After that great rain this past weekend, I am anticipating even more mosquitos!  Mosquitos can carry a plethora of illnesses including West Nile Virus, Chikungunya, and some types of encephalitis.  West Nile is the predominant mosquito illness in Oklahoma and is still active in this area.  I am always looking for ways to ward them off without resorting to massive amounts of insecticide spray so, when I recently came across these tips I wanted to share them with you.  I can’t wait to try some of these…

Read on for things to try to avoid mosquito bites….

First, I have found some people have decreased amount of bites if they are taking B vitamins.  It is not the case for everyone but when it works it is worth the extra oomph B vitamins give anyway!

Let’s dive into some things to try:

  •      Citronella:  you can actually buy citronella candles but you might find a plant to be an interesting option.  Rubbing the crushed leaves on your skin or clothing may repel mosquitoes.  Some people attach the leaves to their clothing or place them near them as an option, too.
  •      Thyme:  burning thyme leaves near you may help ward them off.  Thyme oil has also been shown to offer protection.
  •      Garlic:  consuming garlic as raw as you can may help some people.  Mosquitos are repelled by garlic.
  •      Grapefruit:  consuming grapefruit or rubbing their peels onto your skin may help
  •      Lemongrass:  You can sip this as a tea or mix it in something you are baking.  Lemongrass is a natural source of citronella.
  •      Lemon eucalyptus oil:  This is apparently approved by the CDC.  A mixture of 32% lemon eucalyptus oil was shown to be 95% effective against mosquitos for 3 hours!
  •      Crushed lavender oil:  also may help repel adult mosquitos
  •      Cinnamon oil:  can kill mosquito eggs and repel adults.
  •      Catnip extract:  one study found catnip extract to be 10 times more effective than DEET!
  •      Tea Tree oil:  can help repel and treat bites.
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Many of these can be found in essential oils but be cautious and test your skin before applying for any sensitivity.  Also, dilute the oils to avoid skin irritation as essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin without a carrier oil like almond oil.  Cinnamon can be very irritating so be careful with concentrated sources.

On a side-note:  alcohol and sweating (especially after exercise) increases your chance for being bit.  Mosquito’s love the lactic acid that gets released in your sweat.

If you have found something natural that works for you please share with us on Facebook!

To your health,

Laura