As I write this article it is summertime and everyone is heading outdoors to enjoy the joys of summer. There are some things about summer that make this time of year uncomfortable--or downright dangerous. High on that list is mosquitoes. Mosquito bites can be annoying. Worse yet, mosquitoes can transmit diseases, which not only can ruin your day, they can ruin your life.
Controlling the access of mosquitoes to your flesh is easier than you thought. There actually are many scientists who study the issue of mosquito bite prevention, and their finding can be extremely helpful.
Many people believe citronella candles keep mosquitoes away. This belief doesn't hold up under close inspection.
Citronella candles are a common item in many homes in America and Europe. They are usually burned outdoors to repel mosquitoes and other flying critters. The smell of burning citronella candles is unmistakable. Think very heavy lemon flavor. The name citronella gives it away.
But careful research shows that the kinds of candles most people use do not work. They are too weak to do the job of keeping mosquitoes away.
Oil of citronella does repel mosquitoes. But doing a serious job of warding off mosquitoes takes a lot more oil than is found in almost all ordinary citronella candles. In fact, most citronella candles are no more effective than any other kind of average candle in keeping mosquitoes at bay.
An effective insect repellent is a the chemical DEET, which is found in most commercially available insect repellent products in the West. The chemical has been available for several decades and has not been found to be harmful to humans in most of its applications. Prices for products containing DEET vary from low to high. If you want to apply chemicals to your skin, a DEET product within your price range is available if you look for it.
On the other hand, there is a natural product which has been found by scientists to be more effective than DEET. That product is neem oil, which is made from neem (Azadirachta indica) seeds. Neem is native to India, so it is available in stores that carry Indian products.
Neem and neem oil have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Ayuveda is the ancient Indian medical system which is a little too complicated to be described here.
In India it is often mixed into cosmetics and other products used to treat ailments of the skin, including acne. It is often used in organic farming as an ingredient in plant fortifiers. There are some dangers in the use of neem seeds, especially to pregnant women. So please be careful before use; follow your medical practitioner's directions carefully.
There is also another simple solution to the problem of keeping mosquitoes away: fans. Mosquitoes are not very strong. They have trouble flying in heavy breezes. Fans usually create breezes too strong for mosquitoes to fly in.
An additional benefit of fans is that they push away the body odors and the carbon dioxide that usually attract mosquitoes. If the mosquitoes can't find you, you're much safer. And happier.
Noo Yawka has many blogs on many topics. This article fits the theme of his blog See you there
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