All,
Have been using Deet for years and now they tell me it is bad for ya. What do you all use if anything? We will need a lot of help in the Northeast this year.
whitestar505Studies have proven catnip is more effective than DEET. And, you would use a weaker concentration of the active ingredient. Plus, you ll be REAL popular with the feline population![8D][:D]
We also use lemon balm. And, sometimes Eucalyptamint. Both are very effective.
BTW, DEET has always been bad for you. The communication has just become more effective.
Hope you have a " bite-free" season.[;)]
Peace be with you all.
whitestar505In checking the various sites, including CDC sites, Consumer Reports and others, it appears that the consequences of NOT using DEET (Lyme Disease, West Nile, etc) are far more dangerous than using DEET! They say and Consumer Reports backs them up that NOTHING is as effective as DEET!
There have been some adverse reactions after using DEET on Wounds, ingestion, etc, but even these haven t been directly traced to the actual use of DEET. In other words, other causes have not been ruled out!
Until they prove to me that using DEET is more dangerous than what it prevents, I will keep using it!
whitestar505Here are the links regarding DEET vs. catnip. Sorry, " garym053" , I respectfully disagree with you. And, I strongly disagree with your rationale --respectfully, of course[:)].
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010828075659.htm
http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/science/08/28/mosquitos.catnip/
http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/news/2001releases/catnip.html
http://www.zhealthinfo.com/catnip.htm
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-08/acs-crm081301.php
http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/news/2003releases/catnip.html
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fid/january02/section3.html
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s355524.htm
Peace be with you all.
whitestar505DH just sticks me outside first so the critters can bite me and leave him alone. Seems to work for him. Actually, I use DEET when things are really bad but most of the time I use OFF Skintastic. I find it greaseless and it leaves me with that nice soft skin that DH so loves to touch [:D].
whitestar505Danusmom all those articles refer to the one single study and all have wordings such as " may be more effective" and " While they used so-called yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) ? one of several species of mosquitoes found in the United States ? Peterson says catnip SHOULD work against all types of mosquitoes.
Not real scientific proof, just headline grabbing.
whitestar505I m a skin-so-soft person myself, but the authorities (i.e. govt) are flat-out saying use Deet because of the West Nile
whitestar505I also use deet. I started reading those links. But after seeing this one I figured there is no point going any farther.
QuoteBut don t look for catnip oil products on store shelves yet. The experiments that have been done so far are preliminary and did not involve testing the oil on humans or animals.
It appears you can t get catnip for this use yet anyway. Plus I don t see anyplace where says anything about woodticks. Which is a big problem where we go.
I suppose you could grow your own, or hang a few cat toys around your neck?[&:]
whitestar505So how do you get rid of all the darn cats that are laying all over you and playing with your toes and biting?? Huh?
whitestar505
QuoteSo how do you get rid of all the darn cats that are laying all over you and playing with your toes and biting?? Huh?
Great Minds think alike! I was just about to post something similar!!!
whitestar505Danusmom, You can disagree with me anytime! Respectfully or otherwise! Heck, my wife does most of the time, so I m used to it! I m sure I won t convince you that DEET is safer than Lyme Disease, West Nile, etc, but in Northern Vermont where (at this time of year) Black Flies and Mosquitoes are numerous and HUNGRY, 100% DEET is the only thing that works for me.
Now I will agree that I would not use this mixture on children, but I would use one that was formulated for kids. West Nile from Mosquitoes and Lyme Disease from ticks have ruined far more lives than DEET has. One has to make the best choices they can based on the " proven" evidence so far.
So we can agree to disagree and I respect your decision to pursue a more " natural" defense. I ve tried many of them myself. Skin so soft just softens my skin so they don t have to work as hard to penetrate it!
Wishing you happy, bugfree camping!
whitestar505When I read the first posting on this thread my gut reaction was " I d rather deal with whatever the side effects of DEET are than take a chance on what mosquitoes can cause!" But the rest of you have pretty much said that and with great humor as well. I ll have visions of cats hanging around necks and biting toes and ankles for awhile -- this board is always good for a few laughs! My advice -- use DEET until something proven better comes along!
whitestar505I m kind of curious now, just what will you get if the cat bites you???
On a more serious note, I d rather take my chances with Deet than with West Nile, especially when the choice is to use something that s not even available yet, and hasn t even been tested on people...
whitestar505You all may like to read this.[&:]
Every year, approximately one-third of Americans use insect repellents containing the insecticide DEET. Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist Mohamed Abou-Donia has spent 30 years researching the effects of pesticides. He has found that prolonged exposure to DEET can impair functioning in parts of the brain.
" Damage to these areas could result in problems with muscle coordination, muscle weakness, walking or even memory and cognition."
Abou-Donia says rats given even small doses of DEET for 60 days had a harder time accomplishing even the easiest tasks. Abou-Donia says short-term exposure to DEET does not appear to be harmful, but warns against using any product with more than a 30 percent concentration. Use as little of the product as you can, and don t use a product containing DEET if you re taking any medication.
Well ??????[: (][:o]
whitestar505We use Deet and we also take a sprayer along to spray the camp site with. We have had a month of rain, rain, and more rain. I think they will be very bad this year.
whitestar505I think I ll take my chances with DEET. We live near the most infected area in MI
with West Niles last year with 8 deaths within 1.5 miles of our home. 20 deaths total in the county we live in, and over 250 people infected.
Also suffering thru what was believed to be a minor bout with it myself last summer I ll chance the DEET any day.
How To Reduce the Risk of Getting West Nile Virus:
* Drain standing water in your yard. Empty water from mosquito breeding sites, such as flower pots, pet bowls, clogged rain gutters, swimming pool covers, discarded tires, buckets, barrels, cans and similar items in which mosquitoes can lay eggs.
