Fennel - A small study by researchers at Seoul National University in Korea found that a spray mosquito repellent containing 5% fennel oil was 84% effective after 90 minutes and a repellent cream with 8% fennel oil was 70% effective after 90 minutes.
Thyme - In one study, carvacrol and alpha-terpinene, two compounds derived from the essential oil of thyme, were found to have significantly greater repellency than a commercial DEET repellent. The researchers suggest that a spray made with 2% alpha terpinene is a promising natural mosquito repellent. However, don't try to make a thyme oil repellent at home- it is too irritating and strong-smelling to be used at effective concentrations above 25%.
Clove oil - Two studies have found that undiluted topical clove oil is active against mosquitoes. However, like thyme oil, clove oil should not be applied undiluted to skin as a homemade repellent.
Celery extract - A Thai study compared 15 mosquito repellents with a topical extract from celery. The researchers found that the extract did not irritate the skin or cause a burning sensation. It was found to be active against a wide range of mosquito species comparable to a 25% DEET formula.
Neem oil - An extract from the tropical neem tree, neem oil has insecticidal compounds called azadirachtins.
Vitamin B1 - Vitamin B1 is often taken to help repel mosquitos but one study suggests this remedy may be useless. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin study tested B1 with a larger sample of human subjects and found no effect of vitamin B.
Garlic - Another popular theory is that ingesting garlic can provide protection against mosquitoes. A University of Connecticut study examined this claim with a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study. The data didn't provide evidence of significant mosquito repellence. However, subjects only consumed garlic once, and the researchers say that more prolonged ingestion may be needed.
2006-09-15 14:44:23 · answer #1 · answered by missourim43 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi!
Might sound funny but someone gave you the right answer: Catnip (in it's essential oil form).
There was a study done and they found that Essential Oil of Catnip is 10 times better than deet! All you have to do is to put a few (very few, about ten to a 250 ml bottle) drops of the stuff in a bottle of natural mosquito repellent, the kind that is citronella oil based, shake and spray yourself with it.
Do not use pure, it's very strong stuff!!!
It really works!
You can buy the Oil where you buy essential oils, they will order it for you. It is a bit more expensive than your regular oils, but it lasts forever.
Just be extra careful with it around cats (no joke) they go crazy from sniffing it (foaming at the mouth, weird meow...) and may even get sick so keep it away from your cat.
2006-09-16 12:41:02 · answer #2 · answered by marie J 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Taken approximately 3 days prior to being around mosquito's, vitamin B1 will help repel mosquito's. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) not only has special properties and helps in a number of health factors...like, enhances circulation, acts as an antioxidant etc...but also helps in the prevention of getting bitten by mosquito's. Believe it or not eating raw garlic also helps repel mosquito's. Taking some garlic gloves and chopping it up really fine can be added to salads, salad dressing, vegetables or with any type of food that you like. If you like you can eat it whole...mind you it will also repel people. Lol. Seriously though these things do work. These are just a few of the natural preventative measures you can try. You might also try not wearing dark colours, or any thing that is scented (i.e. perfume, scented soaps, cologne, creams...) as mosquito's are attracted to these things. I hope this helps. Good luck!
2006-09-15 15:12:42 · answer #3 · answered by Lei-Loo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Move to another state. I grew up in N.Y. and summer was not summer without getting bitten by misquitos. I live in L.A. now and I can't recall getting bitten once in the 13 years I've lived here.
2006-09-15 14:50:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every six to eight hours eat the sulfur off of a match.The sulfur in the match will repel misquotes due to the sulfur level in the blood.
I learned this while in the United States Marines.
2006-09-15 14:56:34 · answer #5 · answered by John D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eat one banana a day. The potassium is toxic to mosquitoes and when they smell it on your sweat, it acts as a repellent.
Also, rubbing Vicks Vapor Rub into a mosquito bite will take the itch off. Just rub it into the skin like a lotion.
2006-09-15 17:01:07 · answer #6 · answered by jhvnmt 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have an evil witch cast a spell on you, and turn you into a toad. You will find the mosquitoes delicious.
2006-09-15 15:02:23 · answer #7 · answered by Proud Liberal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to reduce the itch: use vingar or baking soda paste for
misquito bites ! for sure never scratch them because the bite
will get infected and come down with Nile fever yourself also
try yucca sap best choice okay? or use anti itch cream
2006-09-15 15:37:13 · answer #8 · answered by toddk57@sbcglobal.net 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Citrus oil
2006-09-15 14:42:22 · answer #9 · answered by juicy_wishun 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wear lighter clothes
2006-09-15 14:43:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