Mar
01
2010
0

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes

What You Can Do to Minimize the Risk of Bites

These pesky insects have become a public health hazard in many areas. There are many things you can do to get rid of them and to minimize the risk that you will get bitten.

Over the past few years they have developed from a nuisance into a real public health danger. These pests spread dangerous diseases such as the West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis as well as malaria and yellow fever. It is more important than ever to protect your family from such bites and learn how to get rid of them.

While it may not be possible to completely eliminate the mosquito problem, there are many things you can do to greatly minimize the threat. Some of these things involve changing the surrounding area to be less habitable for the little buggers and some involve temporary measures to keep them away for a short period of time.

What Can You Do?

Remove stagnant water

One of the easiest and most effective things you can do is to remove any standing water outside your house. This includes flower pots, buckets, pails, wheel barrows and bird feeders that may be filled with rain water. This standing water is a breeding ground for them and you will never be rid until you can eliminate this factor. Empty water out of these containers on a regular basis, maybe even make a hole in the bottom so that they cannot hold water.

Cut Down Overgrown Areas

Another step you can take is to eliminate as much brush and tall grass as you can. They love to hide in grassy, overgrown areas and if you can keep the lawn cut short and clear out any unwanted brush on your property it will really help cut down on the mozzy problem.

Plant Natural Repellants

There are several types of plants that naturally repel mozzies. Some of these are horsemint, marigolds, catnip and rosemary. You can also use lemon eucalyptus oil as an effective repellent.

Use DEET Spray

The next step to take is chemical warfare. There are several types of lawn treatments that you can spray on your lawn which contain DEET. These are fairly effective at keeping these biting insects away from your property for up to 2 weeks at a time. Other chemical treatments can not only act as a  repellent, but actually kill any larvae that are waiting to be hatched. However it is advised to use with caution

Invest In A ‘MosquitoMagnet’

Other repellent products such as citronella candles and any burning/smoking products have such a limited radius that they are not that effective. One device that does have some effectiveness is the “mosquito magnet” type of device. These machines use propane gas to produce carbon dioxide which attracts mozzies. They are then trapped in a net inside the device where they die of dehydration. Some of these devices can attract mosquitoes from up to a whole acre away. One drawback to using these devices is that when they break down you will need to spend additional money on  replacement parts such as CO2 cartridges, trap netting, thermistors and of course you have to have a supply of propane gas too.

Repellent that you wear on your skin is also somewhat effective. Products that contain DEET are most effective, while some people swear that Avon’s Skin So Soft works just as well with DEET. You should wear long sleeves and pants to minimize the amount of exposed skin.

It is my hope that this essay has shown you how to get rid of mosquitoes. As you can see, there are several steps you can take to minimize the threat. It takes a multi-layered approach to achieve real effectiveness. You can’t just perform one of these steps. To achieve real results you need to do as many of them as you can. If you do all of these things you will have a much better chance at enjoying your outdoor activities without worrying about itchy bites and allergic reactions.

How to get rid of mosquitoes
Learn how to get rid of mosquitoes

By Mike Francis

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Oct
13
2009
0

Insect and Mosquito Bite Treatment

Summer is upon us again here in Japan and while for most of us our minds flood with images of beach, bronzed bodies and beer – the downside is that we must effectively protect ourselves from mosquitoes.

> Mosquito Bite Treatment. Click here

At best, these flying ‘leeches’ are infuriating, drive you insane looking for them as you are trying to get the children off to bed and leave unsightly blotches all over your skin. At worst they are one of the biggest killers of humans to ‘grace’ the planet. There is a whole slew of diseases that can be caused by a mosquito bites, including:

* Malaria * Yellow Fever * Encephalitis * Dengue Fever

All delightful stuff I am sure you agree!

Mosquito facts

Today we are going to learn a little about what makes these things ‘tick’. My youngest girl asked me to ‘Google’ them today actually (the poor little thing is a lure for Mozzies unfortunately.) And most importantly what can you do to defend yourself from these disgusting little vampires!

Mozzie Biology

Mosquitoes are insects that have been cursing animals and more recently, humans for more than 30 million years. And it seems that, our little friends have been very busy evolving and honing their skills of finding people to bite. Mosquitoes have an impressive aray of sensors designed to track their prey, including:

Chemical sensors -

Mosquitoes can sense carbon dioxide and lactic acid up to an unbelievable 36 metres (100 feet) away. Mammals and birds gives off these gases as part of their normal breathing. There are also certain chemicals in sweat that seem to attract mosquitoes (the lucky people who don’t sweat much don’t get nearly as many mosquito bites).

Visual sensors -

If you move around wearing clothing that contrasts with the background mosquitoes can see you, and and get a ‘target lock’ on you. Instinctually, anything moving is considered alive and therefore fair game to have it’s blood siphoned.

Heat sensors

Talk about overkill: Mosquitoes can also detect the heat warm-blooded mammals and birds give off very easily once they are in range.

With all these high-tech sensors these little ’suckers’ (pun intended) sound more like something out of a Terminator movie and without protection we don’t really stand a chance.

Interestingly it is only the female mosquitoes that bite (what is is with females – I bet if we had a Father Nature instead things would be a lot different.) Not unlike human gold-diggers, the female lands on your skin and sticks her proboscis into you (the proboscis is very sharp and thin, so you may not feel it going in). Her saliva contains proteins (anticoagulants) that prevent your blood from clotting.

I bet you didn’t know this – Mosquitoes can actually explode!

Obviously if you notice her and try to squish her, she will fly away. Otherwise, she will remain until she has a full tummy – she has yet another sensor telling her when she is full and it is time to detach. I once had one land on me and when it was sucking away merrily I carefully pinched my skin tightly to her proboscis so that she couldn’t escape. While it left a nasty welt, I had a last laugh as she filled with blood and exploded ;-)

After she has bitten you, some saliva remains in the wound. The proteins from the saliva evoke an immune response from your body with the symptoms of the area swelling an being as itchy as h***. The swelling tends to subside quite quickly, but the itchiness will remain until your immune cells break down the proteins in the saliva.

HIV ‘Old Wives Tales’ Exposed

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that causes AIDS cannot survive inside a mosquito, and therefore thankfully cannot be transmitted from one person to another through mosquito bites.

How to Stop Getting Bitten By Mosquitoes

You can do a few things to reduce the number of mosquito bites that you get while enjoying the outdoors. First, wear clothing that covers most of your body, if temperatures permit – in saying that though I have been bitten through jeans before so nothing is fool-proof here.

Use Mosquito Repellent.

Natural mosquito repellant

You can go the route of using the ‘ol Japanese standby – the Katori Senko. You can find these bad boys in almost every drugstore in the land. They are green swirly incense sticks that contains some type of plant- based repellent that purports to keep mosquitoes (and any worthy suitors) at bay. While these might be effective for household use, I like to know what my kids and I are breathing and they are no help once you are outside.

