aqblickley
asks:
Q:
Looking for chemical-free methods to repel mosquitoes
Summer means taking a little time off, and sometimes (if I'm lucky), a tropical vacation! I'm very excited to be taking a trip to Mexico at the end of the month with my family, but the only downside to paradise is the prevalence of mosquitoes. Does anyone have any tips for natural, chemical-free ways to prevent mosquito bites? I've heard rumors that both garlic and Vitamin B-1 emit a an insect-detected smell that makes people unappealing to mosquitoes, but I'm not sure how much truth there is to that. Any insight?
In Topics:
Nature and outdoors, Family vacations
> 60 days ago
What the Expert Says:
Best Answer!
what's this?from a fellow member
Additional Answers (1)
Hello,
In taking a short (two-week) trip to Thailand, I took a regimen of garlic pills and pro-biotic pills (with live beneficial microorganisms that aid digestion) every day for two weeks prior to my departure. While in Thailand, I also used a DEET-free insect repellent lotion and hypo-allergic sunscreen (not the coconut oil or other scented options). Of the group of people on our trek through the jungle hills of Chiang Mai, I was the only one who didn't get eaten by mosquitoes (nor did I have problems with diarrhea like other tourists).
When I lived in Indonesia for 10 months, I didn't take the garlic pills beforehand, but did eat lots of fresh garlic in daily meals there. We also used a mosquito net around every bed, kept fly-swatters handy, and learned to identify dengue-carrying mosquitoes. We wore lightweight long-sleeved clothing regularly, and changed from shorts to pants as soon as the day cooled and the sun started to set. We also used DEET-free insect repellent, and put large citronella candles (those big ones typically used for camping in the U.S.) on our tables (we had an open-air villa so couldn't close screens/windows and doors to prevent insects and reptiles from visiting us). For the most part, we didn't have many bites (occasionally we were bitten, but nothing severe or even burdensome).
I hope this is helpful. Enjoy your trip!
In taking a short (two-week) trip to Thailand, I took a regimen of garlic pills and pro-biotic pills (with live beneficial microorganisms that aid digestion) every day for two weeks prior to my departure. While in Thailand, I also used a DEET-free insect repellent lotion and hypo-allergic sunscreen (not the coconut oil or other scented options). Of the group of people on our trek through the jungle hills of Chiang Mai, I was the only one who didn't get eaten by mosquitoes (nor did I have problems with diarrhea like other tourists).
When I lived in Indonesia for 10 months, I didn't take the garlic pills beforehand, but did eat lots of fresh garlic in daily meals there. We also used a mosquito net around every bed, kept fly-swatters handy, and learned to identify dengue-carrying mosquitoes. We wore lightweight long-sleeved clothing regularly, and changed from shorts to pants as soon as the day cooled and the sun started to set. We also used DEET-free insect repellent, and put large citronella candles (those big ones typically used for camping in the U.S.) on our tables (we had an open-air villa so couldn't close screens/windows and doors to prevent insects and reptiles from visiting us). For the most part, we didn't have many bites (occasionally we were bitten, but nothing severe or even burdensome).
I hope this is helpful. Enjoy your trip!
