Protection against Mosquitoes - Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (Mosi-guard)

Marco Polo

Hi,
Some weeks ago I asked people about the usage of Autan (Active ingredient: Picaridin (KBR 3023)) in this forum, and for some persons it worked well and for other not. Still DEET seems to be the most effective protection against mosquitos.

I've been looking at the page of CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) and they say: All the EPA-registered active ingredients have some repellent activity, but most authorities recommend repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethylmetatoluamide) as the most reliable and long-lasting.

Personally I've used DEET and it worked out fine, but I hate the sticky and greasy feeling and I'm looking for an alternative, if available and effective.

One alternative to DEET and Picaridin is Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (p-Menthane 3,8-diole or Citrodiol) and it is sold as Mosi-guard in the UK amongst other countries. According to clinical trials it's quite effective, but it has to be applied more often than DEET. It seems to be less sticky than DEET and less toxic, because it is a natural product.

Have you tried Mosi-guard in India and does it work? Is it available in India and if yes, which is the brand?

Thanks in advance guys!!!

machadinha

I forget the brand name but there's some yellowish paste that's sold pretty universally yes, based on lemon or lemon grass or something I think. It comes in a tube. Is this the fabled Odomos?

It leaves a yellowish crusty sheen on your skin, other than that I found it of excellent use under "normal" conditions. You would apply it more often indeed, it's mostly a dusk thing though (or so I found and in concurrence with folklore, others will disagree). I carried some heavy-duty (western) repellent for mosquito-infested situations. (Note: on the mozzie attractor vs. not so scale I'd rank somewhere in the middle I guess.)

btw In Thailand they had some heavy-duty repellent that smelt heavily of lemon and eucalyptus. Worked a blast, and cooled off existing bites too. Don't know this from India, but at least it would seem to confirm the ingredients used. The uses of all sorts of lemon'ish plants and products against mosquitoes could easily fill up another 45-page thread btw, it's a um contested subject so to speak.

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ddevadatta

I have used a product called Skin so Soft with good results. It is not made as a repellent but functions as such. Great on the skin as the name suggests. It is a US product.

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Nick-H

Odomos is DEET-based.

I bought a (rather expensive) herbal repellent from the Himalaya brand, put some on and got bitten immediately .

It had a similar kind of smell to the Mosi-guard sort of stuff; I suspect that similar oils are used, whether they are listed by their common, botanical or ayarvedic names.

Skin So Soft, by Avon (of door-bell fame) is a bit of a fable, but not entirely --- it has shown some effectiveness in tests, I think. Since it started to sell fro this purpose I think they added an actual repellent to the range.

I use Odomos; but it is only 12%. Not, according to the test data, enough to see you through the night, and the night-biters seem to have a hunger peak around 1.00am.

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Lou Wilson

Skin so soft works great as a repellant. We use it around here in Pennsylvania to ward off ticks who carry the dreaded lime disease.

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ddevadatta

Didn't think you had ticks in Philly. Unless you are thinking of the human species...

I am just 3 hrs from Philly; enjoying life in the mountains.

Lou Wilson

I know this forum is about India but I would just like to say that the city of Philadelphia isn't prone to ticks but all around the Chester county & Valley Forge have large goups of deer which are one of the carries of ticks (as well as field mice) I know of a dozen people who have had lime desease - I don't know if you ever get rid of it???

edwardseco

I used Lemongrass oil, didn't work and was oily beyond belief but smelled nice. Odomos is much more comfortable. Some have mentioned Mosfree, also Indian..

lotus blossom

i used Buzz Away while i was in india, and it kept the mosquitos away. very good results, and non-toxic.

http://www.quantumhealth.com/product...chandbite.html

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Sama

I also used Buzz Away in Chennai and it worked great -- when I remembered to put it on!

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wonderwomanusa

There are ticks all over the country, and Lyme Disease is included. A friend got bitten while raking her garden in San Francisco. She has been on antibiotics for months and her health doesn't seem to be improving much.

The ticks are carried by more critters than deer. Here, we have hawks, skunks, raccoons, possums ... any of those could have ticks and spread Lyme Disease, even in the city.

Nick-H

Ticks in UK are common, especially in sheep. Also to be found in dogs and even cats. More of a rural thing.

Got one on the scrotum one day, when I a child.

But, hey, you didn't want to know that, I guess...

ddevadatta

Sorry folks. I was joking about ticks in Philly.
My uncle was visiting from India in the San Fransiso area and got Lymne Disease. Horrible and long struggle for him.

davidp80

Can BuzzAway be purchased in India?

Thanks,

-Dave

Sama

oh, EEEEUUUUUU! WAY too much information, Nick!