Fighting Mosquitoes: A Beginner’s Guide

theyyamdancer · Aug 6th, 2009, 20:00

Slightly off topic, but bear with me, does anyone know about how to get rid of itchy allergic reaction to plants (sap of pine trees for instance)?

Nick-H · Aug 6th, 2009, 20:42

If I was in UK I'd try dock leaf or plantain (small plant that grows on paths --- I have no idea if it is related to banana?).

Pine sap could be a special case, though, as it is going to be pretty resiny , so I'd guess that soap and water would be a good place to start. Pine oil does produce a reddening of the skin and a burning sensation; it is one of those oils that, as some of us learnt the hard way, must be diluted before putting on the skin.

edwardseco · Aug 7th, 2009, 00:51

I am also a big fan of aloe. I grow it wild in my garden for use on burns..

Aishah · Aug 7th, 2009, 10:08

Plantain is the one for calming stinging nettle - just pick a leaf, screw it up until sap starts to come out of it and rub it on. It gives instant relief. (Did it a couple of times up in Landour where stinging nettle abounds). It would probably work for other plants as well. Aloe also as edwardseco says - I tend to forget I have it when I need it!

snonymous · Aug 7th, 2009, 13:34

I did'nt know about plantain. So easily available too, all over India.

Theyyam, have you tried aloe?

Ice is also supposed to be effective.

theyyamdancer · Aug 7th, 2009, 13:38

Thanks for the suggestions everybody. Yes, I have tried aloe vera, with partial success. Actually, the problem of the pine sap rash is that it is compounded by caterpillar allergy. The caterpillars live in the pine trees and pollen plus allergens from the caterpillars are carried on the breeze. A common problem in these parts! It makes red weals on your skin which go away in a few days but are incredibly itchy in the meantime.

snonymous · Aug 7th, 2009, 13:39

Calamine lotion ?

Years ago, "Lacto Calamine" brand available here used to be very effective. I recently bought some which was not that effective.

theyyamdancer · Aug 7th, 2009, 13:41

Good idea, thanks, Snonymous!

Aishah · Aug 7th, 2009, 20:31

'Red weals' is what those wretched little ants are giving me too - and they last for a couple of days. Quite painful in the initial stages, and for the tiniest bite the weal is several inches in diameter! The last couple of days I have been free of them, but have spotted a few before they have bitten creeping on my hands or arms. I seem to get them wiping the kitchen bench I think. Yet I can't spot them there - one time found a line and sprayed them.

Nick-H · Aug 9th, 2009, 03:11

ok, here is some doubt about DEET...

Link to BoingBoing

You can follow links from there to the source article in Science Daily.

Quote:

The active ingredient in many insect repellents, deet, has been found to be toxic to the central nervous system. Researchers say that more investigations are urgently needed to confirm or dismiss any potential neurotoxicity to humans, especially when deet-based repellents are used in combination with other neurotoxic insecticides. ...

Aishah · Aug 9th, 2009, 19:35

Right, that's it! No more DEET for me - there's enough threat to my central nervous system from the Hit mozzie spray I use now and then for the ants, flies and mozzies.

Nick-H · Aug 9th, 2009, 19:41

Well... It's one piece of research. The fact remains that it has been in use by a lot of people for a lot of time.

However, I can certainly no longer make posts like #115 in this thread

Aishah · Aug 9th, 2009, 19:48

And my former post as well! Can't be bothered looking for the number..

There is a little booklet that comes with the Hit spray - you need a magnifying glass to read it, but the warnings re damage to central nervous system are quite horrific. I put my irrational outbursts of bad temper down to the spray usage.

Nick-H · Aug 9th, 2009, 19:52

...And mine down to Baygon. It smells better, but is probably just as poisonous.

Aishah · Aug 10th, 2009, 09:24

Last night I read a similar article to the one you linked, Nick, in The Times of India. I think it was Saturday's or Sunday's paper (we get ours a day late here and often I don't get time to read it until a couple of days later.)

