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Thought Piece

The Best Natural Ways to Stop Mosquito Bites

By Mikey
Successfully sending volunteers abroad for 10 years

You will probably have heard from someone or read somewhere about the precautions you need to take when it comes to the act of fending off itchy mosquito bites during your time on an international volunteering programme. You’ll be excited to enjoy the warmer weather, but that does mean you have to share your time with mosquitos. They adore the types of climates that volunteers spend all of their time in and they are that irritant that can leave you itching and scratching, especially in the heat. BUT, before you cancel your trip, there are tired, tested and trusted ways to ward them off. 

For years, the biggest go-to method used to deter mosquitoes from getting too close has been the DEET spray, a survey published in July 2018 in The Journal of Life and Environmental Sciences, states. The benefit of using DEET spray is that it has the longest lasting effect in the fight against mosquitos; the only trouble is that there have been some apprehensions in regard to the possible side effects that are associated with the spray.

Side effects of DEET include:

·     Rash

·     Swelling

·     Skin

·     Irritation

·     Redness 

However, a retired U.S. Navy entomologist and technical adviser for the American Mosquito Control Association by the name of Joseph Conlon says there’s no need to worry.

He said: “DEET is a product registered by the EPA [Environmental protection Agency], and poses no unreasonable risk. If you use it judiciously there should be no problem — I mean, don’t drink it.”

We have found more recently that volunteers are far more conscious of the environment and their own health too, and this means that many prefer to source natural alternatives to stop mosquitos in their tracks. Synthetic repellent is a proven method, but so is using natural repellents. Unlike DEET, which can be a skin irritant, natural repellents are applied directly to the skin. As with anything, you should check the ingredients used to make the product in case of allergies etc., but this is a simple test that involves applying a small drop of essential oil to the inside of your forearm. Once you know that you’re fine using this product, you can use them with full confidence.

What are some of the best natural ways to prevent mosquito bites?

1.     Lemongrass Oil

Research published in July 2016 in the World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences cited that lemongrass oil is equal to chemical-based, synthetic repellents. In fact, if you combine lemongrass oil with another essential oil such as tea tree, it will create an even stronger repelling effect!

2.     Lemon Eucalyptus

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in America has officially categorised lemon eucalyptus as an EPA registered repellent. Another study, published in June 2014 in the journal Fitoterapia, was found to show that lemon eucalyptus essential oil provides 100% protection against mosquitoes, and it lasts for up to 12 hours.  

A great bonus that using lemon eucalyptus brings is that it also helps to relieve symptoms of the common cold, which can be great when you’ve been on a long flight and you’ve been breathing the air-conditioned oxygen during your flight, not to mention the contact with people and their germs.  

3.     Catnip Oil

We’ve all seen the videos of the catnip effects on our feline friends, but catnip oil can actually be used as a culinary herb, while further research highlights the fact that it can be used to keep mosquitos at bay as well. 

It’s worth mentioning that if you use catnip oil, you won’t suddenly become a major attraction for all the local cats! There’s a difference between the catnip oil and the plant because when you extract the oil from the plant, the oil doesn’t hold the side effects that the plant may carry. Catnip oil has been proven to provide users with up to seven hours of protection from mosquitos, experts state. 

4.     Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil not only smells refreshing, but it is also a natural mosquito repellent and insecticide. It’s versatile in that you can mix and blend it with other scents, such as lemon, and then apply them to your skin for a fresh, anti-mosquito scent. It’s worth bearing in mind that peppermint oil is a hot oil though. This means that it can create a warm sensation when it’s applied directly to your skin, and there have been cases of skin rash. However, you can prevent this by diluting the peppermint oil with a carrier oil like canola. 

5.     IR3535

While IR3535 is a synthetic amino acid and is known to be one of the most shared active ingredients in insect repellents, it carries absolutely no toxicity and provides up to eight hours of protection. The amino acid has an effect on a mosquito’s sense of smell and as a result, gives users an excellent repellent to rely on. Repellents containing IR3535 typically come in cream form for those who prefer to use this method of application.  

Now that you are equipped with the natural mosquito repellent knowledge that you’ve been looking for, you can rest assured that chemicals can be taken out of the equation and you’re still as safe as possible from pesky mosquito bites while you’re on your volunteering adventure!

 


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