Mosquito bite allergy
I am travelling to Ecuador in April and am worried about mosquito bites. I tend to suffer badly and seem to have an allergic reaction, with lots of itching and swelling. Are there any vitamins I should take before I go to help and what can I use once I get there?
The best anti-inflammatory agent you can take to equip the body to cope with this kind of assault before you leave the UK is vitamin C combined with a bioflavanoid called quercetin. These two nutrients are synergistic which means they work together to enhance the effect of each other in the body. The homeopathic remedy, Apis mellifica also acts quickly to help reduce swelling after a bite and so would be worth packing in your First Aid kit.
The product I am waiting for is a new Neem insect repellant. Neem is one of the most important medicinal plants to have come out of India and in our household, we already successfully use Neem-based shampoos and conditioners to prevent the dreaded headlice infestations that are now commonplace in nursery and infant schools.
Last autumn, I met with the Scottish researchers at the University of Glasgow who have been investigating the powerful anti-microbial properties of Neem and who have now teamed up with the herbal medicine company, Bioforce, to develop the insect repellant.
The scientists presented preliminary findings showing how Neem not only reduced the number of mosquito bites but also the severity of the body’s reaction so that both swelling and itching was lessened. How did they discover this? By sticking their hands into a laboratory tank of mosquitoes and waiting for the bites! As soon as the new repellant is launched, I will report back in more detail on it. Editor's note: Bioforce have now launched the neem-based repellent, along with a huge range of neem products for both humans and animals - visit Bioforce online for more information.
*Activated Quercetin made by Natural Source combines quercetin with vitamin C. It costs £12.99 for 50 capsules. Take 3-6 daily, between meals. If not available at your local health store, mail order from Revital (0800-252875). Bioforce's Neem-based Herbal Insect Repellent costs £6.40 for 100ml, phone 01294-277344 to order.