MOSQUITO BITES. Does anyone know of a natural remedy to prevent mosquitos from biting.?

Question

I have been told there is a vitamin which you can take, but cannot remember which one. I have lived in Spain for the past 3 years and they are still at it (biting I mean). Any answers would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

(Centre for Disease Control) recommends using an insect repellent on exposed areas of skin. The most effective compound is DEET (N,N-diethyl meta-toluamide), an ingredient in most insect repellents. However, insect repellents containing DEET should be used sparingly on children. Don't apply it under clothes, or too much of the toxic substance may be absorbed. Also, avoid applying repellent to portions of the hands that are likely to come in contact with the eyes and mouth. Pediatric insect repellents with only 6-10% DEET are available. For greater protection, clothing and mosquito nets can be soaked in or sprayed with permethrin, which is an insect repellent licensed for use on clothing. If applied according to the directions, permethrin will repel insects from clothing for several weeks. These specialty items can be purchased in hardware, back-packing, and military surplus stores.

Unless traveling to a high risk area, It is recommended to use a gentler insect repellents for children. Skedaddle and Avon's Skin So Soft both work well for some kids. Neither these nor the stronger repellents stop mosquitoes from landing -- only from biting. If you see mosquitoes on yourself, the repellents may still be working. If, however, you are being bitten just as frequently when you use these products, they are not working.

Some studies suggest that taking thiamine (vitamin B1) 25mg to 50 mg three times per day is effective in reducing mosquito bites. This safe vitamin apparently produces a skin odor that is not detectable by humans, but is disagreeable to pregnant mosquitoes (Pediatric Clinics of North America, 16:191, 1969). It seems to be especially effective for those people with large allergic reactions. Thiamine takes about 2 weeks before the odor fully saturates the skin. Garlic may work in the same way (except, of course, the odor is detectable by humans), but I have seen no scientific studies supporting this.

Once bitten, the mainstays of treatment are cool compresses, antihistamines, anti-itching compounds, and anti-inflammatory medicines. For a cool compress, apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel or soak a washcloth in cold water and press it on the bite. Ask your pharmacist to help you select an appropriate antihistamine for your child. Some are available by prescription only. You might have to balance strength versus drowsy side effects. Zyrtec, a newer antihistamine for children, usually works very well while not being very sedating. Of course, sometimes sedating is not such a bad thing...

The simplest anti-itching compound is a paste made of baking soda and water. Use just enough water to make a sticky paste, and spread it on. Calamine lotion works in a similar way, and usually the effect lasts longer. Other children prefer a menthol lotion such as Sarna. A topical anesthetic containing pramoxine (such as the prescription PrameGel or the over-the-counter Caladryl) can take away the pain and itching.

For the anti-inflammatory part of treatment, ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) or naproxen (Alleve) can reduce redness, pain, itching, swelling and fever. Topical steroid creams of various strengths can also be useful. Occasionally reactions to mosquito bites can be severe enough to warrant systemic steroids.

Studies suggest that some natural anti-inflammatory remedies are very effective in some people: oral evening primrose oil (Lancet, 2:1120, 1982) and papaverine (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 13:806, 1985). You might find both of these in a health food store.

Stronger, experimental treatments include thymic hormones, recombinant gamma interferon, ultraviolet radiation, and various chemotherapeutic agents (Clinical Pediatric Dermatology, Saunders 1993), but I would only consider them if your reactions get much worse. Probably they will instead get better over time.

It's tempting to view mosquitoes as nothing but pests. But as my dear friend Christine Du Bois-Buxbaum reminded me, there are species of fish in the Everglades that need mosquito eggs for their diet. These fish are in turn important to the food chain in their own ways. So, although mosquitoes have been a health problem for centuries, they are also an important part of the Everglades ecosystem and of other natural habitats. Widespread destruction of mosquitoes isn't necessarily the answer.

