Generality
The demand for repellents and natural remedies against mosquitoes is constantly growing, in parallel with the increase in sensitivity towards the environment and health.
Very annoying insects, sometimes carriers of diseases, mosquitoes are considered a real problem to fight during the hottest months.
Fortunately, the transmission of pathologies through mosquito bites is not a particularly widespread phenomenon in Italy, however, these insects are extremely troublesome and have the potential to give rise to allergic reactions.
With the growing attention to the use of insecticides and repellents potentially harmful for the environment and the health of both humans and animals, the use of natural remedies against mosquitoes is spreading more and more. Unfortunately, in many cases, these remedies prove to be unable to stop the "hunger" of these annoying insects.
Aromatic plants
Aromatic Plants to Protect Gardens and Balconies
Among the natural remedies against mosquitoes par excellence we find without a doubt the aromatic plants .
If it is true that mosquitoes are attracted to certain odors emitted by the bodies of man and animals, it is also true that there are unpleasant odors able to keep them away. In this regard, the fragrances of numerous aromatic plants seem to be poorly tolerated by these insects. Such plants include citronella, rosemary, lemon balm, lavender, mint, eucalyptus, basil and thyme .
Generally, these herbs are grown in gardens, or planted in pots and stored on balconies and terraces in an attempt to ward off annoying insects from these environments. Unfortunately, such natural mosquito remedies often prove ineffective.
Nevertheless, these aromatic plants - or rather their extracts - are used in the production of various mosquito repellents.
Did you know that ...
Bats are natural mosquito predators. In addition to the use of aromatic plants, to protect the open spaces from these troublesome insects, it can be useful to place a bat house (or bat box) near your garden or your balcony.
This stratagem, undoubtedly particular, can represent a potentially effective natural remedy against mosquitoes, so much so that it has been adopted in several Italian cities.
Essential oils
Essential Oils as Natural Remedies for Mosquitoes
Essential oils are used as natural remedies against mosquitoes for exactly the same reason as aromatic plants, ie because their aroma seems to be unwelcome to these annoying insects and should, therefore, be able to remove them.
Not by chance, many of the essences used as natural remedies against mosquitoes are extracted from the aromatic plants mentioned above. In this regard, the most used ones are the essential oil of lemon balm, the essential oil of lavender and the essential oil of citronella. To these are added also the essential oil of lemon (extracted from the peel of the homonymous fruit), the essential oil of geranium and the Tea Tree Oil (or essential oil of melaleuca). In addition to the insect-repellent properties, the latter oil is also attributed antifungal and antiparasitic properties exercised above all against lice.
Essential oils are generally applied to the skin in such a way as to act as natural repellents.
Please note
Essential oils should NOT be used pure on the skin as they are too concentrated, therefore, potentially irritating. When you want to apply an essential oil on your skin, you need to dilute it beforehand in a carrier oil, or in a neutral body cream. In general, for 30-50 ml of oil or cream, usually, 8-10 drops of essential oil are sufficient.
However, it is important to remember that essential oils are potentially allergenic, therefore, before using them it is good to carry out a preliminary test on a small area of skin and wait 24-48 hours to check for the appearance of allergic reactions.
Finally, we also remember that some essential oils are photosensitizers and that, therefore, they must not be used before being exposed to the sun.
Vegetable oils
Vegetable Oils as Repellents for Mosquitoes
Natural remedies against mosquitoes also include some vegetable oils, including Neem oil and sesame seed oil .
Very often, these vegetable oils are used as carrier oils and combined with essential oils with insect-repellent properties (such as those indicated in the previous chapter) in order to make real natural repellents against mosquitoes and other troublesome insects.
Neem oil
Neem oil is obtained by pressing the fruits and seeds of the tree of the same name (scientific name: Azadirachta indica ). This oil has excellent eudermic properties, which are also associated with insect repellent, anti- parasitic and antifungal properties . Moreover, these activities have been confirmed by various studies conducted on the subject.
