Old Wives Tales

The collection of old wives tales below are based on my personal experience that I have tested over the years. However, I do not guarantee that they will or will not work for everybody.

Old Wives Tales

Mosquito bite myth

To stop the itch from a mosquito bite, use your nail and gently press all over the swelling

Reason

Pressing with the nail will disperse the toxin in the mosquito’s saliva.

True or False?

Answer: True

	A Mosquito bite itches and swells as the result of an allergic reaction to the anticoagulant in her saliva. Sometimes the itch is unbearable especially for small children and if they scratch too much the skin may break and become infected.
	Starting in the center, gently press the wheal or bump with your nail, like cutting a cake.
	Continue pressing until the bump is almost flat
	See how the bump is almost flat and the itch is gone. This works for the bites of most other insects as well

Most times a mosquito bite is not serious but some mosquitoes may transmit diseases like dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever and viral encephalitis . Preventing being bitten is the most important aspect especially if there is a risk of any infectious mosquito linked diseases in your area.

Natural prevention of mosquito bites:

Outdoors

Stay in the breeze. Mosquito can fly only 8 m.p.h., so it doesn't take much to waft her away.
Choose a high sunny location. Mosquito dehydrates easily, therefore prefers shade and low areas where the humidity is higher

Clothing

Wear long sleeved loose-fitting clothes.
Choose earth coloured clothes. Green is best and brown rates second. Blue and red will attract mosquitoes.
Air out outdoor clothing so that it does not harbor attractive odors.

Oil your skin .

Mosquitoes are obsessive about keeping their wings grease-free.
Apply aromatic oil such as Citronella, Cedar (or other conifer) or crushed orange peel, onion or garlic. Pay special attention to the warmest, leanest parts of your body — neck, armpits, ears, wrists — wherever blood vessels are close to the surface. It is best to apply the oil on the clothes of children instead of directly onto the skin.
Avoid scented personal care products and laundry detergents. They are seductive perfume to Mosquito when activated by body heat.

Time

Choose midday or after dark to be out. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk.
Choose a cool over a hot day, a sunny over a cloudy day, a low-humidity over a high-humidity day to be outdoors.

NB – Look out for article on dengue fever (coming soon)

Date added: 26 May 2007

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READER COMMENTS
Posted by SookMei 2 December 2007, 07:13:55 AM Hello, Do you have any advise on how to keep bedroom free of mosquitoes? (besides spraying with insecticide) My baby keeps getting bitten. Thank you
Posted by Cecilia 2 December 2007, 10:16:58 PM Hi Sook Mei What you can try is putting a drop of citronella oil on your baby's clothes which should help keep the mosquitoes away. In addition put a drop of the oil on the corners of baby's cot. I know the room will smell of citronella but it should prevent your baby from being bitten. Cecilia
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