Did you know that there is an 'exclusive' day for mosquitoes?
Well, yesterday, i.e., the 20th of August, was celebrated as World Mosquito Day the world over. The question is why would we care to celebrate mosquito day when mosquitos are notorious for causing diseases among humans like malaria, chikungunya, and dengue?
World Mosquito Day is commemorated in memory of Sir Ronald Ross, the British physician who discovered the link between malaria and mosquitoes way back in 1897. Having said that, monsoons happen to be the favourite season of mosquitoes. As there is no dearth of pools and puddles, they find ample breeding grounds, and we, as humans, should do everything within our capabilities to protect our 'naive selves' from these obnoxiously dangerous bloodsuckers.
Apart from keeping our homes and surroundings clean, public spaces need to be free of breeding grounds. However, as we cannot depend on public sanitation alone, mosquito repellents come in handy. These may smell weird sometimes and have the potential to irritate some skin types. Hence, we have got a list of home remedies here which can serve the purpose of mosquito repellents:
Essential Oils
Certain essential oils, like lavender oil, cinnamon oil, and tea tree oil, have the ability to drive away mosquitoes. Owing to their strong smell, they keep these buzzy beings away. Moreover, they have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that can aid in protecting the skin. However, it is important to note that not all of these oils can be applied topically as they can irritate the skin. They can either be diluted and mixed with body lotion or milder oils like coconut oil while applying, or can be used in diffusers at home.
Candles and incense sticks
Candles and incense sticks infused with citronella, lemon, laurel, and rosemary among others will keep your homes smelling wonderful. On lighting these candles or incense sticks, the mosquitos tend to disappear into the blue. They also give your home a refreshing fragrance and a warm feel.
Kitchen Hacks
Leave a few pieces of cut lemon pressed with cloves in spaces prone to mosquitos, and tada, they leave without an explanation. Mosquitos are known to detest lemons and anything citrusy and hence this is one of the simplest ways to get rid of them.
Similarly, garlic can also be used to repel mosquitoes, provided you are ready for a dare. Leave a few garlic cloves in some water and let them macerate for some time. Then use the garlic water to spray in mosquito-rich areas. The sulphur within drives the mosquitoes away. So vampires aren't the only bloodsuckers scared of garlic!
Camphor
Camphor pieces can either be left in the open to evaporate or can be burned to keep mosquitos away. However, it is necessary to ensure that all the windows and doors are closed. Also, once you decide to burn camphor, close the doors and stay away as the smell can be too intense.
Apart from these home remedies, simple things like mosquito nets and mosquito bats can be used to keep yourself protected from mosquitos. Keeping the surroundings free of standing water and following preventive measures can aid a lot. Ready-to-use mosquito repellent creams, lotions, and diffuser liquids can also be used when necessary.
Next time your repellent runs out and you don't know what to do, take a careful look around your home or kitchen and you'll probably have a solution.
Join MedBound - an ecosystem for students and professionals of medical and health sciences.
Subscribe to MedBoundtimes - An excellent medical blog for healhcare professionals