RE: Mosquitoes

[whitestar505]

 
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.

[Danusmom]

 whitestar505
Studies 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][]
 
 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.

[garym053]

 whitestar505
In 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!

[Danusmom]

 whitestar505
Here 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.
 

[slowpez]

 whitestar505
DH 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 [].

[mike4947]

 whitestar505
Danusmom 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.
 
 

[sandykayak]

 whitestar505
I m a skin-so-soft person myself, but the authorities (i.e. govt) are flat-out saying use Deet because of the West Nile
 
 

[Jeffrey]

 whitestar505
I also use deet.  I started reading those links. But after seeing this one I figured there is no point going any farther.
 
 

But 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?[&:]

[PI]

 whitestar505
So how do you get rid of all the darn cats that are laying all over you and playing with your toes and biting?? Huh?

[garym053]

 whitestar505

So 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!!!

[garym053]

 whitestar505
Danusmom, 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!

[C. Hains]

 whitestar505
When 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!

[Gone-Camping]

 whitestar505
I 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...

[whitestar505]

 whitestar505
You 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 [: (][]

[Opie431]

 whitestar505
We 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.