Summertime Remedies- Bug Repelant and Sunscreen

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by thymekeeper-aka-Debbi on May 28, 2009 at 2:56am

Just be careful if someone has bee allergies.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by OceanBreeze on May 26, 2009 at 10:05pm

All of these remedies are very interesting. I wish I had something more to offer, but alas I will leave it to the experts. Awesome posts!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Waterdragon315 on May 26, 2009 at 11:30pm

a very effective insect repellent is slow release niacin taken morning and evening starting a couple of days before you are planning on being out and about.

citronella, peppermint and thyme works very well for small flying insects

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ray on May 28, 2009 at 1:59am

Niacin makes you pee bright orange. Not that is has any bearing on it's uses, just an interesting observation.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sheenstar on May 29, 2009 at 12:35am

interesting.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by SalixKat on May 27, 2009 at 2:30am

I just remembered another one for bugs.

Taking a b-complex vitamin will help keep bugs from biting you. Apparently, one of the B vitamins makes your body emit a scent that bugs don't like, but people can't smell.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sheenstar on May 28, 2009 at 1:50am

is it only if you take the vitamin regularly I'm assuming... ? Its not like you can just load up on vitamin B before you head off to the beach or something...?

Is there niacin in b-complex vitamins? Waterdragon mentioned that supplement above as doing the same thing in repelling bugs.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sheenstar on May 28, 2009 at 1:47am

thats great, thanks!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ray on May 28, 2009 at 2:17am

I honestly don't know of any home-made sunscreen recipes. Being part Native-American I don't burn easily but I still prefer to avoid the sun as much as possible.

I do know a trick for keeping mosquitoes off, but you aren't going to like it. My grandmother told me as a kid that mosquitoes prefer "sweet" blood, as in blood containing a lot of sugar. I remember summer nights as a kid seeing everyone around me getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, while I was somehow immune. It didn't dawn on me till adulthood that my grandmother might be right. Unlike most kids, I hated sweets. I almost never ate candy or anything containing high amounts of sugar. I don't believe the lack of sugar in my blood made me immune, rather the kids around me with high amounts of sugar just attracted them more than me.

Another, more practical remedy: Get potpourri simmer pots. They can be found at any place that sells candles. (just a small clay bowl over a candle-holder that you put potpourri and water in and let simmer for the smell) Fill the bowl with a mixture of lemongrass, catnip, and water(if cats are present skip the catnip for safety sake), place it in the center of the area you plan to be in and let it simmer. Both plants contain oils that repel mosquitoes.(Citronella is made from lemon grass).

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Seachain Aroon on May 28, 2009 at 8:41am

"Why are some people more attractive to mosquitoes than others? Scientists are still investigating the complexities involved with mosquito host acceptance and rejection. Some people are highly attractive to mosquitoes and others are rarely bothered. Mosquitoes have specific requirements to satisfy and process many different factors before they feed. Many of the mosquito's physiological demands are poorly understood and many of the processes they use to evaluate potential blood meal hosts remain a mystery. Female mosquitoes use the CO2 we exhale as their primary cue to our location. A host seeking mosquito is guided to our skin by following the slip stream of CO2 that exudes from our breath. Once they have landed, they rely on a number of short range attractants to determine if we are an acceptable blood meal host. Folic acid is one chemical that appears to be particularly important. Fragrances from hair sprays, perfumes, deodorants and soap can cover these chemical cues. They can also function to either enhance or repel the host seeking drive. Dark colors capture heat and make most people more attractive to mosquitoes. Light colors refract heat and are generally less attractive. Detergents, fabric softeners, perfumes and body odor can counteract the effects of color. In most cases, only the mosquito knows why one person is more attractive than another."

http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~insects/mosfaq.htm

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sheenstar on May 29, 2009 at 12:36am

hey thats very interesting.... I love to chalk it all down to the scientific facts! Thanks for posting this!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Oktobersnest on May 28, 2009 at 2:46pm

I am a natural mosquito attractor! No matter what I use, the little buggers still manage to find a spot to bite me on and I get a big red lump that then turns blistery. Itches like crazy until blister becomes a scab. I heard that spraying the "Original brand Listerine" around you is supposed to keep them away. Just bought some and going to give it a try. All that will happen is I'll get bit again if it doesn't work. but heard it's supposed to.

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last