Mosquito deterrent
My problem is that every time I go to the Mediterranean I am eaten alive by mosquitoes. I’ve tried every spray on the market and use a plug-in coil in my room at night but nothing seems to stop them from biting me. Is there anything I can take before I go away to stop these demons from spoiling my holiday again?
Fight back and build up your defences before you leave the UK by taking a brilliant anti-inflammatory agent called quercetin. This is a bioflavanoid - one of the substances that give fruit and veg their fantastic colours - and it works best in the body if you take it in a supplement combined with vitamin C. I use Activated Quercetin by Natural Source which is widely on sale in health stores.
All insects hate lavender and citronella oils so pack these too to rub onto your skin, but remember to dilute them before applying directly to the skin.
Several months ago, I promised to report back on a joint project between Scottish researchers at the University of Glasgow and the herbal company Bioforce who were investigating the potentially powerful insect repellant properties of an Indian herb called Neem. Preliminary trials had shown how covering the skin with Neem oil reduce not only the number of mosquito bites but the severity of the body’s reaction to them. The new repellant, which is also effective against midges, is now available in an environmentally friendly pump spray.