Ticks&Chiggers

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Can anyone recommend an insect repellent that really works on ticks or chiggers, or, hopefully, both? We've tried Cutters, Deep Woods Off, REI's 95% Deet, Avon Skin So Soft, etc., etc., without much luck.

-- Rog (flanders@probe.net), April 12, 2000

Answers

Ticks do not like people who take Garlic and B-Complex every day. The only problem is you have to take it for a while before its effective... Doris in Idaho

-- Doris Richards (dorisquilts@webtv.net), April 12, 2000.

Thanks for the info Doris. Does that apply for mosquitos too? Last year when out on a very remote section of land I used Deep Woods Off (high DEET concentration). For three weeks I was having tingling pains in my scalp. After I quit using it, it went away. I know of one other person that this happened to. I was hoping for a natural remedy this year. Ticks are a big concern, but for us the mosquitos can be unbearable.

-- Jennifer (jkmills@freewwweb.com), April 12, 2000.

I used to work out in the woods a lot, would get there before daylight and the misquetos{sp} would be BAD, everyone else would be eaten up but they didn't bother me. Its worth a try, B-complex and Garlic are good for you anyway...Good Luck... Doris in Idaho

-- Doris Richards (dorisquilts@webtv.net), April 12, 2000.

I second Doris' suggestion. We use it in our dogs food too. Instead of B complex I use Brewers yeast because I really like the taste! (not that I eat the dogs food - I meant for me). One of my favourite ways to eat Brewers yeast is on popcorn. My kids call it the yummy yucky stuff! Kim

-- kim (fleece@eritter.net), April 12, 2000.

It's the opposite of your question, Rog, but it seems that if I eat bananas during bug season they prefer me over anyone else regardless of insect repellent and the brewers' yeast and garlic.

When I'm not eating bananas, I have also used a product called "Insect Shoo" on my dogs' fur and on my clothing-socks mostly- rather on skin to keep away ticks, chiggars and mosquitoes. It's available at pet shops and health food stores. I also make it a practice of wearing rubber boots, high tops if it's not too hot and low ones cut off above the ankle otherwise. The crawling bugs don't seem to be able to climb too high and fall off before they get to me.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), April 12, 2000.



Back in the good old days when I was a child and dinosaurs roamed the earth, we used plain old agricultural sulphur sprinkled on our boots, pants legs, gloves. You can also LIGHTLY broadcast sulphur on your lawn and you will have little if any trouble with fleas, ticks or chiggers. Agricultural sulphur is relatively cheap as a little goes a long way, and it is available at the farm supply or feed store. Use about one pound per 1000 sq. feet.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), April 12, 2000.

Thanks Doris! I'll be heading to the store to get some and try it. Jennifer

-- Jennifer (jkmills@freewwweb.com), April 12, 2000.

As far as mosquiteos goes, I've heard that lemon balm, or some other lemon herb, can't quite remember, when rubbed over the skin will repell them. annette

-- annette (j_a_henry@yahoo.com), April 12, 2000.

A cheap soulution for backpacking and hiking vs THE Misquito is to build a wet fire and stand in the smoke. Allow it to absorb into your clothes and sweat. This is not a good effort for hunting though !

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), April 13, 2000.

I have found we do better if we wear unscented deodorant and soap, no hairspray or makeup. You might find it useful to bathe with Fels Naptha soap as soon as you come in for the ticks and chiggers. I also keep a lot of guineas. And keep eucalytus branches around the doors of the house. You can get eucalytus oil. My foster son and his wife lived in St. Kitts for a year and he came home and told us about this. I tried it and was amazed. Now I keep those branches at the doors, even throw one outside on the porch by the door, and the flies and skeeters avoid it like the plague.

-- Susie (goodartfarm@msn.com), April 17, 2000.


After working at a Summer Camp in America, and coming from Australia where I had NEVER came into contact with chiggars before, I learned the best, easiet and quickest secondary method. When you are treating children that want to have a good time at camp, and when you get it yourself and realise their 'suffering', use a clear nail polish. Just apply liberally to the bites. This suffocates the parasite. It worked for me, and it worked for about 100 other kids!! Try

-- Rach (sunflower_chick5@yahoo.com), March 28, 2001.

If you're at home, get guineas. They'll rid your property of the pests in no time.

When I'm out and about, I put a fabric softner dryer sheet in my shirt pocket and one in my hip pocket, with some of it sticking out. When out riding, I also tie one to my mounts bridal. Insects stay away from us.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), March 30, 2001.


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