Medical Questions » Travel Questions » Question No. 1401
| Question: | Can you deter mosquitoes and other biting insects through nutrition? |
| Answer: | Some recommend 500mg of vitamin B1 taken every day for two weeks before you go and during your trip. My understanding is that lOOmg per day is enough, but I have to say that B vitamins have never stopped the critters from biting me! Garlic supplements may be more effective - start taking a high-strength garlic supplement, or two cloves of garlic a day, a few days before you go. I' d also recommend using a good-quality natural insect repellent based on citronella, or citronella essential oil in a carrier oil applied liberally and frequently. Lavender oil works, but not as well as citronella. Although it' s rare, some people are allergic to citronella, so it' s a good idea to apply a bit before you go to see whether it provokes a reaction. |
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