Sesame Seed Oil
The use of sesame seed oil as a natural remedy against mosquitoes comes from Chinese folk medicine. Also in this case, the deterrent should be represented by the aroma of the oil in question, considered unwelcome by mosquitoes. Generally, to keep these insects away, it is advisable to apply it to the wrists and neck, like a perfume.
Curiosity
According to some the sweet almond oil is part of the group of natural remedies against mosquitoes, not so much because its smell is unwelcome to these annoying insects, but because thanks to its application it would form a protective film on the skin that would prevent mosquitoes from resting and, consequently, to sting. However, there is no evidence to confirm this belief.
Mosquito bites
Useful natural remedies against mosquito bites
To alleviate the itching, discomfort and sometimes burning that occur following mosquito bites, natural remedies can be used with an emollient, soothing, anti-itching and possibly anti-inflammatory action.
Particularly used in this area is aloe vera and, in particular, the gel obtained from its leaves. Thanks to the richness of mucilage, in fact, aloe vera gel has soothing properties, which is associated with an anti-inflammatory and healing action. To counteract the itching induced by mosquito bites it is possible to cut an aloe leaf from the plant, applying the area where the cut was made directly on the lesion. Alternatively, you can buy pure aloe vera gel, now sold in almost all perfumeries, herbalist shops and the most stocked supermarkets.
Another natural remedy that can be useful against the injuries caused by mosquito bites is the ointment with St. John's wort, a remedy with emollient properties associated with anti-inflammatory and healing properties due to the active ingredients (hypericin and some flavonoids) contained in the plant. As an alternative to ointment, it is possible to use hypericum oil (or more correctly, hypericum oleolite), a natural remedy with emollient, soothing, healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Attention, however, to the photosensitizing action of the hypericum plant, due to which it is necessary to avoid exposing the treated area to the sun.
To obtain relief from the nuisance of mosquito bites, it is also possible to use calendula oleolite, another natural remedy with emollient, soothing and calming properties together with anti-inflammatory and healing properties due to the terpene compounds and carotenoids contained in the plant .
Other Natural Remedies
Natural Remedies for Mosquitoes in Homeopathy
Even alternative medicines such as homeopathy propose several natural remedies against mosquitoes, both to prevent bites and to counter the symptoms of the resulting injuries.
In detail, to prevent mosquito bites, homeopathy proposes the use of Ledum palustre 5CH, a homeopathic remedy of plant origin. Generally, we recommend the dose of 5 granules a day to be taken during the period in which you are most exposed to the risk of being stung.
Instead, to counter the symptoms resulting from mosquito and insect bites in general, homeopathy recommends the use of other remedies, such as:
- Urtica urens 7CH : is a homeopathic remedy of vegetable origin obtained from the nettle. It is used by homeopathy to counteract the intense itching that characterizes the bites of mosquitoes and other insects.
- Apis mellifica 15CH : it is a homeopathic remedy of animal origin prepared from bees. It is used to fight itching and edema induced by mosquito bites or other annoying insects. It is also used if the bites cause burning and pain.
- Belladonna 5CH : is another homeopathic remedy of vegetable origin obtained from the homonymous plant. It is used above all to reduce the inflammation that is localized at the mosquito bite.
Please note
The practices described here are not accepted by the medicine, they have not been subjected to experimental tests conducted with the scientific method or have not passed them. They could, therefore, be ineffective or even be dangerous to health . The information given is for illustrative purposes only.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Can Natural Mosquitoes Remedies be Used in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?
Even if they are products of natural origin, as a precautionary measure, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should seek the advice of their doctor or gynecologist before using natural remedies against mosquitoes of any kind. In fact, "natural product" is not always synonymous with "safe during pregnancy and while breastfeeding".
Effectiveness
Are Natural Remedies for Mosquitoes Effective?
Unfortunately there is no single answer to the aforementioned question. The application of the natural mosquito remedies described in this article for some individuals may be effective, or it could still limit the bites of such insects, while for other individuals it could be completely useless.
The effectiveness deriving from the use of natural remedies against mosquitoes is therefore subjective and may vary from person to person.
