Home


teach me to heal myself


Warning


Insect bitess and Lemon eucalyptus oil cure

Reference #: 2,954
Submit Date: 22 Aug 2012
Browse Category: insect bites
Author: none
Email Address: none
Treatment used: deet lemon eucalyptus oil
You can buy this remedy at: drug store
Remedy will cost you: unknown
Country of Remedy: USA
Remedy Source: "Ask Doctor K", Dr. Dr. Komaroff, Newspaper Columnist, August 22, 2012
More Links about this Remedy: http://www.montereyherald.com/health/ci_21363826/ask-dr-k-repellents-keep-bugs-off-safely
# Comments posted to this remedy: 0
Complaints Reported: 0
# of times remedy read: 11,549


Dosage Info:
Typical Dosage: unknown
Dosage should be related to weight: unknown
 
Dosages used in clinical trials are significant: unknown
Maximum dosages in relation to side effects and serious side effects: unknown
Other foods/nutrients/medications that can affect absorption or utilization: unknown
Foods that provide the nutrient recommended as a remedy (or reference giving same): unknown



Ratings:
Total # reviewers: 0
Average Rating: 0.00
 
Effectiveness: 0.00
No Side Effects: 0.00
Ease of Use: 0.00
Effective after long term use: 0.00
Cost Effectiveness: 0.00


Browse: insect bites

Remedy Description

Source:



"Ask Doctor K", Dr. Dr. Komaroff, Newspaper Columnist, August 22, 2012



http://www.montereyherald.com/health/ci_12035732



www.AskDoctorK.com.



****************

Dear Dr. K: Can you recommend an insect repellent that is safe and effective?





***********

Dear Reader: The itch from mosquito bites or the yuck factor of pulling a tick off your

skin can be irritating and unpleasant. But even worse are the illnesses that insects can

carry, including West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis and Lyme disease.



Many people are just as wary of insect repellents as they are of bug bites. They worry

that they are dangerous. But used properly, insect repellents are safe. The most effective

ones are:



DEET. If you're in an area with a lot of ticks or insect-borne illnesses, this is the

repellent to use. It really gets the job done.



Lemon eucalyptus oil (or PMD, the man-made version) works nearly as well as DEET against

both mosquitoes and ticks, but it shouldn't be used on children under 3 years old.



Picaridin works well against mosquitoes, but much less well against ticks.



2-undecanone (IBI-246) is good for about four hours against mosquitoes, two hours against

ticks. I recommend you avoid reapplying it, because too much exposure to these chemicals

could be dangerous. So if you are going to

be out for more than four hours, use one of the first three on this list.



IR3535 works for about two hours against mosquitoes and ticks. Again, I recommend you

avoid reapplying it.



Permethrin works well, but shouldn't be sprayed or rubbed on the skin — just on clothing

or mosquito netting.



Other insect repellents on the market include citronella, catnip oil, bug zappers and

ultrasonic devices. They may help a little, for a little while. But they can't compete

with DEET and the other repellents mentioned above.



A few safety tips for using insect repellents:



  • Don't use them on infants younger than 2 months old (instead, put mosquito netting

    over the baby carrier.



  • Apply spray repellent outside so you are less likely to breathe it in (and won't get

    it on household surfaces.



  • Don't spray a repellent directly on your face. Instead, spray it on your hand and rub

    some on your face. (Never put permethrin on your face.



  • Whenever you use insect repellent, always wash your hands well before eating. (That's

    also good advice whether or not you're using insect repellent.



  • Spray the repellent lightly (more is not necessarily better) on exposed skin and

    clothing. In particular, don't overdo it with DEET. I had one patient who sprayed much

    more DEET than he needed on every square inch of his skin. He even sprayed it directly on

    his face, breathing it in as he did so. That patient had toxicity from DEET. Apply it

    lightly on the skin that will be exposed to insects and not covered by clothing.



    Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. Go to his website to

    send questions and get additional information: www.AskDoctorK.com

  • This remedy can also be used for:



    ticks