Natural Mosquito Relief

Dealing with mosquitoes is a natural part of summer. West Nile Virus aside, they are simply annoying as well having an itchy bite.

In times past, some very natural strategies were employed for mosquito relief. When I visited Charleston, North Carolina last summer, I learned that all the old houses had the bedrooms on the second floor because mosquitoes wouldn't fly that high. In Africa, whole cities are built up mountain sides "above the mosquito line."

If you can't move your bedroom upstairs or move your house up a mountain, here are some easier things to do to protect your body from mosquitoes this summer.

Don't Use DEET

"Cover any exposed skin with DEET" is the standard advice for preventing mosquito bites, but it's not the best advice for your health.

The warning label on insect repellants containing DEET, the common name for diethyl toluamide, has always interested me. It says, "Harmful if swallowed. Avoid contact with eyes and lips. May damage furniture finishes, plastics, leather, watch crystals, and painted or varnished surfaces, including automobiles." Frankly, I don't think I want to rub something on my skin that could take the paint off my car!

Though the Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry concludes "reports of adverse effects in humans associated with the dermal application of DEET have been relatively rare, given the billions of applications of the repellent", nonetheless, they list a variety of symptoms and even deaths associated with normal dermal use of DEET by both children and adults. These are only the extreme reported cases. Obviously they don't include the symptoms experienced that were not reported.

But there's no need to take any risk at all, because there are many safe and natural alternatives.

Make Yourself Less Attractive to Mosquitoes

Ever wonder why a mosquito is attracted to you?

Mosquitoes are attracted to us through the carbon dioxide (CO2) we exhale when we breathe. The production of C02 production varies from body to body based on its metabolic rate; those bodies with high metabolism tend to burn more C02 and are therefore more attractive to mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes are also attracted to lactic acid, which our bodies release after a workout or after eating salty and high-potassium foods. That would be bananas, pickles, potato chips and other snack foods.

Women are more attractive to mosquitoes than men because they like estrogen-based female hormones and the fruity and floral fragrances found in perfumes and bodycare products women use. But men may also carry these fragrances from scented sunscreens, fabric softeners and dryer sheets.

Mosquitoes prefer moist, cool bodies, wet from rain, perspiration or swimming.

They also like diabetics--yes, their blood is sweeter, but it's the high level of acetone in the blood mosquitoes love.

And if you are wearing light-colored clothing, particularly yellow, a mosquito will zoom right in on you.

So, to make your body unattractive to mosquitoes:

• eat less salt
• use unscented products
• dry off your body
• avoid sweets
• wear dark colors

Use Repellents

If you want to use a repellent on your skin, the simplest thing is vinegar. I learned this from an Italian woman who got this piece of wisdom from her grandmother. And it works! Any type of vinegar will do. I use apple cider vinegar, but cheap distilled white vinegar will do. I put it into one of those oil-and-vinegar shaker bottles usually used for salad dressing and keep it on my nightstand all summer. Before going to sleep, I just sprinkle it on my face and arms--especially around my ears--which generally does the trick.

There are also repellents made from fragrant essential oils, which are sold at many natural food stores. Most contain oil of citronella and/or oil of peppermint as the active ingredient. See Debra's List for commercial herbal repellents, or make your own by with easy-to-follow instructions in the book Natural Insect Repellents.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control recommend oil of lemon eucalyptus as an effective mosquito repellent. This natural, plant-based repellent oil is prepared from leaves of Eucalyptus citriodora. It is similar to citronella in smell and similar in effectiveness to a repellent with a low-concentration of DEET. Other herbal oils that repel mosquitos include citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass, tea tree oil, cedar oil, and peppermint. If you purchase these as straight oils, mix them with some plain cooking oil first to dilute them before putting them on your skin.

All kinds of smoke also discourages mosquitoes, regardless of the source--a citronella candle, a mosquito coil, a compfire, or even a cigarette and incense. All will work effectively in the range of their smoke reach. So they can rid an area of mosquitoes to a certain degree, but are not as effective as applying a repellent right on your skin.

