What Attracts
Mosquitos and How to Repel Them
August 23, 2014
Story
at-a-glance
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Scientists report that one in five people are
especially appetizing to mosquitoes because of the
type of bacteria that colonizes their skin
-
Mosquitoes are also attracted to certain chemical
compounds on your skin, carbon dioxide, movement,
and heat; they can sniff you out from 50 yards away
-
Protecting yourself from bites will help prevent
mosquito-borne illnesses such as encephalitis,
yellow fever, malaria, West Nile virus, and dengue
-
Most commercial repellents contain DEET; many
studies suggest DEET may have potentially harmful
effects, including brain cell damage
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A variety of suggestions are given for how to make
your own natural mosquito repellent, as well as safe
and soothing remedies for bites
By Dr. Mercola
Summertime calls most of us to spend time outdoors, but this
means we must share our space with mosquitoes. Scientists say
that about one in five people are especially appetizing targets
for the little bloodsuckers... are you one of them?d
Of the 3,000 species of mosquitoes in the world, roughly 200
can be found in the US, which all differ in their persistence,
biting habits, and ability to transmit disease.
Protecting yourself from mosquito bites not only prevents
that horrid itching but can also lessen your chances of
contracting several mosquito-borne illnesses, such as
encephalitis, yellow fever, malaria, West Nile virus, or dengue.
It is estimated that between one and two million people
worldwide die each year from mosquito-borne illnesses, the most
common being malaria.1
Most commercial insect repellants contain a chemical called
DEET, which should be used with caution, if at all. Many studies
have found DEET to have harmful effects.
Fortunately, there are plenty of tricks for keeping biting
bugs at bay, and they don't involve applying toxic chemicals to
your skin. There are also several natural remedies that can help
take the sting out of your insect bites, should your
preventative efforts fail.
Although the above video is highly informative, it is
dangerously wrong at the end as it states that insect repellants
with DEET are the only ones that work. That is simply untrue as
there are many safer and effective alternatives, like the
bug spray we have in our store.
Mosquitoes Plan Their Attack from Behind the 50-Yard-Line
Mosquitoes are attracted to a number of chemical compounds
that they can detect from an impressive 50 yards away. The males
are not interested in your blood, but the females are a
different story, thirsting after the protein and iron in your
blood to produce their eggs.
At this point in our scientific knowledge base, we know that
mosquitoes are attracted to the following:
- Bacteria:
One trillion microbes live on your skin and create your
body odor. Humans have only about 10 percent of these
microbes in common—the rest vary between individuals. Some
of us have a collection of microbes that are particularly
irresistible to mosquitoes.
- Chemical compounds: When they are
sniffing us out, mosquitoes hone in on a wide variety of
chemicals—277 were isolated as potential mosquito
attractants from human hand odors in one 2000 study.2
Some of their favorites are lactic acid, ammonia,
carboxylic acid, and octenol (present in human breath and
sweat). Mosquitoes are especially drawn to carbon dioxide.
The more you emit, the more attractive you are to them.
Larger people naturally emit more carbon dioxide than
smaller people, which is one of the reasons adults seem to
be bitten more often than children.
- Movement and heat: Mosquitoes are drawn
to both movement and heat. So if you're exercising outside
on a warm summer evening, you're the perfect
target—especially if you're short of breath!
Mosquitoes Like OLD Sweat, Not Fresh Sweat
It was once believed that mosquitoes were attracted to human
sweat, but science has disproven that the sweat itself
attracts them. Instead, they are drawn by the chemical changes
produced by bacteria in your sweat.3,
4
Sweat itself is odorless until bacteria act upon it. Although
mosquitoes are not attracted to fresh sweat, if you offer them
up some "fermented sweat," they'll be all over you.
A 1999 study5
found that human sweat was attractive to malarial mosquitoes
after one to two days of incubation. During this time, bacteria
in the sweat multiplied, which changed its pH from acidic to
alkaline as sweat components decomposed into ammonia.
They also found that malarial mosquitoes flock to foot
odor—they will even bite a pair of smelly socks if you hang them
up after wearing them for a few days.
Not only do mosquitoes find some odors irresistible, but
others have been found to impair their ability to find their
hosts—and some of these compounds are secreted by your body. One
of these compounds is 1-methylpiperzine, which blocks
mosquitoes' sense of smell so effectively that they are rendered
oblivious to the presence of a juicy human hand nearby.6
Insect sprays containing 1-methylpiperzine are in the works,
but thus far scientists have not been able to determine how to
keep the substance from evaporating off of your skin, as
naturally occurs over time.
Certain people seem to secrete more of these natural
substances than others, making them essentially
invisible to mosquitoes, which may help explain why some
folks seem to be bitten more than others.
Steer Clear of Chemical Repellants, Especially DEET
Currently,
DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is used in hundreds of
products, in concentrations of up to an astounding 100 percent.
If a chemical melts plastic or fishing line, it's not wise to
apply it to your skin—and that is exactly what DEET does.