When my girls and I are outside rather than spray ourselves with toxins that eventually work their way to building up in our internal organs I prefer more natural alternatives:

If you are interested in getting the best natural bug repellents, and natural supplement delivered right to your door while saving up to 70% on retail prices I urge you to run to iherb.Com and if you enter this code HAY138 you will get $5 off your first order (on top of the impressive discounts!)

Natural mosquito repellant

I have been ordering supplements from iherb.Com for over 5 years now from 3 different countries and I can tell you that their customer service is top notch, their prices unheard of, and shipping is quick and cheap. If you could even find these products in Japan you would likely pay well over full price, fork out money to get the train or fight traffic to get to the store. But with iherb.Com your stuff is only a few clicks and a few days away no matter where you live in Japan or the world.

P.S The best shipping option for Japan is to choose Yamato – they are the ones with the Black Cat on the side of their truck.

P.P.S Feel free to share this code HAY138 with anyone who has never ordered from iHerb before. They will save $5 on their first order as well and a truckload on anything they order from then onwards.

P.P.P.S Guys – believe me you will definitely want to know about the amazing ‘night-time’ benefits of Cordyceps that you can get from iherb too;-)

Author Haydn Stevenson provides you with Free Tips for a more stress-free, funand enriching life in Japan (including the secrets of how he creates income on 100% ‘auto-pilot’ while being a full-time solo dad.) For those starting out living in Japan or are just plain ‘curious’ http://japanfordummies.com shows you this wonderful country through the eyes of an ‘outsider’ who has bumped up against the Good, the Bad and Ugly.. and lived to tell the tale ;-)

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Sep
20
2009
0

Mosquito Bite Remedy

After your lovely summer day, you will hopefully be left with wonderful memories. All too often, you’re left with a little more personal reminder of your fun in the sun:  mosquito bites . Mosquito bites are annoying, but typically not serious unless the mosquitoes are carrying a disease that can be transmitted to humans.

>>  Mosquito Bite Treatment. Click here

In the U.S., fortunately, this is rare. So most of the time, you are just dealing with a minor annoyance that can be handled with any number of home remedies for mosquito bites.

The irritation of a mosquito bite is due to a localized allergic reaction to the saliva of the mosquito. Not to put too fine a point on it, you are itching from bug spit. The mosquito has enzymes and chemicals in its saliva that keep your blood from clotting, making it easier for the mosquito to take your blood for its own nefarious purposes. You, however, do get the short end of that stick.

An Ounce of Prevention

The first and best course is to not get bit. The best home remedy for mosquito bites is to keep your home and lawn from becoming places where your local neighborhood mosquito will want to nest and breed. Avoid standing water, for example.

The next best thing is to use a repellent. There are a variety of repellents available, from sprays and lotions, to sunscreens that contain repellents, to sprays and candles for your yard. Some people prefer to avoid these chemicals and seek more natural ways to repel mosquitoes. Ingesting apple cider vinegar, garlic, or taking certain vitamins is said to help repel mosquitoes, but their effectiveness is marginal at best. So, if you are outside and it is summer, you might as well resign yourself to getting bit.

The Pound of Cure

So you’ve done your best to stay away from mosquitoes and make yourself a less appetizing snack. Still, you’ve got a mosquito bite or two.

>>  Mosquito Bite Treatment. Click here

Never fear; there are home remedies you can use to stop the incredibly insistent itching and sooth your skin. One old remedy your author has used is tobacco juice. Tobacco juice will deaden your skin and stop the itching. It will also cause a nasty stain and leave you explaining to your mom or wife just what you were doing with tobacco in the first place, but it does work.

Another traditional home remedy for mosquito bites is baking soda. Just make a paste of it with a bit of water, and put it on the swelling. Salt is another good substance to make a paste from, as well as meat tenderizer. All these have shown a lot of effectiveness. Apple cider vinegar and ammonia are other common substances that will stop the itch from mosquito bites right in their tracks. Toothpaste is a household product that will relieve that itch as well, though you might want to avoid any strongly flavored varieties.

Rawleigh Products was founded in the late 1800s to create a line of “Good Health Products” that possessed both strength and quality. Visit http://www.rawleigh-products.com or Call # 1-800-992-1089

Antihistamine

An over the counter antihistamine lotion or gel will reduce the swelling at the site of the bite, reducing the irritation. The histamine is the basic actor of the allergic response and anything that can reduce that will lessen the discomfort.

>>  Mosquito Bite Treatment. Click here

Do not, however, rule out emollient lotions. An ointment with a beeswax base that contains other nutrients like bee pollen will go a long way to soothe the localized irritation of a mosquito bite. Another natural product is also from the bee, propolis. It is a substance used by bees to seal and protect the hive. Its benefits are wide ranging and go well with the other supportive nutrients of several of these natural ointments.

Anyone with an active life will encounter mosquitoes and will invariable get bit from time to time. Home remedies for mosquito bites are a good thing to have readily available on hand as the summer goes along.

Author: Dustinkerry Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_834097_17.html http://www.rawleigh-products.com

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Sep
07
2009
0

Mosquito Bite Protection

Mosquito bite protection or control is needed to prevent mosquito bites and any  infections and serious diseases from these bites spreading

A complete guide for effective ways to control Mosquito bites…

>>  Mosquito bite treatment. Learn More

Mosquitoes have been in existence for more than 400 million years. The tropical climate is a very pleasant climate for the mosquitoes to survive. The female mosquitoes suck blood from your body for their food. The male mosquitoes feed on flower nectar. The female lays hundreds of eggs at a time. After hatching, the mosquito larva can grow to an adult within 10 days.

prevent mosquito biteMosquitoes are responsible for various diseases like malaria and dengue

If these diseases are not treated properly, they may become fatal. So it becomes essential to prevent these disease carriers from entering your living area. You can control mosquito bites either by restricting the entry of mosquitoes or by killing them.

Stagnant water with moderate summer temperature is favorable for female mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Containers like used bottles, tins, flower pots, garbage cans that hold stagnant water are loved by mosquitoes. You have to ensure that you don’t have stagnant water around your dwelling.

Outdoor Protection
When you have ponds at your outdoor then surely the stagnant water will become a breeding place for mosquitoes. Also when your house is surrounded by thick bushy and marshy woods you have to find some means to control mosquitoes. You can breed mosquito fish, killifish, goldfish or guppies in your pond as they eat mosquito larvae. Frogs and toads are also enemies for mosquitoes.

Indoor Protection
Mosquitoes are present everywhere. You must protect yourself from them by either blocking them from entering your house or killing them as they enter. Many mosquito control products are available in the market and you can use any one of them for your convenience.

Mosquito Sprays
Various mosquito sprays are available in the market that poisons the air sufficient enough to kill the mosquitoes. When you spray these liquids then you can definitely kill all flying mosquitoes. These sprays obviously pollute the air and hence they are dangerous for us too. They don’t cause death of human beings but are dangerous especially for kids to inhale them.

