Thoughts on Blood Sucking Mosquitoes

Several of us sat around the table the other evening talking about valid recommendations for combating mosquitoes during their biting season. It was brought out that many people today are reverting back to the wisdom of their grandmothers and great-grandmothers. Often these particular anecdotes are referred to as old wives tales however in many cases they have some basis in reality in what they propose. In this article I will list a few of the remedies we discovered and leave the final judgment up to you.

One such tale relates how when you are walking in an area where mosquitoes are prominent you should hold your breath. When it is necessary to exhale you should do so over your shoulder while taking a couple quick steps forward and repeat the process all over again. Mosquitoes use the carbon dioxide, moisture and heat from your body to locate their expectant victim. It is claimed that this method may not eliminate all the bites you may get but it does cut back drastically on the number of incidents experienced.

I have been informed that heat such as found in a common BIC lighters will eliminate the itch associated with mosquito bites. Well, let me tell you, I have personally tried this and had no success what so ever. They say to let the lighter burn for a second or two until the metal on it gets somewhat hot and then apply it directly onto the bite, holding it there until it cools down. All I got from this experience was a small lighter burn. Not recommended.

The next issue brought up was with the use of vinegar to repel mosquitoes. I can still recall my grandmother rubbing this evil smelling mixture on any exposed parts of my body as a small child. I had great difficulty finding other children willing to play with me but my granny assured me that it would work, so I suppose it was okay to smell like a walking pickle.

Some remedies we have tried simply did not work worth a darn and these included the Vicks vapor rub treatment while the Calamine Lotion provided a mere short lived relief. I have heard that fingernail polish will help but if you are prone to allergies and have sensitive skin then beware of this remedy.

A little relief is felt by rubbing a wet Irish Spring soap on the affected area as well as the popular men's antiperspirant "Speed Stick" treatments. Toothpaste placed on the bite has offered relief to some but has done nothing to elevate my bites.

Certain foods and herbs have been known to curve the appetite of these biting bugs. A diet high in Garlic tends to fend off the mosquitoes. My oldest son devours garlic like it is going out of style and he is never bothered with biting insects of any sort. There are those who propose that the consumption of specific vitamins such as vitamin E have helped to prevent insect bites. I have been informed that by building up ones system with this vitamin prior to the arrival of the mosquito season a lot of bites can be prevented. The recommended dose is one tablet at least 3 to 4 times per week.

Many years ago I heard of a successful way to deal with mosquito bites in New Guinea. I was instructed to rub Rum on the location of the insect bite. The method takes the itch out of the bite and cases the swelling to decrease. You can use just about any type of rum to accomplish this procedure whether it is cheap or expensive, dark or light, it really doesn't matter, just don't drink it as that won't help at all.

Necessity appears to be the Mother of Invention and in this case that is certainly true. One person has recommended that in order to extract the mosquito venom from your bite you should make use of what is known as a vacuum sting suction tool. This item is officially called "The Extractor Pump", and its main purpose is nothing more then a suction device intended for snake venom although the instructions does in fact list various insect bites. The key to its success is in using it right away after being bitten.

Not every solution will work for everyone. What is effective for me may not have any actions on your bites. Each person's body makeup is different and therefore everyone must discover their own remedies for dealing with insect bites. It certainly is not fun in the least when you are suffering from these unwanted bites.

By Joseph Parish



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