Children are particularly at risk for subtle neurological
changes because their skin more readily absorbs chemicals in the
environment, and chemicals exert more potent effects on their
developing nervous systems. Based on 30 years of clinical
studies, DEET exposure can potentially cause the following
adverse health effects:7
Memory loss |
Headaches |
Muscle weakness, muscle and joint pain |
Impaired brain cell function, neurotoxicity8,
9 |
Tremors |
Seizures |
Skin irritation, hives, blistering |
Nausea and vomiting |
Hypotension |
Bradycardia |
Shortness of breath |
Pain, irritation, and watering eyes |
Another potentially harmful chemical found in many bug sprays
is
permethrin. This chemical is a member of the synthetic
pyrethroid family, which is known to be neurotoxic. The US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also deemed permethrin
carcinogenic—capable of causing lung tumors, liver tumors,
immune system problems, and chromosomal abnormalities.
Pyrethroids have recently been linked to behavior problems
in children as well.
Permethrin is very toxic to the environment—especially to
bees and aquatic life—and is extremely toxic to cats.10
Even a few drops can be lethal to your feline companion. It is
used as an ingredient in some topical
flea products, so when you see "for dogs only" on the label,
it likely contains permethrin. For more information, please
refer to the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) extensive 2013
review of bug repellant ingredients.11
Simple Preventative Measures to Avoid Mosquito Bites
Naturally, the best way to avoid mosquito bites is to prevent
coming into contact with them in the first place. You can avoid
insect bites by staying inside between dusk and dawn, which is
when they are most active. Mosquitoes are also thicker in
shrubby areas and near standing water. The American Mosquito
Control Association (AMCA) has a helpful factsheet12
of things you can do to prevent mosquito breeding on your
property. Their "Three Ds" of protection are the following:
- Drain—Mosquitoes require water in which
to breed, so carefully drain any and all sources of standing
water around your house and yard, including pet bowls,
gutters, garbage and recycling bins, spare tires, bird
baths, etc.
- Dress—Wear light colored, loose fitting
clothing—long sleeved shirts and long pants, hats, and socks
- Defend—While the AMCA recommends using
commercial repellents, I highly recommend avoiding most
chemical repellents for the reasons already discussed; try
some of the natural alternatives instead
Bat houses are becoming increasingly popular since bats are
voracious consumers of insects, especially mosquitoes. For more
on buying a bat house or constructing one yourself, visit the
Organization for Bat Conservation.13
Planting marigolds around your yard also works as a bug
repellent because the flowers give off a fragrance that bugs
dislike. A simple house fan may also help keep mosquitoes at bay
if you're having a get-together in your backyard. Dragonflies
are also very useful. I have literally thousands of them flying
in my backyard. They are the two-inch variety and I haven't had
a problem with mosquitoes as they are nearly as effective as
bats at reducing the mosquitoes.
Plants Hold the Key to Repelling Mosquitoes Safely
Fortunately, there are highly effective repellents on the
market comprising natural botanical oils and extracts that are
every bit as effective as DEET, but with none of the potentially
harmful effects. You can also make your own repellent using:
-
Cinnamon leaf oil (one study found it was more effective
at killing mosquitoes than DEET)
- Clear liquid vanilla extract14
mixed with olive oil
- Wash with citronella soap, and then put some 100 percent
pure citronella essential oil on your skin. Java Citronella
is considered the highest quality citronella on the market
- Catnip oil (according to one study, this oil is 10 times
more effective than DEET)15
- Lemon eucalyptus was found very effective in a 2014
Australian study;16
a mixture of 32 percent lemon eucalyptus oil provided more
than 95 percent protection for three hours, compared to a 40
percent DEET repellent that gave 100 percent protection for
seven hours
Use a natural formula that contains a combination of
citronella, lemongrass oil, peppermint oil and vanillin to repel
mosquitoes, fleas, chiggers, ticks, and other biting
insects,which is recommended in a June 2014 article on AlterNet.17.
Extra Thiamine May Make Mosquitoes Think You Stink
A study back in the 1960s indicated that taking vitamin B1
(thiamine) may be effective in discouraging mosquitoes from
biting. However, studies since then have been inconclusive.18
The theory is, taking more vitamin B1 than your body requires
causes the excess to be excreted through your urine, skin, and
sweat. Vitamin B1 produces a skin odor that female mosquitoes
seem to find offensive.
This vitamin is water-soluble, and there is no danger of
toxicity—even at high doses—so it is a safe measure to try.
Dr. Janet Starr Hull recommends taking one vitamin B1 tablet
a day from April through October, and then adding 100 mg of B1
to a B100 Complex daily during the mosquito season to make you
less attractive to mosquitoes. You may also want to forgo
bananas during mosquito season, as something about how they are
metabolized appears attract mosquitoes. Research also suggests
that regularly consuming
garlic or garlic capsules may help protect against both
mosquito and tick bites.