>>   Mosquito bite treatment. Natural alternatives. Click here

Mosquito Repellent Ointment and Coils
Mosquito repellent ointments need to be applied to our parts of the body that are uncovered. They are sometimes greasy and not advisable for children. They effectively repel mosquitoes and hence you can escape from their bites. Coils are effective for use in outdoors. Many people use these coils indoor but they don’t kill mosquitoes.

Mosquito Racket Zappers

These rackets are very effective in killing mosquitoes that are flying around you to suck your blood. You have to wave your hands holding these racket zappers and any mosquito that comes in contact with the racket is killed as you press the button to activate the zapper. They use batteries that are rechargeable with some models and replaceable with others.

Electronic Mosquito Killers
These electronic mosquito killers operate in current. They attract the mosquitoes with their ultra violet bulbs and the mosquitoes will be killed as they approach the bulbs surrounded by low voltage grid. They can be used in places that have many mosquitoes.

Mosquito Nets
Mosquito nets are an effective means to protect your small living area. You can cover your bed with hanging nets to prevent mosquitoes from nearing you. These nets are very useful for covering beds where children sleep.

You can also install mosquito nets for your windows and doors to effectively block the entry of mosquitoes. These nets have small holes that are large enough to let the air in and small enough to let the mosquitoes stay out.

Whatever control measures you take you can only control the mosquitoes but you cannot stop their existence. But you must take measures to effectively control mosquitoes in your living area to protect yourself from dangerous diseases.

By Jayashree Pakhare

Here are a selection of posts with more information about mosquito bites which I hope you will find useful

Treatments For Kinds Of Insect Bites

A mosquito bite usually results in redness and minor local swelling around the mosquito bite site. Itching is also very common and tends to last longer than the swelling, which subsides after a few hours.

Treat Mosquito Bite Naturally – Natural Remedies For Mosquito Bite

Given below are some tested and reliable remedies to alleviate the inflammation, pain, and swelling generally, associated with mosquito bite. The usage of melaleuca oil to treat inflammations caused by mosquito bite 

Treatments For Mosquito Bite. What You Can Use At Home?

You can make ice wraps and apply them on the bites. This is one of the most effective mosquito bites treatment you can safely use at home. It helps bring down the swelling on affected skin. This eases irritation and the pain too.

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Aug
16
2009
0

Mosquito Bites and Remedies

Mosquitoes are quite an open and hardy adversary, having been around for just a few million years and having evolved to survive

Read on to know more about mosquito bites, home remedies for a bite and the diseases that spread through a bite…

treating mosquito bites Mosquitoes belong to the family of Culicidae. They have a pair of wings that are scaled, a pair of halteres, a very slender body and long legs. It is the female of most mosquito species that sucks blood from other animals and is the most deadly disease vector known to man.  Diseases spread by mosquitoes have been responsible for killing millions of people for thousands of years and continue to do so even today.

Mosquitoes Bites

The mosquitoes have been around for more than 30 million years and over the period of time they have honed their skills and have developed a number of sensors to track their prey. They are equipped with chemical sensors that can detect carbon dioxide and lactic acid at distances as far as 100 feet. Mammals and other living organisms produce these gases as part of normal breathing. Chemicals in the sweat too attract the mosquitoes. This is the reason that people who sweat less get bitten less by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes also have visual sensors and if they can spot a moving organism, they take their chances and zero in on the prey. Lastly, mosquitoes also have heat sensors which can help then sense a warm blooded mammal close by.

The female mosquito lands on the skin and inserts its proboscis into the skin. A proboscis is very sharp and extremely thin. This is the reason as why one does not normally feel it going in. The saliva of the female mosquito contains proteins in the form of anticoagulants that prevent the blood of the victim from clotting. With the help of the proboscis, the mosquito sucks in about 5 micro-liters of blood into its abdomen.

After the bite, some saliva of the mosquito remains on the wound. The proteins present in the saliva evoke an immune response in the body. The area that is bitten swells up and is called the wheal. The itch is the response that is provoked by the saliva. After some time, the swelling goes away but the bitten area will continue to itch until the immune cells of the body break down the saliva proteins.

Treating Mosquito Bites

Defense is the best from of treatment here. Take adequate precautions to ensure that you are not bitten by a mosquito. But if you have been bitten, then here are some home remedies that you can use to reduce the swelling and the itch:

  • Wash the infected area with soap and water immediately after you have been bitten. Wipe the site clean and try to keep it dry until the irritation reduces. Remember not to scrub the skin. Soak the area and then pat dry it.
  • Avoid scratching the bitten area. A mosquito bite normally heals in a couple of days but continuous scratching can delay the healing process.
  • Make a sticky paste with baking soda and water and apply it over the bitten area.
  • Apply an ice pack wrapped in a piece of cloth over the bitten area. This provides instant relief.
  • Using calamine lotion or a tropical anesthetic that contains pramoxine helps relieve both the pain and itch.
  • Apply Aloe Vera gel over the area that has been bitten by the mosquito. Aloe Vera also forms a protective layer which prevents the spread of infection.
  • A very commonly used home remedy is to rub soap directly on the bite.

Diseases Spread by Mosquito Bites

Mosquitoes are the deadliest vector known to man and spread bacterial as well as viral diseases. Some of the most common diseases spread by a mosquito bite are:

  • Malaria: is caused by a parasite that is spread by the Anopheles mosquito. The symptoms include fever, chills, headache and general malaise. Malaria is a fatal disease but can be treated with anti-malarial drugs.
  • Yellow Fever: is spread by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. The symptoms are similar to malaria and also include jaundice, nausea and vomiting. There is no treatment for yellow fever and only the symptoms can be treated. It is controlled by vaccination and mosquito control.
  • Encephalitis: is caused by a virus that is spread by the Aedes mosquito. The symptoms include high fever, headache, confusion, stiff neck and sleepiness.
  • Dengue Fever: is caused by a parasite that is spread by the Aedes Aegypti
  • mosquito in the tropical region and by the Asian tiger in Asiatic regions. This disease produces a range of illness varying from viral flu to hemorrhagic fever.

By Ranjan Shandilya

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Aug
13
2009
0

Global Warming, Emerging Infectious diseases

There may be a  link between mosquito borne diseases and recent global warming.

effects of global warmingThe rise of many emerging infectious diseases and other threats to human health depends in large part on the local climate.

Global warming, the progressive and gradual warming of the earth’s surface temperature, is the most worrisome effect of climate change. Each year, in a number of places across the world, drought and high temperatures negatively affect water supplies and crops.

In addition, high temperatures have increased the number of reported illnesses and deaths among humans. The recent outbreaks of West Nile Virus in North America are a preview of how climate change can drastically affect our well-being. Today, scientists and professionals in the medical field are particularly concerned with how climate change will affect the mosquito population and how it will subsequently give potential rise to a variety of dangerous infectious diseases.

Many mosquito borne diseases are sensitive to climate conditions.

According to studies, a rise in temperature is one of the most common factors contributing to the increase of mosquito borne diseases.

