G'day everyone, today I thought I would start a post about mossie and sandfly remedies that I have found effective and perhaps members would like to post their own solutions to these annoying pests. I claim no ownership for the 2 that I'm posting, they are simply "recipes"passed on by old timers. Hope you find them low cost and effective, they work for us.
Sandfly recipe. 1 part methylated spirits,1 part dettol mixed with baby oil and rubbed over exposed skin to help soothe skin. (dettol helps with infection control) The baby oil "catches the sandfly"thus cutting down on being bitten. Ideally, you wouldnt apply solution before hopping into bed or wearing your favourite silk top .......unless you like oil stains! It's more 'DAY WEAR' out and about topical solution.
Recipe 2 is more a relief solution for the above or any other bite/sting. It's simply equal parts of methylated spirits & water. Place a tea bag in warm/hot water and drain/remove tea bag.(allow to cool) Add to methylated spirits in say a spray bottle and its ready to use. Dont rub area after application for a few minutes and bites will settle down.(leave them alone!!) SAFETY FIRST: Remember to clearly label bottle and its contents/proportions.
OK members, if you find the above helpful then that's great, but any other recipes that help is even better. Enjoy life, Ozi
I will eat plenty of garlic and take Vitamin B1 and hope for the best. I don't go very well when bitten, have to take telfast for days after. Maybe just take a telfast everyday while away.
Diesel before, haemorrhoid cream after. That's if you didn't succeed with B1, Avon silky and stop itch. Then there's the DBOM and cut tomatoes.
I am in the worst category of allergic reaction to QLD sand flys. I can also tell you that it seems no two people seem to be affected in the same way and also that there are as many types of sand fly/midge as there are mossies and there are nearly a hundred different mossies.
There are as many different repellents and remedies as there are people and insect species. This is proven by the ad nauseam camp fire lectures from experts for whom a singular recipe works. It's maddening that I get the week long itch from SF's in NSW but a big time visit to the doc in airlie beach.
If you don't suffer badly then just an oily lotion will keep them off. Anamine is a cheap and effective itch soother.
If you react badly to the little bastards then there is only one fix. Stay away from that area.
Word of warning: I read somewhere the other day (can't remember excatly where, but it was quoting a doctor) saying that Dettol should NOT be applied to the skin, because it can cause dermatitis, which can be worse than any bites you may have suffered. Doctor said she knew people used it, but it was NOT a good idea at all because of potential side effects. Cheers, Tony
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If you don't stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them.
I will have a first aid kit full of mossie and sandfly and midgie repellants and the after relief as well. I am the sort that itches for a week like crazy from a mozzie bite. Midgies get me around the ankles bigtime. Anything that works I will carry with me.
Have found the best remedy for a bite is to spray with Bosisto's Eucalyptus Spray as soon as able. Then whenever the sting comes back. It works instantly. I have used it for years.
-- Edited by Happywanderer on Tuesday 14th of September 2010 02:46:15 PM
We have tried lots of home made lotions but either they didnt work or they were just too greasy. I personally use "OFF" I know its good because when a bottle tipped over on the beer fridge it took the enamel off the top of the fridge. (True). On a recent trip to Stanage, sand fly capital of QLD, a bloke said equeal parts of metho and black tea, AFTER you have been bitten will soothe it. And it did. I wear red crocs with black socks tucked into long trousers and long sleeved fluro shirt, and hat and covered in OFF and i still get bitten.
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If there is such a thing as a tourist season.... why cant we shoot them?
Me too Beth, I was down the river yesterday taking photos, found two bites later that night, one on arm and one on top lip. How the heck didn't I know it was biting I'll never know. They drive me crazy. When are they going to invent a vaccination against mozzies, I will be first in line. That is going to be my biggest worry when travelling, mozzies. If they get in the van where on earth will I will be able to sleep. I wouldn't go tenting for that reason.
