Mosquito Time is Any Time! Summer is more than half over in most of North America, but where I live, the rains have just stopped and the sun has come out. Whoopee!! Except, the mosquitos have also hatched! As we speak, I'm trying to type and scratch my leg at the same time. Doesn't work too well. Oh yes, I remember an old remedy for mosquito bites that my mother swears by, and I remember it has worked for me over the years. Saliva! Yes, good old saliva which we always have on hand, or mouth. It doesn't look too pretty when I apply it (although it is invisible once it's on, unlike calamine lotion,) so it might be better to excuse yourself and go to the bathroom or away from the family reunion crowd to place a delicate blob on the itching spot. Ahhh, within a few seconds, I can get back to my typing. For some reason, the mosquito bites seem bigger, "itchier" and longer lasting than in previous years, or is it my imagination? Or maybe it's the scary news I read every few days about the mosquitos that are carrying West Nile Virus into Canada across the U.S. border at this very moment. The outbreaks in New York State are disturbing with new people being hospitalized (mainly young and old) on a practically daily basis. There haven't been that many cases (I think, about 7) in comparison to other virus outbreaks, but the ramifications are extensive. This particular virus has been found in Africa and Asia, but never before in North America. I think everyone thought we had the wrong climate...but now it's here! There is an active chicken patrol (I kid you not!) on the border between New York and Ontario (I wondered if they were being trained to catch mosquitos) where chickens are being tested several times a day to see if they're coming down with the disease. Birds are the offending carriers, and crows are the most mobile ones at the moment which are being infected, passing on the virus to the mosquitos and then being reinfected as they fly about the countryside with multiple mosquito stings. The authorities on this patrol are watching for dead birds and the blood samples from the chickens will tell if the mosquitos have reached Canada. Now that the itch has gone, I feel a little safer, although I live in the west near the Rocky Mountains. Unfortunately there's a double edged sword in mosquito control. Either the city sprays chemicals to kill the mosquito larvae, which pollutes the air and the waterways, or we're attacked on all fronts by the tiny critters. The photo in the paper of a mosquito infected with West Nile Virus looked exactly like the ordinary bugs that we slap at and curse at night when they're buzzing just out of reach in the bedroom. Sort of makes me think of the mosquitos carrying Malaria in tropical countries. About 15 years ago I made a trip to Peru and the Amazon River tributary called Madre Do Dios, and because I only found out about the trip a week before departure, I didn't have time to follow the Malaria prevention program which is supposed to take place for three weeks before and one week after the trip. I was worried and cautious the whole time from Puerto Maldonado where Malaria was prevalent and all the way to and from Explorer's Camp where we stayed thatched roofed huts and spent hours on the river at night looking for "Cayman" crocodiles. Of course we can't stay clear of every mosquito, especially the ones that come at you from the back, but I wore clothing from head to foot and slathered on the prescribed oils and unguents. I didn't get Malaria, or any other type of illness on that trip; I guess vigilance pays off. Or, maybe it was just beginner's luck. At any rate, I just now returned from a trip to Northern Quebec where I was again exposed to clouds of mosquitos (well, it seemed like it) and nobody had any spray at the lakeside cabin we were visiting...and I refuse to use sprays anyway because they invariably end up in our lungs as well as on our skin. They can cause rashes and who knows what other kinds of allergic reactions. To make a long story short, I found an old bottle of repellent in the cupboard that looked like it was 100 years old, but had been there, maybe 15 or 20 years. I was the only one to use it, and kept all bugs at bay while smelling oh so sweet and lovely (really!) When I examined the label a fter slathering it on exposed skin I realized the recipe was right there. I thought I would share it with you. Your health food store should have the essential oils needed, and it does smell so good, unlike some other preparations out there. Natural Insect Repellent 1% Citronella or Lemongrass Essential Oil 25% Pine Essential Oil 74% Natural Vegetable Oil (like Flax oil) Mix all together in a small spray bottle and apply before setting out into the woods. Optional additions would be Orange oil, European Pennyroyal oil, and Patchouli Oil. In doing research for this article, I came across several other home repellents that might be of interest. Rubbing alcohol mixed with a little citrus oil (or keep methyl hydrate with the rind of a couple of lemons and oranges handy in a tightly sealed jar.) Skin-so-soft oil (from Avon - which everyone knows about) mixed with equal parts rubbing alcohol. Geranium Oil and lemongrass mixed with rubbing alcohol. Calendula Oil, Goldenseal and Tea Tree Oil are excellent insect repellents. Rubbing yourself with garlic oil...but that means nobody will go hiking with you! Same goes for Onion oil or juice! To these you can add brewer's yeast because mosquitos stay away from that as well as thiamine, an important vitamin. Drinking Lemongrass tea on the day of the hike is refreshing and keeps bugs at bay. The trick is to find substances that mosquitos abhor or are sensitive to, and that's where citrus, garlic, onion, patchouli,pine and the other ingredients above come in. Remember to leave off the perfume and after-shave as well as scented deodorants and hairspray. Even scented soaps attract insects. One remedy that I have a hard time with is certain vitamins. The B vitamins apparently repel insects but many others attract them...it's like wearing a sign for bugs to read "My Blood is Healthy and Tasty." If you happen to be unfortunate enough to be bitten or stung, other than the saliva method, a very good insect bite poultice is made from lobelia (the flower) and charcoal powder with an added drop or two of goldenseal extract. This can be placed on a gauze bandage and applied toa sting to draw out the poison. Or, baking soda and water is a simple remedy. For us folks in the northern climes, mosquito time is almost all the time (except for the 10 months of winter (grin.) That's why we have screens everywhere...on the sunroom, all the windows and doors and even on the gazebo. Would that I could enclose my backyard in mosquito netting! The itching is starting again...now what else can I try? Back to the Writing Index