Natural Mosquito Repellent Survey...

satyaanddipan

Wanted to know how people rated using natural or other mosquito repellents as opposed to DEET.

Peppermint Oil?
Eucalpytus?
Lemon Grass?

Avon's Baby Skin So Soft Bath Oil (i know it's not natural)

Any other suggestions..?

TYP0

Having me around seems to help people. Why would the evil flying bugs eat anybody else when I'm there to be attacked at will. *itch*

Sadly true story: Was a party on somebody's terrace and the mossies were literally circling my head and ignorning every single other person there.

So the best natural repellant for everybody is to put me next to them. *sigh* =(

lotus blossom

there are natural products that you can buy. do a google search. i think that "quantum" may make one, but there are others.

i will take some next time i go to india. i dab a drop of lavender oil on the bites; it stops the itching and prevents the red bump from forming.

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mca2005

Lemon Grass Eucalpytus
not eucalpytus, is recommened by the cdc:

Oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)], a plant based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/west...entUpdates.htm

soki

I did a homemade potion : mixing together Eucalyptus (30 ml) , Melissa officinalis (30 ml) and orange (40ml ) essential oils. It worked great, the single problem was that the effect was gone in couple of hours (two or three hours ) . the whole stuff , 100 ml of the mixture above, was enough for two persons within three weeks. . I'm that kinda mosquitoes magnet, but haven't to much trouble when I use the oils. Also I use it against other insects, I left the bottle opened on the window sill, and it worked ..I think

PeakXV

I've tried them all but have gone back to using Deet on my socks, neck Collar, sleeves etc. which works best for me. I am in the Canadian -North East where the summers are short and the Mosquitoes are thus more aggresive to reproduce in the short period of opportunity they have. So a little deet toxin on strategic non-skin spots gets the thumbs up from this gnat guinea pig!

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

phobal

Yeah there's always deet. Unless you believe applying any sort of synthetic carbon chain to your skin would result in eternal unhealthiness...I'd be suprised you're using a computer too.

narsimha

Excellent quip!! Actually, most of the carbon atoms in DEET are in a benezene ring, and not strictly speaking in a carbon chain.

The risk of DEET is much less than that of many things people routinely engage in on holiday: smoking, driving without seat belts, driving on buses in developing countries, motor scooters, drinking & driving, etc.

Ultimately, one has put put it in perspective and get facts, not opinions or anecdotes.

CDC, Health Information for International Travel, 2005-2006 Protection against Mosquitoes and Other Arthropods:
http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/u...sNav=browseoyb

somnath

lotus blossom

this is not sensible rationale. there is no reason to add to the assaults that we are unwittingly exposed to by knowingly using something like DEET when natural, non-toxic alternatives abound.

IVAN

There are other natural repellent supstances. Catnip extract, for example.

Don't know it they are commercialised though.

There should be links (hopefully not obsolete) on my homepage (link in signature), either in the general Travel section or the Indian section.

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SilverButterfly

Were these essential oils mixed with any type of base? Those amounts are quite large and shouldnt be used undiluted on the skin. Especially orange as it becomes phototoxic if your out in the sun.

narsimha

Actually I try to be very sensible and make decisions based on facts, not anecdote and emotion.

My point is that many people take risks that they deem acceptable, but that are quite high: smoking, alcohol abuse, overeating, driving without seat belts, driving after a few drinks, etc. In the context of that equation, the risk of DEET is pretty small. Why do people focus on risks that are relatively small and not look at the larger picture?

How well do any of these natural remedies work? As noted by mca2005 above, Oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)] provided similar protection to repellents with LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF DEET. Until scientific studies have been done on any of the others, I am doubtful of their usefulness.

Other issues to consider:
1. Just because something is natural does not make it safer. Malaria and strychnine are "natural". Plants produce lots of chemicals that are defensive toxins to keep animals from eating them.
2. Natural remedies are still chemicals. Indeed Oil of lemon eucalyptus is made up of the chemical p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD). Why should that chemical be less or more toxic than DEET?
3. Unlike all of these natural remedies the safety of DEET has been extensively studied.
4. The consequences of using an ineffective mosquito repellant are substantial: malaria or dengue fever for example.

At least read this before you "go natural": Health Information for International Travel, 2005-2006, Protection against Mosquitoes and Other Arthropods

http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/u...sNav=browseoyb

Surfs up, gotta' go!

kidsan

let's hear it for anecdote and emotion...love it!!

citronella's my poison for the record...K

rangers

The tribal in the Hills use..Neem oil..but not sure and never applied during treks.But an organic alternative to marketed ones will be helpful for outdoor freaks like us.