* Minimize activities in areas where mosquitoes are present, such as shaded areas.Kind of hard for us campers to do
* Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants outdoors.
* Spray clothing with insect repellent containing no more than 35% DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide). When using insecticide or insect repellent, follow manufacturer s directions for use.
* Avoid using repellent on children under 2 years of age.
* On childred 2-6 years of age, repellents should be used sparingly and contain only 10% DEET.
* Be careful using repellent on the hands of older children because repellents may irritate the eyes and mouth.
* Maintain window and door screening to keep mosquitoes out of buildings.
There is no vaccine for West Nile Encephalitis. However, by following these guidelines you can reduce the risk of becoming infected
whitestar505All, I thank you all for your input but I have to say that I am more confussed, undecided on what to use. I sure hope they come out with something that works and will not do as much damage as the bit.[&:] Had to write this a second time because the first time it did not take.
whitestar505When Pregnant, nursing, or on DS I use something with less then 10% DEET. On DS I don t put it on his face or hands. This seems to work just fine in TX. In fact I ve only felt the need to use anything here a couple times since we moved here a year ago. Mosquito s just aren t that bad.
Now when I go home to MN and camp up there I go for the deep woods off if I can.[:D]
Honeslty I m not that worried about diseases. If I m going hiking into tick country I ll use something, but as far as West Nile Virus goes, I really think it was blown out of proportion by the media last year.
whitestar505My hubby s used DEET for years while camping in MO. This explains alot. Is Deet also related to the loss of coordination it takes to empty a dishwasher??
whitestar505I heard people a radio talk show the other day and one suggestion was taking vitamin B12 once a day keeps away the mosquitoes. Anyone tried that??[:)]
CampinCrazyCampinCrazy,
" " Is Deet also related to the loss of coordination it takes to empty a dishwasher?? " "
From my point of view YES! I have the same problem MY WIFE TELLS ME. I think it has something to do with out of sight out of mind.[:D]
cam
QuoteORIGINAL: cam
I heard people a radio talk show the other day and one suggestion was taking vitamin B12 once a day keeps away the mosquitoes. Anyone tried that??[:)]
I have heard that from people who have tried it. They claim that it works, BUT once you have taken enough to be effective, you end up smelling like a load of rotting hay. [: (]
Austin (proofread, proofread, proofread)
Changes in BLUE
AustinBostonAustinBoston,
Quoteyou end up like a load of rotting hay.
Boy that is something to look forward too. I wonder if they dislike garlic?
whitestar505Just got a new Avon book yesteday at work. The special feature for this campaign is a DEET-free insect repellent. Of course, I don t have the book with me & have forgotten the name. (I think it s something like " Bug Guard" .) It specifically said it was safe for kids, and was effective against the type of mosquitoes that carry West Nile.
When I get to work this afternoon, I ll check the book for more info.
labontefanSounds like the one Comsumer Reports tested. If I remember right it was good for about an hour and then had to be reapplied. As always DEET came out on top in the tests.
Gatsmommy
QuoteORIGINAL: Gatsmommy
Honeslty I m not that worried about diseases. If I m going hiking into tick country I ll use something, but as far as West Nile Virus goes, I really think it was blown out of proportion by the media last year.
Maybe it was blown out of proportion to a degree, but it is a reality and something we should take some precaution of all the same.
We had not 1 Crow in our area last summer, kind of eerie if you ask me. Also had to pick up several dead birds.....thats enough reason for a little cautious spray now and then if the skeeters are in a biting mood.
If we all worried to much we d never camp! [:@]
whitestar505While taking little (?) Spanky to the vet for her shot last week, he provided me with the stuff that you put the drops on the dogs back and it keeps them free from Skeeters, ticks and fleas etc for a month. I asked if I could have another package of the stuff for me and DH, and he gave me a very strange look. I was really only kidding, but heck.......
T
[;)]
as Austin says(proofread, proofread, proofread)
whitestar505I bet they put a pink tag on your chart now.[:D][;)]
whitestar505Pink tag? Does that have anything to do with indicating that the state of my mind is somehow tweaked ? If so, they are just beginning to get to know me, LOL. Actually, I said to the vet, " If it works so well for dogs, then why do you think no one has come out with a version for human animals?" He had no answer, but I m thinking that the DEET people have some kinda political connections.....Hey, wait, don t put that white jacket on me again, I m in the middle of developing a very good idea here....helllllppppp!
T
[;)]
whitestar505Be careful Toni, that pink flag may turn to Red![8D]
whitestar505I am still wondering what " Simple tasks" one would ask a rat to do? (Duke Study pg1)
Let s see...
Ratquet ball?
Championship Wratsteling?
Trying to rationalizing something?
Drat! I can t really think of anything!
whitestar505Hi Cam...I recently heard the same thing about different B vitamins...however, I take a multi B supplement every day that has large amounts of all the various B vitamins...but if i walk outside without DEET...I m covered with bites! Hubby gets none, I get them all. I guess there s not much we can do when we re this sweet! [;)]
whitestar505Whitestar,
Thanks for starting this topic. It s something I have been wondering about, too. I think that with the drought last year there was less of a problem with mosquitos, but all the water this year is sure to bring them out in higher numbers. All of my friends 3 children have had Lyme s disease and I believe West Nile could become a real threat.
I was wondering if someone would bring up the B12. I heard something about it on here last summer but don t remember how much to take.
I find it very interesting that some in my family seem to get bit up a lot and others don t even though we go the same places. That makes me wonder if something is attracting or repelling them (ie. my toddler didn t get one bug bite last summer yet they really seemed to like my DH and oldest son.)
whitestar505" Better living through chemistry" is my motto. I purchased a propane powered fogger over the winter and can t wait to see how it works.