In the case of the West Nile Virus, outbreaks were attributed in large part to a combination of heat and drought followed by heavy rain. Unfortunately, and most alarming is the fact that, according to a panel on climate studies, this weather pattern is likely to occur more frequently with global warming.

It is predicted that global warming will increase the risk of infectious diseases, and most particularly those that are prevalent in warm areas of the world. The spreading of disease will be facilitated by mosquitoes and other insects as warmer temperatures will allow them to propagate in areas further north. What this means is that diseases like malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever and encephalitis, which are common in warm weather countries, will begin to invade countries that previously had no reason to be concerned with such health problems. Taking the West Nile Virus as an example, mosquitoes are not the only carriers of disease but so are birds.

Scientists around the world have been seriously contemplating the effects of global warming on mosquito borne diseases. Because mosquitoes tend to breed faster as temperatures get higher, scientists are attempting to beat the clock. Global warming is a reality today; hopefully, scientists will find a way to eliminate the problem of mosquito borne diseases before a large scale epidemic takes place.

For more information on mosquito borne diseases visit the All Mosquito Netting Info website.

By Anna DeGaborik

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Jul
25
2009
0

Mosquito Borne Disease

Have you heard about the West Nile virus that come from mosquitoes? If not, then the following article might be important reading because it could help you prevent yourself from catching a serious disease that can lead to death.

Serious Infection From A Mosquito bite

Although most people bitten by Southwest Georgia’s ever-present mosquitoes don’t become sick, each year some residents aren’t so lucky.

mosquito illness“Unfortunately, every year around this time, we begin seeing cases of West Nile virus, which is a potentially dangerous mosquito-borne illness for which we have no vaccine,” said Southwest Health District Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant. “Only a few years ago, we had a death in the district attributed to West Nile virus.”

Last year, eight human cases of West Nile virus were confirmed in Georgia, including cases in Dougherty, Lee and Mitchell counties, she said.

Almost 29,000 people in the United States have been reported with West Nile virus disease since 1999, and of those 11,760 have been seriously ill and more than 1,100 have died.

“Traditionally, West Nile Virus incidences peak in August, and that’s right around the corner,” Grant said. “We know mosquitoes infected with West Nile breed here, which is why we recommend to residents of Southwest Georgia that they wear repellent and take other steps to avoid being bitten. At this time of year it is especially important not to drop your guard.”

Around 80 percent of those infected with West Nile show no symptoms; while up to 20 percent have symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a rash, she said.

“The older you are, the more likely that you could get severely ill if you get infected. People who have received an organ transplant are also at higher risk for severe disease,” Grant said. “Young children and people with compromised immune systems are also at increased risk. One out of roughly 150 infected with West Nile virus develop serious symptoms.”

There is no vaccine available for West Nile virus, she said.

“There is also no specific treatment. People with severe cases are hospitalized and receive supportive care such as intravenous fluids and respiratory treatment,” Grant said. “The best protection is to avoid getting bitten.”

Ways to reduce the risk include:

• Avoid outdoor activity when mosquitoes are most active—at dawn and dusk

• Cover exposed skin if you must be outside

• Use insect repellent with active ingredients such as DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus or picaridin

• Drain standing water

• Repair screens

Carolyn Maschke Published Friday, July 24, 2009  http://www.thepostsearchlight.com/news/2009/jul/24/single-mosquito-bite-can-cause-infection/

For more information about West Nile Virus, go online to www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org. Additional information is available at www.cdc.gov.

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Jul
25
2009
0

Mosquito Borne Illnesses, EEE

Here’s the latest news on mosquito borne diseases in North carolina

So if you live in that area it is wise to take adequate precautions …

clinical signs of eastern equine encephalitis in horsesThe Beaufort County Health Department is urging people to take additional precautions to prevent mosquito bites after a sentinel chicken tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis and two horses had to be euthanized because of EEE.

Spraying to help control mosquito populations is continuing across the county. Areas are being prioritized by locations that are seeing the greatest activity.

EEE is a rare disease. The viral illness, transmitted by some species of mosquitoes, attacks the central nervous system, causes inflammation of the brain and can be fatal to animals and humans. Wild birds serve as reservoirs for the virus. Mosquitoes bite the birds and then can transmit the virus to humans and animals.

North Carolina averages about one human case of EEE and about 10 equine cases each year. About fifty percent of human EEE cases are fatal, with young children and the elderly most at risk.

Symptoms include rapid onset of fever and headache and can resemble a case of the flu. Survivors of EEE infections may suffer from long-term effects to the nervous system.

The health department says the best defense for people against EEE infection is to avoid mosquito bites. Reduce time spent outdoors, particularly in early morning and early evening hours when mosquitoes are most active; wear light-colored long pants and long-sleeved shirts; and apply mosquito repellent.

Source:  http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/51626842.html

Eastern Equine Encephalitis found in Norfolk mosquito pool

NORFOLK The city’s public health department reported today the first Norfolk mosquito pool this season to test positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Officials also said they plan to conduct fogging operations

E E E reported in Baldwin County chicken

Eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne viruses are transmitted from bird to mosquito to bird. Occasionally, when bird hosts are scarce, the same mosquitoes will take blood from mammals, including humans 

Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus

A viral infection that is transmitted to humans, horses, other domestic animals (including dogs and pigs), and wild birds through the bite of an infected mosquito.

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May
26
2009
1

Best Mosquito Control

The last thing that any traveler needs is to be plagued by mosquitoes throughout their journey.

mosquito controlJust as there are sure-fire ways to reduce the incidence of these pests in the home environment, definite steps can be taken to stave them off when you’re away from the home front. This is especially important in a society that’s been afflicted by the variety of diseases that are commonly carried among the mosquito population.

Just as that which is red is known to enrage and attract a bull, dark clothing will invite mosquitoes. Avoid the tendency to wear garments that are darker in color or shade, if you’re interested in keeping mosquitoes at bay. In addition, scents such as colognes, perfumes and after-shave also provide an invitation to these pesky insects.

If you do get bitten by mosquitoes here are some suggested treatments:

First treatment suggestion

Second treatment suggestion

Air-Conditioned environments are not conducive to providing the type of scenario that mosquitoes prefer. Whenever possible, stay indoors in a climate-controlled area so that you’ll remove the possibility of mosquitoes becoming a nuisance. You may still find the occasional errant mosquito, but will typically be safe in the air-conditioning. This is true for both the daytime and nighttime hours.

If at all possible, try to avoid participating in outdoor activities at night. After the sun goes down, the atmosphere is ripe with mosquitoes, and the possibility of being bitten is increased significantly – especially if there happens to be a body of exposed water nearby, since this is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

When the need to go outdoors in the evening can’t be avoided, be sure to wear appropriate clothing that will discourage mosquitoes. Covering the arms and legs is always a good idea, since they tend to gravitate toward human extremities – particularly the legs, ankles and feet. Long-sleeved shirts, full-length pants and closed shoes are your best choices.

