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-   -   Home made insect repellants (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/staying-healthy-on-the-road/home-made-insect-repellants-10940)

apattrick 18 Aug 2003 18:20

Home made insect repellants
 
Hi,

Having read the threads about insect repellants with great interest on this site, I was intrigued by the Dettol / Baby Oil mix so I mentioned it to a friend of mine who uses homemade insect repellants on her horses (and herself) to stop the biting flies that plague them in the Summer. She says this mixture is very effective.

Perhaps some of the ingredients are worth considering in homemade potions.

To make 2 litres:

15mls Citronella Oil
15mls Eucalyptus Oil
2tbsp / 50mls Methylated Spirit
1tbsp / 25 mls Washing up liquid
4tbsp / 100mls Vinegar
1 mug of cold strong tea
Top up with cold water to make 2 litres.

I don't think you have to say any magic words but sitting cross legged, closing your eyes and humming softly can't hurt :-)

They use it in a spray bottle.

They also feed the horses garlic to help keep the flies at bay. Apparently it is secreted through the skin and they don't like it.

Anyone got any other homemade magic insect potions that come recommended? I want to make a few up and try them out in Scotland next spring. If they can keep the Scottish midge at bay then I think they should work on anything.

Andy.

P.S. If you try this out, it is obviously *entirely at your own risk*. Don't moan at me if you get a rash or have some allergic reaction!

headwest 23 Oct 2003 21:43

Soybean oil has gotten alot of attention recently as an alternative mosquito repellent. Research seems to suggest is works better than

apattrick 24 Oct 2003 01:07

better than....?
better than.....what?

The suspense is almost too much to bear :-)

Andy.

headwest 24 Oct 2003 03:39

heh sorry...
better than other herbal oil mixtures (including citronella):

http://aafp.org/afp/20021101/tips/1.html

Maybe add 40mls (2%) of soybean oil to your mixture?

neil.larsen 4 Jun 2004 17:39

There have been very positive tales about Avon cosmetics "skin so soft" moisturiser. I'd like to try it, but don't know if it's any specific product from that range...hand cream, moisturiser etc etc..

Will try the home brew though - thanks Andy
Neil

apattrick 4 Jun 2004 21:43

This link has something to say about the Avon stuff...

http://www.scotlandonline.com/outdoo...ws_type_id=640

and this link has the results of the comparison study it mentions..

http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/IPM/Landsca...Repellents.htm

Seems that Citronella based potions are not so hot as Soybean oil based ones.

Maybe see you at the rally in July?

Cheers Andy.

photographicsafaris 15 Nov 2007 11:40

Croton bushes
 
If ever in East Africa, the branches of the small bushes that lions lie under are a natural insecticide. They are about 1 meter-2 meters high, many offshoot branches from ground level, and have green leaves witha gold rusty sort of spore/dust on them.

Obviously there is also pyrethrium if if are in the area, (small white flowers) any of these simply tied to door entrances, above roof hatches, makes a shade and elementary insect repelant.

Cheers G

Birdy 15 Nov 2007 18:07

Controversial idea.
 
If you make a solution of garlic and vinegar in regular water, and spray it on your kit, absolutely all evil flying beasties will stay away from you.

It works very well against insects, but unfortunately has pretty much the same repellent effect on most people.

Well, you win some...

Happy Riding.

oldbmw 15 Nov 2007 18:53

In northern climates. rubbing or hanging crushed elder leaves works

Rod2240 15 Nov 2007 22:17

I've read that mossies don't like bitter tasting blood so they suggest eating chicory,endive,radichio type foods. Vitamin B1 is also considered a deterent as the excess is excreted through the skin, producing an odour that is repellent to mosquitoes, but is undetectable to the ladies (or gents), so won't ruin your sex life....

Rod

Flyingdoctor 15 Nov 2007 23:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by photographicsafaris (Post 159346)
If ever in East Africa, the branches of the small bushes that lions lie under are a natural insecticide. They are about 1 meter-2 meters high, many offshoot branches from ground level, and have green leaves witha gold rusty sort of spore/dust on them.

