Sunday, June 29, 2008

Oh...and On that Buggy Topic - Mosquito Help??

Hi again all,

And while we're talking bugs (yes, we WERE talking bugs)...do any of you know the best way to repel mosquitoes? They seem really big, bad and nasty this year! I've heard about Skin So Soft and of course bug repellant...but I'd like to try some more natural ways. Please e-mail me or post a comment!

Thanks,
Christina

6 comments:

Tea said...

Hi Christina

I read somewhere, I think maybe a garden magazine, but not sure....that if you can stand the smell of mothballs, to place a dish of them outside where you`re sitting and the darn little vampires won`t bother you.
I don`t like the smell of them but I`m going to give it a try and buy some next time I`m in a store.

tea
xo

Anonymous said...

I take vitamin b-1 daily in the summer. It tastes horrid, and I think it makes your skin taste awful to the mosquitos. I don't know the dosages, but I take 2 tablets nightly and I have only had a few bitesthis summer (and I live next to a pond).

Anonymous said...

I can recommend making a bug spray by filling a jar loosely with achillia (yarrow)and/or lavender (complete with foliage and stems)and then filling the jar with distilled water. Let this sit for AT LEAST a week in a warm, sunny place, then strain out the solids and use the liquid as a spray.

If you keep the spray in the refrigerator, it will last longer AND it will cool you when you spray it on!

Personally, I use lavender for the basis of most products intended to be sprayed on my skin, as lavender is also helpful in treating any sunburn.

Many other volatile plant oils are also natural mosquito/bug repellants. You can add the following to your mix, either in its fresh form or by adding a few drops of their natural essential oils to your water base:

Basil Oil
Camphorated Oil
Castor Oil
Cedar Oil
Cinnamon Oil
Citronella Oil
Clove Oil
Eucalyptus Oil*
Geranium Oil
Lemongrass Oil
Marigold Oil (Tagets)
Marjoram Oil
Peppermint Oil
Pine Oil
Rosemary Oil
Sage Oil*
Soybean Oil
Tea Tree Oil
Thyme Oil
Verbena Oil
* Especially effective

You MUST ALWAYS use either the fresh plant or natural essential oils in making your repellant. Most "herbal" products today are made with artificial scents (probably derived from petroleum products). ONLY NATURAL HERBS AND NATURAL ESSENTIAL OILS HAVE REAL HEALING PROPERTIES!

HappySlob said...

Awesome tips you guys! :) I knew you'd have some good ones...I just heard another one last night, since I first posted.

Listerine - just the regular variety. Rub it on your exposed skin as you would any other mosquito repellant. Apparently mosquitoes really hate the stuff! I'll give it a try, and I'll smell funny (hehe) but hopefully it'll actually work!

Christina - the Happy slob

Michael said...

Garlic works at keeping them at bay. But not on your skin. You need to eat it.

I don't know why it works, but it does. Mosquitos locate their prey 2 ways. FIrst, they are attracted by the exhaled breath which tells them a warm blooded animal is nearby. Then once they get closer to you they locate using vision of movements. If you are one of those people who cannot sit still, well, you are dinner for them!

HappySlob said...

Heard another great mosquito banishing tip at work the other day...Apparently, burning sandalwood incense is a great way to keep mosquitoes away!