Freedom From Mosquitoes: Interesting Facts and 7 Home Remedies

Come join me as I share each home remedy

Mosquito bites can indeed make our lives hell. The deadly diseases that spread due to mosquito bites are truly a nightmare for many. So it’s high time we keep ourselves safe from mosquito bites.

The first and foremost way to stay away from mosquitoes is to stop water from being collected in and around our homes. Stagnant water is the breeding ground for most mosquitoes. So keep your surroundings neat and tidy. Throw the water that gets collected in buckets, pots, pits, or puddles.

The other home remedies to stay away from mosquitoes are the following:

• Take a handful of camphor and put it in a bowlful of boiling water with a few drops of neem oil and neem leaves. Leave these near the windows and under the bed. Change the contents every couple of days.

• Burn coconut coir and apply coconut oil to your knees and legs, especially in the mornings, to avoid being bitten by dengue-causing mosquitoes.

• Apply Aloe vera gel to the spots bitten by mosquitoes to avoid inflammation and itching, or rub that place with ice to avoid itching.

• You can even make a paste of oatmeal and water and apply it to the affected area to avoid itching caused by mosquito bites or apply honey.

• Use a mosquito net and cover doors and windows with mesh nets to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.

• It also seems that drinking beer can make one more vulnerable to mosquito bites. It is the increased CO2 that attracts the mosquitoes.

• Avoid wearing dark-coloured clothes, especially after the evening, as they attract mosquitoes.

International Mosquito Day

It is celebrated on August 20 to commemorate the discovery made by Doctor Ronald Ross during the year 1897. He had found that female anaphiline mosquitoes transmit Malaria to humans.

This invention was a breakthrough in the field of medicine. Sir Ronald Ross, the Indian-born British doctor, was awarded The Noble Prize for Medicine. He was a polymath; he wrote a number of poems, published several novels, and composed songs. He was also an amateur artist and mathematician. Sir Ronald Ross worked in the Indian Medical Service for 25 years.

The following famous poem was written by him and needs to be read, especially on the occasion of International Mosquito Day.

Some amazing facts about Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are approximately 3600 species of small flies comprising the family Culicade. The word “mosquito” is Spanish for “little fly”.

Did you Know

1. Only Female mosquitoes bite.
2. Mosquitoes Do prefer to Bite some people over others.
3. A full moon makes mosquitoes more active.
4. Mosquitoes need just a tablespoon of stagnant water to breed.
5. Mosquitoes have a hearty appetite and can consume their entire body weight in blood during a meal.
6. Mosquitoes have been around since the Jurassic period.
7. Mosquitoes don’t have teeth.
8. Malaria claims one million to two million human lives every year.
9. The Calcutta Chromosome, written by Amitav Ghosh, breaks down the animal-human barrier by showing a miscegenated body, as DNA crosses from pigeons to humans and mosquitoes to humans. Blood, mosquitoes, and malaria are all talismans imbued with mystical powers in The Calcutta Chromosome. Sir Ronald Ross’s character also finds a special mention in this novel.

Wishing you all International Mosquito Day! Stay away from them. Adopt the home remedies and stay safe.

ADITI LAHIRY