viv6464

Other than vitamin B has anyone heard of any other herbal miracle? Something taken internally to make you less apealing. Why are us females more prone to be bitten? I am taking unscented everything on my trip to Barbados next month. I doused myself with 100% deet in Costa Rica in july and had over 300 on my legs and feet. 1hr on the beach the whole trip! Most bites were received at dinner and shows at The Paradesus!!!

seasweetie

Ouch! And ick! These aren't internal, but you might want to try them as an alternative to DEET. Cactus Juice is a natural product that's spoken highly of. There's also there's a product called Natrapel that is natural and works well for some.

And while this might not be to your taste, I've heard that drinking rum actually does help to keep the bugs away. (Seems to work for me, but I also take a lot of vitamin B complex.) Gin applied topically to bites is also a good thing.

ejcrowe

Can't help with the prevention, but I would suggest taking a tube of something we call an "Itch Stick" but which is actually just a topical application of ammonia. It might be called AfterBite, but I can't recall. My husband and I get bitten by everything down there despite the DEET, so we always take along one of these and it does ease the itching quite a bit. Maybe it would be most effective combined with the internal application of rum or gin!

calitexan

Viv, try google search for "catnip mosquito repellent" and you'll find both ready-to-buy and diy at home recipes. Good luck!!

travelenthusiast

I've never heard the rum advice before. I think I'll try that on our next vacation. Seasweetie - Is that from personal experience? LOL!

semiramis

My husband swears by drinking tomato juice and he does seem to get bitten less than me - so I guess it's worth a try.