Lucy Corkhill

By Lucy Corkhill

01st April 2014

7th April is World Health Day, and also celebrates the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Since 1950, this day highlights an area of concern for WHO, calling for education and awareness on a worldwide scale. This year’s World Health Day focuses on vectors - organisms that transmit infections from one host to another – with the emphasis on ticks, mosquitoes and other bugs such as sandflies. Though we are fortunate in the UK not to have to worry too much about diseases transmitted by these creatures, for some countries they pose serious risks to the nation’s health.

Lucy Corkhill

By Lucy Corkhill

01st April 2014

Lucy Corkhill

By Lucy Corkhill

01st April 2014

One million people are killed every year by diseases spread by vectors, with over half the world’s population at risk. The most common diseases are malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, lyme disease, Japanese encephalitis and yellow fever. World Health Day is raising awareness of preventative measures such as insect screens in the home, insect repellent and light-coloured clothing. To find out more about the campaign, you can visit the World Health Day website here.

Although they don’t carry the risk of serious disease, insect bites in the UK can be unpleasant. Itchy, swollen and sore, they can seriously impact your child’s enjoyment of a holiday or summer fun. But some of the insect repellents on offer are so laden with chemicals, a parent who is raising their child as naturally as possible is right to think twice about slathering them on. The ingredient N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, more commonly known as DEET, was created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the 1940s as a field pesticide. It has been used in insect repellents since the late 1950s. Since then, there have been reports of children suffering seizures, and adults experiencing impaired cognitive function, psychotic reactions and even heart attacks. Needless to say, DEET is an area of serious concern and despite the American Academy of Paediatrics claiming that it is safe for use on children over 2 months of age, parents are rightfully wary.

Yet people have been searching for ways to deter the bugs for millennia, and some of the oldest recipes are the best. There are several ingredients, found in your kitchen cupboards or purchased easily and cheaply, that are renowned for discouraging those critters. Here are just some of the ways you can beat the bugs without resorting to chemicals which endanger your family or pets:

Eat garlic, chilli and lemongrass – research shows that mosquitoes and other biting insects are repelled by the powerful scent of these ingredients in the bloodstream. Garlic has a known reputation as an insect repellent and some swear by rubbing fresh garlic on the skin if going into bug infested areas – although you might smell a bit pungent it’s a small price to pay if you come back without any bites!
Geraniol is a compound found in several essential oils, such as Lavender and Geranium, which repels biting insects. These gorgeously scented oils are fantastic insect repellents and several drops of each can be added to witch hazel or apple cider vinegar (see below for more information about ACV) to spread on exposed skin.

Shower before bed – female mosquitoes, who use human blood to produce a protein needed to produce fertile eggs, can smell a human 100 yards away. One of the most attractive scents to them is lactic acid, found in human sweat, so if you have had a hot and sticky day, make sure you take a shower before bed. A mosquito’s sense of smell is enhanced at night.

Apple cider vinegar – to be honest, there’s not much this natural wonder isn’t good for. We’ve written before about some of the many, many uses of apple cider vinegar (or ACV as it’s known to aficionados of the stuff) and it seems it comes up trumps in the bug repellent stakes as well. Take a tablespoon – either direct from the spoon or in a salad dressing – at least twice a day in the weeks leading up to your trip. You can also rub it directly on the skin or use it as a base to mix your essential oils in (see above) for a really potent deterrent. Online anecdotal evidence shows that even those travelling in the Amazon found this one of the most effective insect repellents.

Dried rosemary, thyme and mint steeped in ACV – see above for the wonders of apple cider vinegar. One way to make a really powerful insect repellent is to chop dried rosemary, thyme and mint (a combination of the three or as many as you can find) and mix into a large, clean jar of ACV. Seal the jar and leave to steep for several days and then use a cloth to spread onto the skin. The herbs soften the scent of the vinegar which tends to dry without smelling too much anyway.

Vanilla extract is apparently an insect repellent and generally sweeter smelling than the other options! Add a teaspoon of the extract to a cup of water and use a cloth or cotton ball to spread the liquid over your exposed skin.

Spearmint/peppermint – plants from the mint family are insect repellents so a few drops of spearmint or peppermint oil can be added to your ACV concoction (they can also be a skin irritant so use low doses and check on an area of skin first). Another – less concentrated but still powerful option is to steep fresh mint leaves from the garden in either ACV or witch hazel and apply this to the skin.
Citrus rind – another scent that biting insects find repellent, this can be added to your ACV concoction for an extra boost of insect fighting potency. Be aware however that some people find citrus a skin irritant, so test a small amount on your skin first before applying.

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