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Severe reaction to mosquito bites
I am in my late forties and have, in the last couple of years, suddenly started to react violently to mosquito bites. They blister and swell and look infected. I use anti-histamine tablets which reduce the swelling but isn’t there something I can do to stop them biting in the first place?
Although nobody can really explain why it should work, taking a relatively high dose of vitamin B1 (500mg a day) can help prevent bites. You may be told this dose is dangerously high but the fact is, this is a non-toxic vitamin, even in much higher amounts.
Vitamin C works in the body as a natural anti-histamine, so you may want to switch from your current tablets to a daily dose of 1g to prevent the severe reactions you are getting.
You should also invest in a good supply of a repellent made from an Indian herbal oil called Neem. It is one of my all-time favourite stories how Scottish researchers who demonstrated that this herb can not only reduce the number of mosquito bites, but also the severity of the body’s reaction to them only did so by sticking their own hands into tanks full of mosquito flies and waiting for them to bite.
The research was carried out in conjunction with the UK herbal manufacturer Bioforce, (01294 277344), who went on to develop an excellent repellent that I always travel with. Be warned, it smells a bit garlicky but it does a great job.