Answer 2

I returned from Nepal and India about three weeks ago and I was just as worried as you are before my trip however I was recommended by my travel doctor to take Doxycycline whilst there. Doxy is an anti-malaria medication, and a good one at that. Malaria being the most dangerous and common ailment caused by mosquito bites. Other diseases from these insects are uncommon. I also used DEET Bushmans Repellent whilst over there, as I do not use it regularly at home, using it for four weeks whilst away is not enough to do any lasting damage and it was strong enough that I did not receive one bite whilst there. If you are still worried you can visit an adventure store like Anaconda and pick up a "mosquito clicker" or some mosquito nets, however I found the mixture of Doxycycline and DEET Bushmans to be more than perfectly sufficient. Hope I helped! Enjoy your trip, it's amazing over there.

Answer 3

Dear Jill***

I had previously been told that Vitamin B taken in large doses would help. Well I tried, did not work.
Then, try lemon oil, did not work.
Then, eat lots of garlic, raw, yuuuuuuuugggggggghhhhhhh!! did not work.
Then, onion, raw, did not work.
I you are (blood group) B positive, mosquitos will looooooooooove you. and O positive. Babies blood. The hotter the blood is, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm they will be there.

The best for me is to bath in "fennel" water. Fennel (black one), herb plant. When I cannot take my fennel bush with me, I take my mossie spray, lotion. I use tabard religiously, as my toes, ankles, eeeeeeeaaaaars, cheeks, and specially my back, even my buuuuuuuuuummmmm gets bitten. It swells so badly and iiiiitches.

I live in South Africa, our temp. reaching 43degrees. I have been told that people who eat a lot of HOOOOTTTTT chillies and curries do not get bitten by mosquitos. I cannot stomach curries or chillies.

Citronella applied to the body is digusting!!!!!!!!!!
I know I have not really helped, but there is nothing that helps. Maybe a blood transfusion!!!!!!

love peppa-anne
(we need a tablet, like the malaria one!!???)

Answer 4

When I was a child I had over two hundred mosquito bites on my face. I had slept outside and apparently shared my sleeping bag with the mosquitoes. I had LOTS of bites everywhere!! The doctor told us it was due to a lack of B vitamins. I believe he had me taking B6 and B12. As an adult, I find that Skin So Soft works very well.

Answer 5

I'm sorry LOL but I really don't think so. When I was a kid (I'm only 38 now) but lived in michigan and if you've ever been there you know what i'm talking about. We used to put almost a whole can of off bug spray on and they would still come at you full force. I used to look out the front room living room window and u could see thousands of them swarmming, it looked just like a black cloud floating around our front yard, no kidding! we would swing our arms and hats whatever we had to swing but they still kept coming, I'm from Michigan (live in oregon now) but still never found anything to completly stop them. Off bug spray works if theres only a few, and some bug scented candles, and they really don't like any kind of smoke, If you have anykind of stale water around that is were they nest, something like old pond water or if you just live in a damp area (they love it) my parents ended up cutting half the tree's down in the back 40 just to eliminate some of them. True Storey. sunnydays PS Hope you don't have as many as we use to!

Answer 6

I was told vitamin B works. I love garlic and since I use it in cooking quite often, I rarely get bitten by mosquitoes anymore. Also, lay off the sweets. And if there's any still water in your area such as and old garbage can that may have some rain water in it, remove that also. Mosquitoes love that kind of hangout.

Answer 7

Ok, this is going to sound really weird, but it does work. Rub your skin & clothes with a Bounce dryer sheet. Or as one person mentioned, the Avon product is Skin So Soft. Bounce is cheaper if you can get it. Works on the mosquitoes here in Texas and at my other home in Florida. Give it a try.

Answer 8

One of the best to use is Garlic pills. It will take a few days to become effective but works like a charm. The nice thing about it, your body get rid of it if you take too much and it can't really hurt you. Garlic has so many good effects on your body I can't list them here, but mosquito's will stay away from you. No, it doesn't make you smell like garlic to anyone else.

Answer 9

Vitamin B6. You can get it on its own, but it also comes as part of some multivitamins. I took this vitamin about 1 week before I went away to Barbados and then one a day from then on, and the Mosquitos didn't bother with me. Usually I get eaten alive! Now I don't go abroad without them.

Answer 10

I drink Tonic Water in mosquito infested areas. The quinine stops attacks and at night I add vodka!

I am deadly serious here. I dont drink tonic water at any other time, but can count on one hand the mozzie bites I have had in the last 20 years abroad. When I am home and drink Vodka and coke, I get bitten!