How to Avoid Becoming a Bug Buffet This SummerRecently by Joseph Mercola: Eating Mistakes That Age You
You may be one of those people for whom summer is far too brief! But like it or not, most of you have only a few short months to enjoy the great outdoors in most of the continental U.S. Why waste it battling those pesky summertime insects? If you've spent six or more months stuck inside buildings under cover from rain, snow and sleet, you may be looking forward to spending a few precious days outside, be it gardening, or summer sports like softball, camping and hiking – or maybe just evening strolls around the neighborhood. Regardless of your preferred activity, bugs can be a real annoyance, as well as carriers of disease. The good news is, there are some tricks to keeping those annoying arthropods at bay, and they don't involve applying dangerous TOXIC chemicals to your skin. And there are also natural remedies if you do fall victim to a bite or sting. A Few Fascinating Mosquito FactsHere are some fun facts about the little bloodsuckers[1]:
Simple Preventative MeasuresThe best way to avoid mosquito bites is to prevent coming into contact with them in the first place.
You can avoid most assaults by staying inside around dawn and dusk, which is when they are most active. If you must be out during those times, wear long sleeved shirts and long pants, hats and socks. Mosquitoes are also thicker in shrubby areas and near standing water. The American Mosquito Control Association has a list of things you can do to prevent mosquito breeding on your property. 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. As recently reported by the New York Times, a simple house fan may also be all you need to keep mosquitoes at bay in your backyard, because: "A fan dilutes and disperses the carbon dioxide you exhale. Carbon dioxide is one of the major chemicals that attract mosquitoes. The wind from a fan also cools you off. Sweat, lactic acid and body heat attract mosquitoes – factors that a fan can help minimize." Similarly, avoiding physical exertion that makes you hot and sweaty can help you avoid getting bit. A New York Times article from 2008 states that:
"... cues like body temperature, carbon dioxide in the breath and certain skin chemicals like lactic acid all help mosquitoes orient and find their next meal. Exercise boosts the levels of all three signals, making people more vulnerable to mosquito bites during or after exercise.There is [also] some suggestion mosquitoes are more attracted to darker colors, so donning a white shirt may help reduce bites." Barring any of those options, if you are going to be outside with your skin exposed during mosquito season, you may want to protect yourself with a repellent. Steer Clear of Anything Containing DEET!The most commonly used chemical in commercial insect repellents is DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide). DEET was patented by the U.S. Army in 1946 and is still widely used. Currently, DEET is used in more than 230 different 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. Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist Mohamed Abou-Donia spent 30 years researching the effects of pesticides. He discovered that prolonged exposure to DEET can impair cell function in parts of your brain – demonstrated in the lab by death and behavioral changes in rats with frequent or prolonged DEET use.
The rats given small doses of DEET for 60 days had a difficult time performing even the easiest tasks, such as walking. DEET was found to cause:
Making matters worse, DEET is also combined with other chemicals in many products, in combinations found to be more dangerous than DEET alone, according to Abou-Donia. Other things can also react with DEET – like chemicals in your skin care products, and even your medications. In addition, there are other potentially harmful chemicals in bug sprays, one of which is permethrin. Permethrin is a member of the synthetic pyrethroid family, all of which are neurotoxins. The EPA has even deemed this chemical carcinogenic – it causes lung tumors, liver tumors, immune system problems, and chromosomal abnormalities.
Permethrin is also damaging to the environment, and it is particularly toxic to bees and aquatic life. It should also be noted that permethrin is highly toxic to cats[2] . Even a few drops can be lethal to your feline pet. 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. Natural Insect Repellant AlternativesFortunately, there are VERY effective repellents on the market, comprised of natural botanical oils and extracts that are every bit as effective as DEET but with none of the potentially harmful effects. In one study, cinnamon oil performed better at killing mosquitoes than DEET. Another option is to use the safe solution I have formulated. It's a natural insect repellant with a combination of citronella, lemongrass oil, peppermint oil, and vanillin, which is a dynamite blend of natural plant extracts. In fact, an independent study showed BUG OFF to be more effective than a product containing 100 percent DEET! And it's safe for you, your children, and your pets. There is also some evidence that consuming garlic can protect you from mosquitoes and ticks. Treating Bites and Stings with Herbs and Other Natural Agents
There are many herbs and other natural agents that are soothing to the skin, and many have anti-inflammatory properties. You may want to experiment with some of these for your occasional mosquito bites:
A Sting Operation: How Do the Remedies Stack Up?William Brantley of Slate.com[4] was curious enough about bee sting remedies that he actually conducted his own semi-scientific experiment. Working with a beekeeper friend, he allowed himself to be stung several times so that he could methodically test out a variety of pharmaceutical and natural remedies. He kept a running log of symptoms – pain, swelling and itching – and logged them using a 10-point scale every 30 minutes, for each remedy type. He concluded, "The best home remedies are better than the best pharmaceuticals." The only pharmaceutical he said he would use again was Caladryl lotion, but even that did not perform as well as the better home remedies. His favorites were:
Got to hand it to him – anyone who allows himself to be stung by bees in the name of science should be given serious kudos!
You can also try rubbing raw honey on it. This is something my sister actually suggested to me for an intense, itchy rash I had for over a year after just about every other approach had failed. I was shocked at how effective it was. Watching Out for the Wild ThingsSometimes you are bitten, but you don't know what bit you. If you have a severe reaction, it is helpful to know what critter did it. WebMD has a helpful "Bad Bugs Slideshow" to help you identify different types of bugs and their bites.
Please don't risk your health by applying DEET-based insect repellants – use some of the safer alternatives instead. References: [1] American Mosquito Control Association [2] Richardson J A. (March 1, 2000) "Permethrin hazards for cats" ASPCA Veterinary Poison Control Center [4] Brantley W. "Sting operation" (September 29, 2003) [5] Diaz J H, Leblanc K E. "Common spider bites" Am Fam Physician. 2007 Mar 15;75(6):869-873 l Sources: May 28, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Dr. Joseph Mercola
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