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Natural Ways to Prevent Mosquito Bites

Urvashi Pokharna
Prevention is always the best cure, especially in the case of insect bites. It's way better to keep the mosquitoes at bay rather than having to dab yourself with creams and dealing with the constant itch. As with most common problems, preventing mosquito bites has common solutions.
Mosquitoes have plagued many of us for nights relentlessly. There are many deadly diseases that a mosquito bite can give you, like dengue, malaria, yellow fever and the West Nile virus. After learning about the side-effects of using a mosquito repellent, you may have decided to go natural.
Some people wear head nets when they go out trekking or in tall grass areas that are mosquito colonies, our sympathies with the farmers. But, you don't quite have to go to that length of protecting yourself against mosquitoes. We have some simple remedies for you with absolutely natural ingredients.

How to Avoid Mosquito Bites
✿ If you wear clothes in lighter shades that fit loosely, you can avoid mosquitoes to some extent. The science behind this concept is that, mosquitoes are attracted to darker colors more than the lighter ones.
When you wear tight clothing, it makes it easier for mosquitoes to sit on it and bite through it. So, avoid wearing black, purple and brown. Also, wear socks and shoes because mosquitoes tend to bit around ankles.
✿ Did you know? Catnip essential oil is more effective in preventing mosquito bites than many synthetic mosquito repellent that are chemically formulated with DEET. At least, that is what research at Iowa State University has proved. You can even rub catnip leaves on your skin, if not the oil.
✿ Aloe Vera is absolutely one of the most useful plants available to mankind. Apart from healing skin burns, acne and other epidermal disorders, it also prevents as well as cure mosquito bites. All you need to do is rub a little aloe Vera gel on your skin.
✿ Emu oil is another natural anti-mosquito remedy. It helps to cure itching and quickly heals if you have already become a mosquito's victim. In fact, it works well for all types of bug bites.
✿ Prepare witch hazel, tea tree oil, peppermint or rosemary tea. Let it sit for an hour or so and spray when needed.
✿ Steer clear of all things sweet, even perfumes. They make your scent more attractive to mosquitoes too.
✿ Add rich sources of thiamine or vitamin B1, like raw sunflower seeds, tuna, black beans and green peas to your diet. They alter the body odor in a way that repels mosquitoes and this has been scientifically proven.
✿ Lemon Eucalyptus oil is really getting popular as a remedy to avoid mosquito bites. It is even being used in chemical-based mosquito repellents. However, it is advisable that you do not use it on children below 4 years of age.
✿ Apply essential oils of vanilla, lavender or citronella to your pulse points to repel mosquito. It works better as your body heat on these points is the maximum and keeps the fragrance longer. You may also light scented candles made with these oil in your room for a night of fragrant restful sleep.
✿ If you can stand the smoke, burn neem leaves before bedtime. This is an ancient remedy to keep mosquitoes at bay.
✿ Burning eucalyptus scented incense sticks or rubbing diluted eucalyptus oil is also a good remedy.
✿ But do you know the easiest way to prevent mosquitoes from hovering anywhere near you? Just switch on the fan at the highest speed. It works every single time. Also, don't forget to keep your doors and windows closed around sunset and sunrise when the mosquitoes are the most active.
✿ Rub the juicy insides of a Thai lemon grass leaf. It works for at least 4 hours like any other synthetic mosquito repellent.
There are some mosquitoes that inject potent viruses in your body. If you don't want to expose your skin to strong chemicals and harm it, the best way is avoiding mosquito bites naturally. A crazy mosquito repelling tip is to apply some of green colored mouthwash on your skin. It has a lot of peppermint, which the mosquitoes absolutely hate.