Treating Bites and Stings with Herbs and Natural Agents
Once you've been bitten, the objective changes from repelling
to treating the itch and inflammation caused by the bite.
Fortunately, a variety of herbs and other natural agents are
soothing to the skin, and many have anti-inflammatory and
antimicrobial properties. So, for your occasional mosquito
bites, try some of the following:
Aloe Vera: Contains more than 130
active compounds and 34 amino acids that are beneficial
to your skin |
Calendula: An herb with soothing,
moisturizing, and rejuvenating properties |
Chamomile: The most soothing herb
of all, whether used in a tea or applied to the skin;
rich in the bioflavonoids apigenin, luteolin, and
quercetin |
Cinnamon: In addition to possibly
repelling mosquitoes, cinnamon has antibacterial and
antifungal properties |
Cucumbers: Helpful for reducing
swelling |
Raw organic honey: An especially
powerful variety is
Manuka honey from New Zealand, made from bees that
feed on flowers of the Manuka bush, also known as the
"Tea Tree" |
Lavender: One of the most popular
essential oils for its calming scent, lavender is
soothing and antimicrobial |
Neem oil: Effective against fungal
conditions, boils, eczema, and ringworm, and it would
undoubtedly help an insect bite as well |
Tea Tree oil: Helpful for healing
cuts, burns, infections, and a multitude of other skin
afflictions; also a good antimicrobial and antifungal |
Basil: Contains camphor and thymol,
two compounds that can relieve itching; crush up some
fresh herb and apply directly to the bite, or buy the
essential oil |
Lemon and lime: Both have
anti-itch, antibacterial, and antimicrobial actions;
avoid applying citrus juices to your skin when outdoors,
however, as blistering can occur when exposed to
sunlight |
Peppermint: The cooling sensation
can block other sensations, such as itching, and provide
temporary relief; either crushed fresh leaves or the
essential oil will do |
Jewelweed: A wildflower that grows
throughout in the Eastern US, helpful for reducing
itching from many types of skin ailments, including
poison oak and ivy19,
20 |
Tea bags: Swiping a cooled tea bag
over your bites can help, as the tannins in the tea act
as an astringent, to reduce swelling |
Apple cider vinegar:
Add two to three cups to your bath and soak for
30 minutes; the acidity helps relieve itching |
Baking soda: Dissolve in your bath
and soak for 30 minutes |
Witch hazel: Make a
paste out of witch hazel and baking soda, and
apply directly to your bite to reduce swelling |
|
Hot or Cold Therapies Can Take the Sting Out of a Bug Bite
You can also use either ice or heat to ease the discomfort
from bug bites. An article in Scientific American21
recommends using a simple ice pack to treat painful insect bites
in lieu of analgesics. According to an article published in the
Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin,22
there is little evidence supporting the efficacy of commercial
preparations for insect bites, including antihistamines and
topical corticosteroids. The authors conclude that the best
course of action for mild local reactions is to simply clean the
area and apply a cold compress.
Alternatively, applying heat directly to the bite
also appears to relieve itchiness, which was confirmed by a 2011
German study.23
One simple way is to apply a heated spoon directly to the area,
as demonstrated by Lifehacker.com.24
Just hold the spoon under hot tap water for about a minute to
heat the metal, then press it against the bite for a couple of
minutes. Naturally, make sure the spoon is not too
hot. It shouldn't be scalding enough to actually hurt,
so please use some common sense, and make sure to test it on
your own skin before applying the heated utensil to a child.
A higher-tech version of a heated spoon is the Therapik—a
handheld wand that provides targeted heat for the treatment of
itchy bites. Gizmodo25
tested it and concluded that it works as advertised, giving it
four out of five stars. The receptors that respond to heat are
the same ones that respond to cold, so you will likely achieve
the same benefits with a metal spoon taken from your freezer, or
simply rubbing ice cubes on it. I have also found that simply
covering your bite with tape works really well to suppress the
itch.
How to Enjoy the Outdoors Without the Buzzkill
With a little planning and preparation, you should be able to
enjoy the outdoors without getting eaten alive. Remember the
Three Ds of protection from mosquitoes: drain, dress,
and defend. Eliminating the breeding grounds for
mosquitoes is the first step to limiting their numbers. Planting
marigolds around your yard and maybe installing a bat box or two
can also go a long way toward preventing them in the first
place. When it comes to defense, I recommend avoiding harsh
chemical concoctions and experimenting with some natural
alternatives instead.
Some may work better than others for each individual, as
mosquitoes in particular are attracted to certain biochemical
components in your skin, and different types of mosquitoes have
different attractions and aversions. Should your preventive
measures fail, there are well over a dozen different home
remedies that can help, from herbs to baking soda to ice packs
or heat, whether in the form of a heated or cold spoon,
compress, or electronic gadget, or maybe even just a piece of
tape.
Copyright 1997- 2014 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/08/23/mosquito-repellent.aspx
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