For those who prefer to spend time in an enclosed screened area – such as a screened porch – mosquitoes may be able to gain access to the room through holes in the screens or other areas which aren’t sealed. In the event that this happens, and the room is screened, you can apply pesticide to the interior of the room. Don’t make the mistake of doing this if the room isn’t properly ventilated by screens, though, or you may be overcome by the effects of the spray, as well.

mosquito control equipmentIf you’re sleeping outdoors (such as in a camping scenario), or need to open a window that doesn’t contain a screen when you’re sleeping each night, be sure to use mosquito nets that are designed to cover the bed area. Not only are you more vulnerable to bites when asleep – due to the inability to protect yourself and the fact that mosquitoes are out in force at night – but it only takes one bite to become infected by one of the many diseases that these pests can carry.

Insect repellants are always a good idea, and can even help to reduce the incidents of mosquito bites when indoors. There are a number of effective repellants on the market today which are easy to apply and non-greasy. This should be applied to all exposed areas, with the exception of those that are in the immediate vicinity of the facial features, and is effective when used on both adults and children.

Fighting mosquitoes doesn’t have to be difficult, expensive or troublesome. With just a bit of effort, you can ensure that you and your loved ones are basically mosquito-free.

About The Author

Sarah Yee is a writer for http://www.mosquitocontrolguide.com, which mosquito information and mosquito control tips both at home and on the road.

Some Effective Mosquito Control Products

For a more personal protection, there is nothing better than a good mosquito repellent. Get yourself a repellent containing DEET. Today doctors recommend DEET containing repellents as the best options. 

Mosquito Control Pre-season Thinking

Another option for mosquito control is getting your own personal mosquito fogger, southern neighborhoods probably hear the humming of professional units in the back of trucks every couple of days during the summer months. 

Mosquito Control Techniques That Work

It is impossible to make mosquito control work 100% of the time – well, almost. It is not just a personal problem, but also a national global health problem. Every year, mosquitoes kill more people than sharks, tigers, wild elephants…

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May
25
2009
0

Preventing Mosquito Bites

Mosquitoes have been in existence for more than 400 million years. The tropical climate is a very pleasant climate for the mosquitoes to survive.

infected mosquito bitesThe female mosquitoes suck blood from your body for their food. The male mosquitoes feed on flower nectar. The female lays hundreds of eggs at a time. After hatching, the mosquito larva can grow to an adult within 10 days.

Mosquitoes are responsible for various diseases like malaria, dengue etc. If these diseases are not treated properly, they may become fatal. So it becomes essential to prevent these disease carriers from entering your living area. You can control mosquito bites either by restricting the entry of mosquitoes or by killing them.

Stagnant water with moderate summer temperature is favorable for female mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Containers like used bottles, tins, flower pots, garbage cans that hold stagnant water are loved by mosquitoes. You have to ensure that you don’t have stagnant water around your dwelling.

fever caused by mosquito bitesOutdoor Protection
When you have ponds at your outdoor then surely the stagnant water will become a breeding place for mosquitoes. Also when your house is surrounded by thick bushy and marshy woods you have to find some means to control mosquitoes. You can breed mosquito fish, killifish, goldfish or guppies in your pond as they eat mosquito larvae. Frogs and toads are also enemies for mosquitoes.

Indoor Protection
Mosquitoes are present everywhere. You must protect yourself from them by either blocking them from entering your house or killing them as they enter. Many mosquito control products are available in the market and you can use any one of them for your convenience.

Mosquito Sprays
Various mosquito sprays are available in the market that poisons the air sufficient enough to kill the mosquitoes. When you spray these liquids then you can definitely kill all flying mosquitoes. These sprays obviously pollute the air and hence they are dangerous for us too. They don’t cause death of human beings but are dangerous especially for kids to inhale them.

Mosquito Repellent Ointment and Coils
Mosquito repellent ointments need to be applied to our parts of the body that are uncovered. They are sometimes greasy and not advisable for children. They effectively repel mosquitoes and hence you can escape from their bites. Coils are effective for use in outdoors. Many people use these coils indoor but they don’t kill mosquitoes.

Mosquito Racket Zappers

These rackets are very effective in killing mosquitoes that are flying around you to suck your blood. You have to wave your hands holding these racket zappers and any mosquito that comes in contact with the racket is killed as you press the button to activate the zapper. They use batteries that are rechargeable with some models and replaceable with others.

Electronic Mosquito Killers
These electronic mosquito killers operate in current. They attract the mosquitoes with their ultra violet bulbs and the mosquitoes will be killed as they approach the bulbs surrounded by low voltage grid. They can be used in places that have many mosquitoes.

Mosquito Nets
Mosquito nets are an effective means to protect your small living area. You can cover your bed with hanging nets to prevent mosquitoes from nearing you. These nets are very useful for covering beds where children sleep.

You can also install mosquito nets for your windows and doors to effectively block the entry of mosquitoes. These nets have small holes that are large enough to let the air in and small enough to let the mosquitoes stay out.

Whatever control measures you take you can only control the mosquitoes but you cannot stop their existence. But you must take measures to effectively control mosquitoes in your living area to protect yourself from dangerous diseases.

By Jayashree Pakhare

Stopping Malaria’s Spread

The parasites are then implanted in the mosquito’s gut wall, where they mature and eventually migrate to the mosquito’s salivary glands. The next time the mosquito bites a human, the disease is transmitted. 

Pest control companies notice troublesome trend

They would think ’sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite’ is more of a fictitious nursery rhyme.” Experts stressed there is no cause for panic. Though bedbugs feed on people’s blood like mosquitoes, they do not spread serious diseases. … “Even though bedbugs are a disgusting thing when you think about it, the good news is that there’s no evidence that they transmit any disease

How to Stop Itching from Ant Bites – Care for Insect Bites

Ants and mosquito bites leave a stinging sensation on your skin with swelling and redness of the skin. While the bites can be harmful as mosquitoes pose the risk of spread of malaria; the itching and scratching as an after math can cause you … This helps to prevent any diseases as well. If you feel a common cold setting in or a fever, you must inform your doctor immediately. This will help to diagnose if there are any infections that you have contracted 

The Buzz About Diseases Spread by Mosquitoes

Mosquito bites spread the worms that cause elephantiasis. People usually begin to develop the disease as children. Many children never experience signs of the disease. But it may cause hidden damage to the body’s lymphatic system 

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May
16
2009
1

Mosquito Bite Skin Reaction, Treatment suggestions

Nothing annoys more than that little buzzing noise you hear of a mosquito flying around your bedroom late at night. Well, one thing does – the itch of a bite. So, how do you go about stopping it?

mosquito bite swellingTo figure out how to stop the itching, it first helps to understand why an itching sensation develops. Surprisingly, you will not ‘itch’ the first time you are bitten by a mosquito. This is because the mosquito injects saliva and anti-coagulants into your skin to facilitate the feeding process. Your body will not react to these on the first bite. On subsequent ones, it will with a red bump appearing and the itching sensation.