Obviously there is also pyrethrium if if are in the area, (small white flowers) any of these simply tied to door entrances, above roof hatches, makes a shade and elementary insect repelant.

Cheers G

The first one works well. You can't feel the mozzies biting you with a lion chewing your leg !

Rod2240 16 Nov 2007 15:52

The source I used said vitamin B1 is good as the mossies don't like the smell on your skin. If memory serves me right Marmite is full of B vitamins/thiamin so maybe a spoonfull of Marmite each day would do the job. Haven't tried it yet thought so an unproven theory.......not sure that Vegemite would work the same..!

Rod

pictish 16 Nov 2007 23:37

re
 
Only really got experience with UK beasties mainly the dreaded horsefly and midge in scotland.

Garlic does work to some degree as we used it with horses as well, also will work on people.

Crushed chillies will also work. Either open them up and rub the juice on your skin or blend with an essential oil base. They will give a mild tingle like tiger balm on your skin and i have found rubbing them on temples has helped with headaches. DO NOT get this stuff in eyes, up nose[no picking] or any where near your underpants. Any woman/man you meet will be very unhappy if you dont wash it off before going near her/him unless they have very strange tastes.[ I got a 3 week ban for that one]

Chest rub [vix, olbas oil ect]has alot of the stuff thats in the natural based spray so also works to some degree.

Theres some new stuff thats on the market based on not killing beasties/keeping them away but not attracting them in the first place by masking your scent/ exhaled breath. Some people apparently can do this naturally.

Tried most the over the counter stuff from essential oils to chemical based ones only jungle formula or deet based stuff really worked and even then i still got eaten as you do have to keep applying it when in rain ect even if its says its wash proof. Cover up is the best bet and there are also clothes with insecticide in them.

The one thing that really worked for me was to smoke but this is not a healthy option. Incense will work in your tent if you dont have any of those insect coils. It can also be kept with your clothes to make them smell nice.

just remember that strong smells also attract larger animals so be careful what you smell of when in the boonies there may be some garlic loving bears out there who wont pass up on a pre-basted human. Perfumes, body sprays and aftershaves can also have an effect on animals and woman with their periods can also attract animals or change their behaviour.

For total saftey while camping out make your wife sleep at least 100 metres from your camp when she has her period. This will draw any large predators away from you and your food and generally make your stay more pleasant. Note that hanging her from a tree, burying her and sealing her in air tight plastic bags may be considered illegal.

Osama Radzi 17 Nov 2007 03:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by pictish (Post 159600)
Any woman/man you meet will be very unhappy if you dont wash it off before going near her/him unless they have very strange tastes.[ I got a 3 week ban for that one]

Theres some new stuff thats on the market based on not killing beasties/keeping them away but not attracting them in the first place by masking your scent/ exhaled breath. Some people apparently can do this naturally.

For total saftey while camping out make your wife sleep at least 100 metres from your camp when she has her period. This will draw any large predators away from you and your food and generally make your stay more pleasant. Note that hanging her from a tree, burying her and sealing her in air tight plastic bags may be considered illegal.

:rofl: illegal depending on which country you are camping :rofl:

Birdy 17 Nov 2007 17:46

'or total saftey while camping out make your wife sleep at least 100 metres from your camp when she has her period. This will draw any large predators away from you and your food and generally make your stay more pleasant. Note that hanging her from a tree, burying her and sealing her in air tight plastic bags may be considered'

Fantastic solution to a very real problem! Though you must remember, flies and bugs and other nasties don't like nagging any more than you do, so a woman close by can be considered a positive boon in insect repellence.

Happy Riding.

photographicsafaris 18 Nov 2007 11:34

Garlic, Chilli, Tabbard & Gin vs Whisky
 
Garlic:
I am a big fan of fresh garlic, crush and pour the juice over your mosquito net every three days: This will prevent anything entering your tent.

Chilli:
Those African Birds eye chillies are lethal. The kind you find behind long drops. I used them as christmass ornaments a couple of years back, Nairobi to Cape town in 7 days for next client pickup; very lonely.

