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Insect Bites & Stings
This is for treatng insect bites, as well as bee stings. You can also use this mixture to treat diaper rash. Mix
cornstarch with water and make a paste. Apply the paste over the bite or rash. This will draw out the "poisons" of most insect
bites. If you think the bite may be from a poisonous variety, you should seek medical attention.
While there are many ways to deter mosquitoes from biting you, some are more toxic than others. The following suggestions
give you easy ways to repel these pests:
- Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets--just wipe on and go. This is great for babies.
- Supplement with one vitamin B-1 tablet a day from April through October. Add 100 mg of B-1 to a B-100 Complex daily during
the mosquito season.
- Don't eat bananas during mosquito season--mosquitoes love bananas! There is something about how your body processes the
banana oil that attracts these female sugar-loving insects.
- One of the best natural insect repellents is Vick's Vaporub®.
- Planting marigolds around your yard works great as a bug repellent because the flowers give off a fragrance bugs do not
like. This is a great way to ward off mosquitoes without using chemical insecticides.
- Campers agree that the very best mosquito repellant is Avon Skin-So-Soft® bath oil mixed half and half with rubbing alcohol.
- One of the best natural insect repellants we use in Texas is made from the clear liquid vanilla that is sold in Mexico.
It is reported to work great for mosquitoes and ticks, and spreading a little vanilla mixed with olive oil on your skin smells
great.
- Commercial mosquito dunks will kill mosquito larvae before they become mosquitoes. There are fairly environmentally sound
biological mosquito controls containing no toxic chemicals. Each dunk affectively treats up to 100 square feet of surface
water regardless of depth for about 30 days. Dunks may be broken into smaller pieces to treat small areas. Unused and dried
out dunks retain their potency indefinitely, so you can store extras for the long summer season. Put them in fountains, ponds,
rain gutters, flowerpot trays, and anywhere water may pool.
- Citronella soap is a product that started in the Bahamas and Belize. The soaps are made with olive oil for moisture and
great lather, Aloe Vera to soothe the skin, and citronella oil to repel mosquitoes. For high intensity protection you can
burn citronella incense. Mosquitoes avoid citronella and they hate the smoke.
- Citronella essential oil (Java Citronella) is considered to be the highest quality citronella on the market. The best
quality is steam distilled from the grass giving it a fresh, sweet woody aroma. It blends well with geranium, cedar wood and
other citrus oils. It is 100 percent pure essential oil--no additives, no dilutants, no adulteration, just safe mosquito repellent.
- Electronic repellents utilize one to two sound frequencies to simulate dragonflies and other male mosquitoes, creating
a competitive environment for the blood-sucking female. These devices come with Velcro bands for wearing on your wrist or
ankle, or on your pocket or belt. This makes for a versatile, compact unit that you can take anywhere for protection. Some
units even have a built-in red flashlight for nighttime use.
- When all else fails--get a frog!
Most commercial insect repellants contain a chemical known as DEET and should be used with caution, if at all. Many studies
have found DEET to have harmful effects. One study found that DEET causes diffuse brain cell death and behavioral changes
in rats, and researchers suggest that humans may experience memory loss, headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain,
tremors and shortness of breath with heavy exposure to DEET and other insecticides.
Further, in combination with other chemicals or medications the chemicals could cause brain deficits in vulnerable populations.
Children are particularly at risk for subtle brain changes because their skin more readily absorbs chemicals in the environment
and chemicals more potently affect their developing nervous systems.
In the event that you choose to use DEET, although strongly recommended against it, do not use the products on infants
and be very wary of using them on children at all (at least make sure products for children contain 15 percent or less DEET).
The following precautions were issued by The New York State Department of Health for repellents containing DEET:
- Store bottle out of the reach of children and read all instructions on label before applying.
- Do not let children apply DEET themselves because they may put them in their mouths or touch their eyes.
- Avoid prolonged and excessive use of DEET. Use sparingly to cover exposed skin; do not treat unexposed skin.
- Do not apply repellents in enclosed areas. This is especially important when using sprays or aerosols.
- Do not apply directly on face.
- DEET can be applied to clothing, but may damage some synthetic fabrics and plastics.
- Wash treated skin and clothing after returning indoors.
- If you believe you are having an adverse reaction to a repellent containing DEET, wash the treated area immediately and
call your physician.
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