The actual reaction is due to a slight histamine allergy response. In nearly everyone, this allergy response is revealed by the simple itching sensation. In a small minority of people, however, a bite can produce a major allergic response with anaphylactic shock being a serious problem. With anaphylactic shock, the throat will actually close up cutting off air flow and resulting in possible death. Obviously, this is a worse case scenario, but it does happen.

So, how do we stop the itching sensation? Find out here

The key is to introduce something that counters the allergic reaction sensation.There are topical treatments you can buy at any drugstore. Personally, I’ve found they don’t really seem to work all that well. This is why I look to other solutions.

remedy for mosquito bitesI once spent a month in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is hot and muggy, perfect mosquito country. Although I used All Terrain mosquito repellent with no problems, I often missed places when applying it to my regret. I had bites behind my ears and so on. The best solution I found for killing the itching sensation was…toothpaste! I’m not sure why it works, but it does.

If you are at home, a second solution that also works can be found in your kitchen. Vinegar! Just dab a bit on the bite or bites if you are so lucky to have multiple ones. It will sting for a second and then stop itching.

In truth, there are many other ways to battle the itch of a mosquito bite.

The key is not to itch it and to apply something that will counter the allergic reaction.

People have reported everything from Preparation H to ammonia to ice cubes as being effective. It doesn’t really matter so much as that you stop that itch.

By: John Grimes Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com John Grimes is with AllTerrainco.com – makers of natural insect repellent for mosquitoes that works, but won’t ruin your clothes, backpack and gear.

How to mosquito-proof your home

How to mosquito-proof your home. The universe created mosquitos. Worker bees created citronella, foggers, and ultrasound zappers to combat the blood-suckers. 

Skeeter Beaters

For clothing to be mosquito bite-proof the tightness or density of the weave of the fabric is far more important than the thickness of it because if it’s tight enough the insect simply cant get it’s proboscis through it to stab into you

Evolution-Proof Insecticides Against Malaria

Killing only older mosquitoes could be a more sustainable fef way of controlling malaria, and has the potential to lead to evolution-proof insecticides that never become obsolete, according to a new article. 

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Mar
05
2009
0

Mosquito Pesticides, What Are The Health And Environmental Costs Of DDT?

The Bald Eagle was nearly extinct in the lower 48 U.S. states by the middle of the 20th century, pushed to the brink by its sensitivity to DDT. mosquito foggers, DDT spraying

Dear EarthTalk: I read a disturbing report recently that the long-banned pesticide, DDT, was being used in Mozambique to combat malaria.  Malaria is a killer , but isn’t a return to DDT even scarier?
– Graeme Campbell, South Africa

Much of the developed world banned the use of DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) within about 10 years of the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson’s book, “Silent Spring.”

Carson’s book, which is credited by many as having spurred the creation of the modern environmental movement.

She documented the ecosystem damage caused by DDT crop spraying throughout the United States and linked the pesticide’s use to the disappearance of songbirds and raptors.

chemtrails and ddt, environmental concerns

Enlarge Image EARTH TALK

From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Health officials at the time also linked DDT exposure to nerve damage in humans, and blamed DDT for causing cancer in people who had applied it recklessly. Today, because of widespread indiscriminate use up through the 1960s, most people have traces of DDT in their bodies. DDT has since become increasingly associated with childhood developmental problems, according to the organization, Beyond Pesticides (BP).

Today, two dozen countries–including Mozambique and nine other African nations–permit the use of small amounts of DDT for controlling specific insect-borne diseases, including malaria . Malaria kills one million people, including 800,000 African children, every year. Dr. Arata Kochi, leader of the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) global malaria program, strongly advocates using DDT to fight malaria, claiming that it poses little or no health risk when sprayed in small amounts on the inner walls of people’s homes.

“Indoor residual spraying is useful to quickly reduce the number of infections caused by malaria-carrying mosquitoes…and presents no health risk when used properly,” agrees Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, WHO’s assistant director-general for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Asamoa-Baah insists that DDT’s public health benefits for mosquito bite treatment and prevention far outweigh its risks.

Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides, disagrees and advocates for techniques that do not rely on pesticides like DDT. “The international community has a social responsibility to reject the use of this chemical and to practice sound and safe pest management practices,” he says. Feldman cites a recent study showing South African women living in DDT-treated dwellings to have 77 times the internationally accepted limit of the chemical in their breast milk. Researchers postulate that large amounts of DDT may have contaminated drinking water, exposing entire villages. “This highlights why no society can be unconcerned with DDT’s impact” on health and the worldwide ecosystem, Feldman says.

Feldman is calling for alternative strategies for disease control, including addressing the conditions of poverty that lead to mosquito breeding. We should “no longer treat poverty and development with poisonous band-aids, but join together to address the root causes of insect-borne disease, because the chemical-dependent alternatives are ultimately deadly for everyone,” says Feldman.

CONTACTS Beyond Pesticides, www.beyondpesticides.org; World Health Organization Malaria Information, www.who.int/topics/malaria/en/

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/

or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

DDT Spray Does Uganda Need It?

“Food products originating from Uganda would have to be tested and if levels of DDT exceed the MRL, they would be denied entry into the EU,” she said. Aryada said the DDT debate should be less driven by concerns of the EU

The Debate Over DDT And Malaria Continues

The debate over using DDT to control Malaria has continued since the insecticide was banned in the USA in Dec. 1972. However, the 2006 controversial decision of WHO to actively support the use of DDT in Malaria control stirred a heated discussion

Bill Gates Demonstrates Why We Should Make DDT Legal Again In The US

I suspect much of the debate boils down to the insoluble difference between those who value human life above insects and those who do not. I realize that insects outmass humanity, outmass mammalia, and outmass vertebrates on Earth. 

The DDT Debate: To Spray Or Not To Spray?

Collins Vumiria Kakaire’s blog – It all started with a severe headache – got me thinking about malaria, about DDT, and about the potential for conflict between environmental concerns and health. Uganda is rightly worried 

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Feb
24
2009
0

Stop Mosquitoes From Biting

Mosquitoes have become a public health hazard in many areas.

There are many things you can do to get rid of mosquitoes and also to

minimize the risk of bites

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes – What You Can Do to Minimize the Risk of Mosquito Bites

Over the past few years mosquitoes have developed from a nuisance into a real public health danger. These pests spread dangerous diseases such as the West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis as well as malaria and yellow fever.

It is more important than ever to protect your family from mosquito bites and learn

how to get rid of mosquitoes

While it may not be possible to completely eliminate the mosquito problem, there are many things you can do to greatly minimize the threat. Some of these things involve changing the surrounding area to be less habitable for the little buggers and some involve temporary measures to keep them away for a short period of time.

One of the easiest and most effective things you can do is to remove any standing water outside your house. This includes flower pots, buckets, pails, wheel barrows and bird feeders that may be filled with rain water. This standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and you will never be rid of them until you can eliminate this factor. Empty water out of these containers on a regular basis, maybe even make a hole in the bottom so that they cannot hold water.