Aug 6th, 2009, 20:00	#136
theyyamdancer lost in Mechuka member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete Posts: 4,426	Slightly off topic, but bear with me, does anyone know about how to get rid of itchy allergic reaction to plants (sap of pine trees for instance)? __________________ "Wandering seemed no more than the happiness of an anxious man." - Albert Camus

Aug 7th, 2009, 10:08	#139
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,629	Plantain is the one for calming stinging nettle - just pick a leaf, screw it up until sap starts to come out of it and rub it on. It gives instant relief. (Did it a couple of times up in Landour where stinging nettle abounds). It would probably work for other plants as well. Aloe also as edwardseco says - I tend to forget I have it when I need it! __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Aug 7th, 2009, 13:34	#140
snonymous xxx Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,749	I did'nt know about plantain. So easily available too, all over India. Theyyam, have you tried aloe? Ice is also supposed to be effective. __________________ Some of My Tall Tales at http://www.travelpod.com/members/indianature My Flickr photos at http://www.flickr.com/groups/snonymous/

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Aug 6th, 2009, 20:42	#137
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,234	If I was in UK I'd try dock leaf or plantain (small plant that grows on paths --- I have no idea if it is related to banana?). Pine sap could be a special case, though, as it is going to be pretty resiny , so I'd guess that soap and water would be a good place to start. Pine oil does produce a reddening of the skin and a burning sensation; it is one of those oils that, as some of us learnt the hard way, must be diluted before putting on the skin.

Aug 7th, 2009, 00:51	#138
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,845	I am also a big fan of aloe. I grow it wild in my garden for use on burns..

Aug 7th, 2009, 13:38	#141
theyyamdancer lost in Mechuka member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete Posts: 4,426	Thanks for the suggestions everybody. Yes, I have tried aloe vera, with partial success. Actually, the problem of the pine sap rash is that it is compounded by caterpillar allergy. The caterpillars live in the pine trees and pollen plus allergens from the caterpillars are carried on the breeze. A common problem in these parts! It makes red weals on your skin which go away in a few days but are incredibly itchy in the meantime.

Aug 7th, 2009, 13:39	#142
snonymous xxx Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,749	Calamine lotion ? Years ago, "Lacto Calamine" brand available here used to be very effective. I recently bought some which was not that effective.

Aug 7th, 2009, 13:41	#143
theyyamdancer lost in Mechuka member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete Posts: 4,426	Good idea, thanks, Snonymous!

Aug 7th, 2009, 20:31	#144
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,629	'Red weals' is what those wretched little ants are giving me too - and they last for a couple of days. Quite painful in the initial stages, and for the tiniest bite the weal is several inches in diameter! The last couple of days I have been free of them, but have spotted a few before they have bitten creeping on my hands or arms. I seem to get them wiping the kitchen bench I think. Yet I can't spot them there - one time found a line and sprayed them.

Aug 9th, 2009, 19:35	#146
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,629	Right, that's it! No more DEET for me - there's enough threat to my central nervous system from the Hit mozzie spray I use now and then for the ants, flies and mozzies.

Aug 9th, 2009, 19:41	#147
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,234	Well... It's one piece of research. The fact remains that it has been in use by a lot of people for a lot of time. However, I can certainly no longer make posts like #115 in this thread

Aug 9th, 2009, 19:48	#148
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,629	And my former post as well! Can't be bothered looking for the number.. There is a little booklet that comes with the Hit spray - you need a magnifying glass to read it, but the warnings re damage to central nervous system are quite horrific. I put my irrational outbursts of bad temper down to the spray usage.

Aug 9th, 2009, 19:52	#149
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,234	...And mine down to Baygon. It smells better, but is probably just as poisonous.

Aug 10th, 2009, 09:24	#150
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,629	Last night I read a similar article to the one you linked, Nick, in The Times of India. I think it was Saturday's or Sunday's paper (we get ours a day late here and often I don't get time to read it until a couple of days later.)