Cut them in half and expose the flesh and pips, then leave lying around your tent entrance and luggage. I have not been brave enough to squeeze the juice out of them, but imagine this would be extremely effective. Caution: These are extremely hot, always wash with soap and then double scrub your hands before peeing: I learnt the hard way. Nothing crawling will come near them.

Tabbard:
Insects are predatory, and many use exhaled (higher Carbon dioxide content) to locate their prey, such as bed lice, and my wifeys favorite, little blood sucking tickies! So ventilation of exhaled air away from you is a good thing, such as tents with air holes at the other end to your head.

Tabbard is an absolute essential for socks and shorts, re apply every second wash. This keeps pepper ticks off your legs. Trust me, they are there you cant see them but they are there.

Incidentally the bed lice look like maggots and crawl into your nose to drink then sneak away soon afterwards, its a good idea to be elevated to avoid these little buggers.

Whisky:
Camping on the east coast of Lake Kariba my mate and I got absolutely hammered on boiled Whisky (Thanks you mad french man whoever you were) and that was one of the first nights we were not attacked by Mosquitos, and there are a few there strong anough to carry an adult of a tent to give to their kids

Gin:
Gin and Tonic to be precise, not sure how effective it is but Tonic contains high quantities of Quinine, and everyone knows that the basis for treatment and prevention of Malaria is to load up on Quinine, in my book a few G&T's has got to be considered a medicinal preventative. But gin on the other hand is sweet and makes an excellent base for pork chop marinade, so I am not too sure it will help with the insect prevention side.
Thus Whisky wins for insect repellant, but Gin wins for Quinine content.

Conclusion;
well lets face it Whisky and tonic is vile, so G&T sundowners and Whisky nights.


Women:
As for women and stuff, not a problem, even Diving with tiger sharks off Aliwal shoal diddnt (to my disapointment) make them anymore interested. (...sharks the sharks that is)
Funny how Cape Town women divers always asked me aside to enquire about that issue!

If you are familiar with animals pulling a Phlemen expression it may be interesting to you to watch this, they are deffinitely more perceptive towards menstrual cycles than men. And being upwind of a pride of Lions it is interesting to watch the lionesses get all twitchy.

Catapult:
Oh and Baboons know the difference between men and women and pay scant regard to charging women armed with an axe, but will be terrified of a man holding a catapult! So on the female issue avoid baboons.
Another pest repellant: Catapult.

As for Lions, a can of African (highly flamable) insecticide eg DOOM, and a lighter; you will soon see whos the king of the jungle: the fire breathing human.

G

Martynbiker 21 Nov 2007 00:57

insect repellent
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by photographicsafaris (Post 159346)
If ever in East Africa, the branches of the small bushes that lions lie under are a natural insecticide.


first chase away the Lion........... hmmmmmmmmm on second thoughts, i will stick to the flies and insects thanks mate! :rofl:

Frank Warner 21 Nov 2007 02:29

Not home made ... but natural.

When you run out of mossie coils, insence sticks .. burning dry cow pats is said to turn insects away..

Caminando 21 Nov 2007 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Warner (Post 160153)
Not home made ... but natural.

When you run out of mossie coils, insence sticks .. burning dry cow pats is said to turn insects away..

You're talking crap.

schiannini 21 Nov 2007 12:24

OK - so who knows where to buy the Avon Bug Guard stuff in the UK?

I've seen a few places that sell it from the states (Amazon etc) but surely there's somewhere local?

Avon's UK website doesn't seem to list it...

Martynbiker 26 Nov 2007 20:11

bug guard stuff
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by schiannini (Post 160198)
OK - so who knows where to buy the Avon Bug Guard stuff in the UK
Avon's UK website doesn't seem to list it...

I think the stuff you want is SSS ( Skin So Soft )
made by as you say Avon Cosmetics, its used by the Army, SAS, even used by ME so it cant be too bad. although i use it for another purpose than chasing bugs. when you peel a sticker off, its great for removing left behind adhesive! there is even a web page devoted to the 1000's of uses for SSS!

Martyn


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