Another step you can take to get rid of mosquitoes is to eliminate as much brush and tall grass as you can. Mosquitoes love to hide in grassy, overgrown areas and if you can keep the lawn cut short and clear out any unwanted brush on your property it will really help cut down on the mosquito problem.

There are several types of plants that naturally repel mosquitoes. Some of these are horsemint, marigolds, catnip and rosemary. You can also use lemon eucalyptus oil as a mosquito repellent.

The next step to take against the mosquitoes is chemical warfare. There are several types of lawn treatments that you can spray on your lawn which contain DEET. These are fairly effective at keeping mosquitoes away from your property for up to 2 weeks at a time. Other chemical treatments can not only act as a mosquito repellent, but actually kill any larvae that are waiting to be hatched.

Other  mosquito repellent products such as citronella candles and any burning/smoking products have a limited radius so that they are not that effective over a wide area. One device that does have some effectiveness is the “mosquito magnet” type of device. These machines use propane gas to produce carbon dioxide which attracts mosquitoes. They are then trapped in a net inside the device where they die of dehydration. Some of these devices can attract mosquitoes from up to a whole acre away. One drawback to using these devices is that when they break down you will need to spend additional money on mosquito magnet replacement parts such as CO2 cartridges, trap netting, thermistors and of course you have to have a supply of propane gas too.

Mosquito repellent that you wear on your skin is also somewhat effective. Products that contain DEET are most effective, while some people swear that Avon’s Skin So Soft works just as well with DEET. You should wear long sleeves and pants to minimize the amount of exposed skin.

It is my hope that this essay has shown you how to get rid of mosquitoes. As you can see, there are several steps you can take to minimize the threat of mosquitoes. It takes a multi-layered approach to achieve real effectiveness. You can’t just perform one of these steps. To achieve real results you need to do as many of them as you can. If you do all of these things you will have a much better chance at enjoying your outdoor activities without worrying about mosquitoes.

How to get rid of mosquitoes
Learn how to get rid of mosquitoes  By Mike Francis

Getting Rid Of Pests In Your Vegetable Garden  Organic Gardening

Pesky insects and bugs are a problem for most vegetable gardeners. The majority of bugs are more of a nuisance than willfully destructive. 

Hit-or-Miss: Bugs Are Attracted To Light

We bought a UV flourescent bulb that was meant to attract the flying insects and electrecute them. It was almost great because mosquitos were also attracted to the light. Unfortunately, that bulb died for no reason at all 

Keep Those Insects Away With These Bug Nets

Not only will they protect you from mosquitoes and bees, but smaller insects as well. Perfect for home or even at the workplace, these nets are a must own if you have a bug problem. 

Don’t Let Pesky Insects Hurt The Sale Of Your Home

Termites can be a major concern and even stall the sale of your home if you don’t inspect your home routinely for insect control. It’s really important to have regular inspections and preventative treatment measures in place 

Eradicating Insects

Reports have come out on some eradication of several insects. Everett Griner gives his view on where some eradication of pesky insects could start.  

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Feb
15
2009
2

Stop Itching From Mosquito Bites

Nothing annoys more than that little buzzing noise you hear of a mosquito flying around your bedroom late at night. Well, one thing does – the itch of a bite. So, how do you go about stopping it? Stop mosquito bites now.

Mosquito Bite Itch Remedy mosquito bite skin reaction

To figure out how to stop the itching it first helps to understand why an itching sensation develops. Surprisingly, you will not ‘itch’ the first time you are bitten by a mosquito. This is because the mosquito injects saliva and anti-coagulants into your skin to facilitate the feeding process. Your body will not react to these on the first bite. On subsequent ones, it will with a red bump appearing and the itching sensation.

Mosquito Bites, Stop The Itching

The actual reaction is due to a slight histamine allergy response. In nearly everyone, this allergy response is revealed by the simple itching sensation. In a small minority of people, however, a bite can produce a major allergic response with anaphylactic shock being a serious problem. With anaphylactic shock, the throat will actually close up cutting off air flow and resulting in possible death. Obviously, this is a worse case scenario, but it does happen.

So, how do we stop the itching sensation? Well, the key is to introduce something that counters the allergic reaction sensation. There are topical treatments you can buy at any drugstore. Personally, I’ve found they don’t really seem to work all that well. This is why I look to other solutions.
mosquito bite itch
I once spent a month in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is hot and muggy, perfect mosquito country. Although I used All Terrain mosquito repellent with no problems, I often missed places when applying it to my regret. I had bites behind my ears and so on. The best solution I found for killing the itching sensation was…toothpaste! I’m not sure why it works, but it does.

If you are at home, a second solution that also works can be found in your kitchen. Vinegar! Just dab a bit on the bite or bites if you are so lucky to have multiple ones. It will sting for a second and then stop itching.

In truth, there are many other ways to battle the itch of a mosquito bite The key is not to itch it and apply something that will counter the allergic reaction. People have reported everything from Preparation H to ammonia to ice cubes as being effective. It doesn’t really matter so much as you stop that itch.

By: John Grimes

Related posts

How to prevent mosquito bites and home remedies for itchy mosquito bites

As itchy mosquito bites can be caused due to allergic reactions it is better to prevent mosquito bites than treat them – there are a few home remedies for mosquito bites which you can use to get relief from the itching

How to Deal With Bug Bites and Bee Stings

Spring and summer seasons are the worst for mosquito bites. Redness and itching on and around bites is common. Swelling can occur at the site of the bites. Among other illnesses, the mosquito is a carrier of Malaria and Yellow fever

Boosting the Immune System – Naturally

After a mosquito bite, you will see a red, itchy bump. This too is another visible sign that your immune system is working. Occasionally a germ will get past the immune system, and you will catch a cold or the flu or worse.

Mosquito Bite Causes Itching, Swelling Red Skin Bumps

Standing water and warm weather creates an ideal environment for mosquitoes. This pest’s bite causes itching, swelling red skin bumps that can drive you crazy.  

Itchy And Scratchy

These were not mosquito bites. They weren’t puffy. They were just red. And gross. And have I mentioned totally itchy? On both of my feet there were differing series of little red bites. I was very upset. 

The cause of a mosquito bite itch

But a lot of people just couldn’t care less if they feel a mosquito bite itch. Some mosquitoes, however, are actually carriers of diseases. So it is always safe to use mosquito repellants at home.

Mosquito Bite Allergy

If you are like most people with sensitive skin, you may find that you have a mosquito bite allergy. A mosquito bite allergy will appear as a very red swollen and itchy bump or bumps where mosquitoes have bitten. 

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

John Grimes is with AllTerrainco.com – makers of natural insect repellent for mosquitoes that works, but won’t ruin your clothes, backpack and gear.

