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Homemade Mosquito Repellent

How to Prevent Insect Bites 

A homemade mosquito repellent is an excellent way to avoid those annoying pests. Mosquitoes can transmit a wide array of dangerous diseases making the use of a repellent very important. Mosquitoes have a tendency to prefer tropical and hot climates so people living or traveling should prevent their bites.

Mosquito bites are also very itching and painful sometimes. The continuous scratching over the skin will irritate it even more and make you more desperate. A mosquito repellent is indeed one of the best ways to protect oneself from them. But there are many types of mosquito repellents and some of them can be dangerous to you and your pets.

Just like in the rest of the Caribbean you might experience some mosquito bites in Punta Cana which can be prevented by using a repellent.

Organic homemade vs chemical repellents

An organic homemade mosquito repellent is made from natural ingredients. Organic products have the advantage of having very small to none side effects, which is important particularly when traveling. Many people use organic products to protect plants and flowers from different pests at home. The chemical pesticides can be effective in getting rid of pests like mosquitoes but their use can produce significant side effects. Some of them can poison your pets as well if they consume it by accident.

They can also make people sick if they are exposed to them for too long. Which is something to think about principally when traveling with babies or elders to Punta Cana for more than a week. You can find an organic repellent at your local health food stores.

Many natural common ingredients can be used to prepare simple mosquito repellents. Herbs, juices and many more simple components can be used to their preparation. 

The following ideas are effective, safe on your skin so you can take the repellent with you when traveling (added to a body lotion):

- Lavender Essential Oil

This is a good scent and excellent lotion insect repellent. Mix lavender oil with some jojoba oil or body lotion and apply on the body.

- Basil Essence

The smell of basil is of great effectiveness to repel insects, particularly to mosquitoes. Fill a jar with alcohol (you can use some brandy or vodka for example), then take some basil leaves and crush them gently and and store them in the jar. For essence, let it sit for about 4 to 6 months sealed and strain. As soon as the essence is ready, just take a few drops, mix them with body lotion and apply on the body.

- Almond Essential Oil

Mix 100 ml of sweet almond oil and add 20 drops of basil essence and other 20 drops of geranium essence.

- Citronela Essential Oil

When applied on the body is an neat mosquito repellent because of its powerful aroma. 

- Chamomile on the skin (or chamomile tea) is also a great remedy to repel mosquitoes.

You can get the ingredients at the supermarket or health food store.

Use fresh garlic to prepare an organic insect control for your plants. By mixing garlic with some mineral oil and diluting it in water you will have a nice insect control mix for your plants. Another alternative is to put several fresh basil plants near the windows of the house to keep mosquitoes away.

Some people also use black and red pepper sprinkled all over their areas with plants to protect them.

Mosquitoes are attracted to the skin of humans for many reasons. Some claim that they come to humans by the smell of our skin. But doesn’t matter the reason, they are very bothersome and potentially dangerous. 

A remedy used to prevent insect bites and drive mosquitoes away, is catnip oil mixed with some grain alcohol.

How repellents work

When repellents are used they prevent the mosquitoes from biting you and transmitting any kind of disease to you. Some people say the smell of the repellent prevents the mosquitoes from biting but the reason could be something else. 

Anyways, if you are using a homemade mosquito repellent in your skin to prevent the mosquitoes from biting I’m sure you will prefer something that is made from natural ingredients rather than a potentially toxic chemical compound when traveling to the Dominican Republic.

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