Mosquitoes also hate the smell of garlic. Hmmm...I wonder if there is any connection between blood-sucking mosquitoes and blood-sicking vampires? Eat a lot of garlic and you'll be protected from both.

Use Environmental Controls

You can greatly reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home with two simple environmental controls.

First, look for any sources of standing water. Mosquitoes can quickly breed in even a small amount of water, so after a summer rain take a look around and see where water has collected. Empty any standing water and make any adjustments necessary to fix any marshy areas on your property (unless, of course, you live in a natural wetland).

Then, put up bat houses. Bats are out looking for food every night from dusk and dawn--just when the mosquitoes are out. Just one bat can eat 600 mosquito-sized insects every hour! Many insects are thought to avoid bat-populated areas, keeping a hundred feet outside of bat sonar range.

There are 1,000 species of bats and 40 of these live within the U.S. and Canada. They eat moths, flies and beetles, gnats, termites, flying ants and thos pesky mosquitoes. One small brown bat can eat one-third of its body weight in insects each night.

Bat houses are often sold where bird houses are sold, and there are many sites on the internet for both ready-made bat houses and plans for building your own. Just type "bat house" in your favorite search engine.

Some tips:

• Mount bat houses on a building or a tree.
• Hang at least 10-15 feet from the ground.
• Shelter bat houses from the wind and power lines.
• Place the house on the sunny side of a tree or building for warmth.
• Never paint a bat house as chemicals are toxic to bats.
• Hang your bat house near water if possible.

Put Up a Barrier

The simplest barrier is to simply cover your skin with clothing. Long pants and shirts with sleeves offer good protection.

And if, like me, you live in an area with lots of bugs, you'll want to be sure to put screens on your windows and doors and make sure they are in good repair. Open and close doors quickly so insects don't come inside. Here in Florida, screens are so widely used that most houses have a large screened "cage" over the pool and patio. We don't have one, but they are standard on most new houses.

We also have a cotton mosquito net for our bed. We don't use it here, but we did in California, where we didn't have screens. It works very well and is very romantic. I always felt safe and protected under the net.

Cotton mosquito netting is hard to find. The best selection can be found at A Thousand and One Nets, which sells only cotton mosquito nets in many styles, sizes, and colors. Though they are in Australia, they ship to the USA. Though I usually don't recommend synthetic fibers, I've slept under synthetic mosquito nets in hotels, and though I prefer cotton, I don't find the synthetics to be particularly toxic and I'd rather have the synthetic nets than get bitten all night! Also, if you use mosquito netting outdoors, you'll want to use polyester because the natural cotton nets will quickly mold and biodegrade exposed to the elements.

I've read that cotton mosquito nets are not recommended because they are heavier and susceptible to dampness, but I haven't had any problem with mine.

Some tips for using mosquito netting:

• Do not leave the corners of the net loose around the bed--tuck them carefully under the mattress
• Do not allow the net to come into contact with your skin while sleeping--mosquitoes can bite you through the net
• Do not use a torn mosquito net, no matter how small the hole.

Natural Treatments for Mosquito Bites

If, after all the prevention, you still get bitten, here are some natural ways to relieve the itch.

• Make a paste of water and baking soda and put it on your bites.
• Apply salt water made with natural salt--the water will evaporate and the soothing salt will stay on your skin.
• Rub raw garlic over the bites.
• Apply aloe vera to the bites, in gel form or straight from the plant.

===== READERS RESPOND =====

One reader reported using Eucalyptus Oil and Wintergreen Oil (or other mint oil) while at at the didgeridoo festival in the Sierra Mountains just south of Yosemite. "AND IT WORKED," he said. "Worked for only for about 2 hours per application, but hey, I just put more on! I was talking to a bunch of Australian people, as you can guess there were quite a few at a Dig fest. Anyway they use it as well." Another reader told me about Mosquito Barrier, a repellent spray that you apply to your lawn, made from super-potent garlic. She said she uses it and it is very effective...and they live on a lake! The idea is to repel mosquitoes from your yard altogether, and they won't come in your house.