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Feb
15
2009
2

Garlic For Health Purposes, Mosquito remedy

Did you know that this ‘magical’ but lowly member of the onion family, garlic, has healing properties that can help almsot every ailment imaginable including of course the prevention and treatment of mosquito bites

Benefits Of Garlic For Mosquito prevention stop itching from mosquito bites

In this article I’ll be exploring the use of garlic for health. Nicknamed the ’stinking rose’, this auspicious herb has been revered throughout history as a cure and natural treatment for all manner of conditions.

These include mosquito bites wounds, heart disease, measles, tumors, snake bites, acne, colds, flu and even vampires!

Garlic Health – The Amazing Benefits Of Garlic

Garlic’s health benefits are substantiated by a wealth of modern day research that confirms its anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It is also a powerful antioxidant and immune booster with anti-inflammatroy properties. Scientific studies reveal benefits for diabetes, cancer and heart disease. It’s heart health traits include lowering bad cholesterol and blood pressure, aiding circulation and preventing against stroke.

Garlic’s might is largely due to the sulfur compounds it contains, such as allicin. Garlic also houses vitamin C, B6, selenium, magnesium, potassium, calcium and manganese and flavonoids.

The sulphur compound allicin provides not only many of the notable benefits of garlic, but also its notorious odour. Allicin is formed during the chemistry of chopping, crushing and chewing garlic, the more thorough the milling, the more allicin is created. Allicin has antibiotic, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties, and the reason why garlic has been used for skin infections such as Athletes’s foot, herpes and warts, digestive and lung infections such as diarrhea, coughs and colds, and Candida yeast and other microbes.

Allicin begins to degrade once produced and on cooking, so eating garlic raw and soon after chopping ensures the assimilation of optimum levels of this compound.

Garlic also contains diallyl sulphides, which, whilst not anti-fungal like allicin, are reportedly good for the blood and circulation, lowering bad cholesterol and boosting the immune system.

Rats that were put on a diet featuring both allicin and diallyl sulphides had a substantial increase in their levels of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione-S-transferase. This mighty enzyme produced within the body is incredibly important in helping to rid the body of toxins, drugs and carcinogens. Increasing levels of this and other phase II enzymes may be one way garlic helps to prevent against cancer, enhancing the elimination of potential carcinogens from the body. This also makes garlic great for a natural body detox.

Garlic as Anti-Inflammatory

The sulfur compounds in garlic have been found to have anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the activity of inflammatory enzymes. Along with vitamin C this can make garlic a protection against the pain associated with arthritis and asthma attacks.


Garlic for the Heart

garlic is renowned for its abilities to lower cholesterol and blood pressure naturally and protect against heart disease and stroke. Garlic has also been found to stimulate the production of nitric oxide in blood vessels aiding their dilation, and assist the body’s ability to dissolve blood clots (fibrinolyisis).

The antioxidant properties of garlic can also protect against cardiovascular disease by inhibiting the oxidation of bad cholesterol which would otherwise build up in artery walls. Further, folate in garlic is known to protect the cardiovascular system.

Garlic for Cancer Prevention

Population studies have revealed that eating garlic regularly, along with other alliums such as onions chives and scallions, reduces the risk of oesophageal, colon and stomach cancer. This may be due to garlic’s ability to reduce the formation of carcinogenic compounds. Garlic’s sulfur compounds such as allicin and ajeone have been found to stop the growth of various cancers in animal laboratory studies, including skin, stomach, colon, breast and oral cancer. Garlic also contains the powerful antioxidant mineral selenium, known for its anti-cancer properties.

Besides giving excellent  protection from mosquito bites and the ailments mentioned above it is also known that Garlic for Diabetes is a good preventative remedy

Some of the damage that can result from the degenerative effects of diabetes such as diseases of the kidney, retina and nervous system, may be deterred by garlic. Rats that were given a drug that would induce similar diabetic-effects in the body, namely an increase in blood sugar, cholesterol and damaged fats and a reduction in the body’s antioxidants, experienced fewer negative effects from the drug and an increase in antioxidant levels when given a daily dose of garlic oil.

Research then, has indicated garlic health benefits against bacteria, fungi and viruses, inflammation (as with arthritis), cancer, diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol levels.

Garlic – Natural Cure for Common Ailments

Garlic is an all round disease-preventive, and can be used as a natural treatment cure for common ailments such as acne, colds and flu, herpes and wrinkles due to its natural antioxidant and anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. Crush a clove or two of garlic into warm water and drink twice a day though be careful on an empty stomach if you are sensitive to garlic. This also serves as a natural body detox. If your skin is not over sensitive to garlic it can also be applied directly to acne spots or herpes. I find it very effective as a cure for oral herpes (cold-sores). If you have high cholesterol level, use garlic regularly in you’re your food as this will lower your cholesterol level naturally.(obviously along with avoiding a high cholesterol diet).

To summarise…  Garlic Benefits

Prevention against mosquito bites

Garlic boosts your immune system.

Garlic is anti-aging, its antioxidant power neutralizing free radicals that procure aging and disease.

Garlic helps reduce plaque build up (atherosclerotic heart disease).

Garlic thins the blood and helps to prevent blood clots (fibrinolyisis) hence reducing the risk of strokes.

Garlic helps to prevent cancer, particularly of the digestive system, and reduces the size and arrests the growth of certain tumors.

Garlic lowers and regulates blood sugar levels.

Garlic helps to remove heavy metals such as lead and mercury from the body – natural body detoxification.

Garlic is anti-inflammatory.

Garlic (raw, containing allicin) is a natural antibiotic and can kill even drug resistant strains of bacteria such as MRSA as well as Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium known to cause stomach ulcers and implicated in stomach cancer.

Garlic is anti-fungal and reduces yeast infections in body parts.

Here are some relevant posts on the subject of the health benefits of garlic in the fight against mosquitoes

Know The Natural Way Of Keeping Mosquitos Away

Plus, it will keep mosquitoes and other annoying bugs away. Plant lots of garli around your yard and garden to enjoy it as a natural pest repellant. However, dont plant it too close to your vegetables.

Listen, Mosquitoes!

I, too, am a mosquito magnet, but I shall share my hard-earned knowledge with you, grasshoppa. Cut down on sugar, and eat more garlic. Yes, it really is that simple. The garlic has the added bonus of keeping vampires away; of course.

Mosquitoes And Bite Prevention

Many natural compounds have been evaluated for anti-mosquito properties. Some include eucalyptus, garlic, citronella and vitamin B. Citronella, derived from the grass Cymbopogon, is the most promising. 

Why Haven’t Mosquitoes Been Eliminated?

You are probably right, but I like garlic and I do not get bit nearly as obtain as my sister who loves sweets. Still, it is a bad idea. How about instead of killing off mosquitos we kill off malaria? 

Why Is Garlic Good for You?

Pets even benefit from garlic! It is used to keep fleas off pets. As well, if you rub garlic extract on your body, it works wonders as a pest-repellent, and keeps gnats and mosquitoes away while outdoors.

Article By: shrenksonlinepharma

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

www.shrenksonlinepharma.com

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