A while back this blogger wrote of having to do a roofing job in an area that he knew was going to be riddled with hordes of mosquitoes. He was aware of and decided to try out a homeopathic remedy which reportedly keeps mosquitoes from biting.
Turns out the remedy worked extremely well for him, and he was able to complete the roofing job with next to no problem of being bothered by the mosquitoes that were definitely present and out for blood, but did not bite him.
So Papa Pea immediately found a source for and ordered a sample box for me. The box says it's a "homeopathic remedy used for reducing the frequency and severity of insect bites." Hooray! "Keeps biting insects from attacking for at least 2 hours after chewing a tablet." Wahoo!
I ingested a tablet each of three mornings this past week before going out to do our wood work in Mosquito Heaven, otherwise known as our back wood working area.
Didn't work for me.
But then, I can use nearly any mosquito repellant, purchased or homemade, and it does very little to repel the nasty little blood suckers from feasting on me even right through clothing. Anyone standing smack dab next to me will comment they can't believe I'm getting bit when they (using the same repellant) aren't bothered at all. (It's a curse, I tell ya, a curse.)
I'm not saying Mozi-Q doesn't work, because I believe it certainly did for Mr. Canadian Handyman. It just doesn't work for me.
What's next on my list to try? Tami over at 500 Dollar Tomato is as much of a mosquito magnet as I am, and she's had great luck this season using Downey dryer sheets. She just tapes one to the back of her clothing and is pleased as punch to report it is working for her.
So next trip to town . . . Downey dryer sheets, here I come!
So I'll cross the homeopathic off my list. Now the dryer sheet thing is kind of funny. You would think just wearing perfume would work the same way as a dryer sheet so my bet is the dryer sheet won't work either. But in the interest of good science I'll wait to hear from you Mama Pea before I make any conclusions.
ReplyDeleteSparkless - Perfumes (and hair sprays) of any kind tend to attract the bugs so what you say about the dryer sheets makes sense . . . that it shouldn't work to repel. It's a conundrum!
DeleteOh, do be careful. Dryer sheets have been shown to be very toxic. I do hope you get the little buggers to leave you alone somehow though!!
ReplyDeleteFreedom Acres Farm - I know. I don't use dryer sheets with my laundry because of that very reason. Maybe I should just tough it out, get a few bites when it's unavoidable, but stay inside when the bugs are at their worst.
DeleteMama Pea'
ReplyDeleteHere in the mountains of So. Calif. we have scads of
skeeters: and they love me too! Avon Skin-So-Soft (in the spray bottle) is the ONLY thing that has helped me. I hope you find an answer soon.
Sincerely, Sandy L.
Sandy L. - The Skin-So-Soft has such a horrible odor (to me) that it causes me to feel nauseous. Most perfumes affect me the same way so any repellant (even natural, "safe" ones) with a strong smell are difficult for me to tolerate. Maybe I need to become a real "pansy" and stay inside during these bad bug weeks!
DeleteI agree with Sandy L - Avon Skin So Soft has always repelled skeeters for me - and they used to love to feast on any skin that I left uncovered - and some that was covered. Avon was huffy about people saying that they used the Skin So Soft as a bug repellent but as all good money seekers - they finally relented and now make a product that is called Skin So Soft Bug Guard. The good old Skin So Soft still repels the bugs quite nicely.
ReplyDeleteJoAnn - We did buy some of the Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard thinking the odor might be different than the body cream, but it's still very objectionable to me. Sigh.
DeleteI hope you find a natural cure. As for the Avon stuff---here is a link--
ReplyDeletehttp://www.colorfulcanary.com/2012/05/what-heck-is-in-avons-skin-so-soft-mor.html
Sounds like pretty toxic stuff. Might as well Deet up!
Sue - Yeah, disturbing, isn't it? The funny (okay, not really funny) thing is Deet DOES work for me and I don't react badly to its odor. BUT I won't use that anymore because of the toxic factor.
DeleteSeems like everything has it's pro and cons. I've heard of the SSSoft too but I hate to spray anything on my skin.
ReplyDeleteGive it a shot. Seems to help although not 100%. Still better than nothing. Don't forget the duck tape @;)
Good luck!
Tami - As far as sprays go (or creams for that matter), I don't like to use anything other than "natural" ingredients that I might eat because it's true that anything you put on your skin is absorbed into the body the same as if you'd eaten it. (A little Skin-So-Soft for breakfast, anyone?)
DeleteI would not be able to try the Downey sheet - too many chemicals to flare up allergies and skin reactions here. I hope you find something that works. Have you tried making a vodka spray with an herb? I made one with basil, and it worked. You do have to spray it on more than once.
ReplyDeleteKristina - Have not tried the vodka and basil yet, but having to spray it on frequently is understandable because of the evaporation. That wouldn't be a problem. Thanks, Kristina! And all the rest of you for your comments.
DeleteI take a Garlic pill daily, and it has helped. I love garlic so even chomping on a couple of cloves is beneficial. It takes a week or so for you to build up the immunity, but if you can tolerate garlic, give that a try. I feel for you ...
ReplyDeleteYvette