A few weeks back I wrote about the importance of skin care in 2nd Middle Age here. Now I am revisiting the topic to surface another increasingly important form of skin protection important for human health.
As brief background, I have been studying the alarming increase in mosquito-borne viruses, also known as Arboviruses. Dengue Fever is the most dangerous mosquito-borne virus. Others include West Nile virus, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika virus. The global public health threat of arboviruses has grown exponentially over the last five years. This growth is partly due to more extreme weather events, and also influenced by adaptation of Aedes “Tiger” mosquitoes. Other factors, not yet well understood, also contribute to this threat. The bottom line: so-called tropical diseases are expanding to previously unaffected countries/regions, bringing with them increasing public health threats.
Because arboviruses are spread by mosquitoes and not from person to person, protection against mosquito bites is very important. Unlike typical mosquitoes active at dawn and dusk, Tiger Mosquitoes— known for their stripy design—bite during the day.
This means that just like sunscreen, it is important to protect your skin with mosquito repellent on a daily basis. Commercially manufactured mosquito repellents may be safe and effective. However, it is important to be careful about anything you apply to your skin. For background on choosing a safe mosquito repellent, you can review the Environmental Working Group (EWG) overview and guidance here.
Or you can do what I do, and make your own herbal mosquito repellent at home. They are easy to make at home using safe and effective essential oils with research behind them. There are many good options, the recipe below includes those that I use on a regular basis. Plant based alternatives to chemical-based insect repellents can highly effective. Personal experience may be the best guide to find a combination of essential oils that works best for you.
A 2011 research article from the Malaria Journal provides background on Lemon Eucalyptus, Citronella, Mint, among other essential oils. In fact, Citronella is an herbal combination itself. It may be as effective as DEET with up to 2 hours of protection. (Like sunscreen, mosquito protection should be reapplied every few hours for full protection.) My husband and I have carried out our own trial, so to speak. And on the few occasions that we forget to apply our mosquito repellent we have felt eaten alive. (No one was more surprised than my husband by the efficacy of the herbal spray.)
Here is my recipe, which I offer without any guarantee or warranty:
Essential Oils Mosquito Repellent
Ingredients
Essential Oils: 20 Drops each of Citronella, Geranium, Tea Tree oil, Peppermint, Lemon Eucalyptus, and Cinnamon oil
1 1/2 Cups Distilled Water
Carrier: 1/2 cup Witch hazel
Alternative Carriers: Castor Oil, Witch Hazel or Vodka
Instructions
- Assemble all your essential oils, together with several clean, small spray bottles and a clean measuring cup.
- Add 20 Drops Each of the following to your measuring cup: Citronella, Geranium, Tea tree oil, Peppermint, Lemon Eucalyptus, and Cinnamon Oil.
- Add Distilled water and Witch Hazel and blend well.
- Pour into clean spray bottles (shake before use).
Let me know if you do try this at home. Also, please share your own ideas and experiences with other essential oils. The important thing is to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Your Second-Middle Age: 