[Familyofmonkeys]

We had a lovely day at the beach in Shakespeare Regional Park last weekend, but unfortunately OH came up in loads of sandfly bites the next day :( ....his legs are covered in lumps the size of pound coins/one dollar coins. They have taken over a week to start to go, so he is drugged up on strong prescription anti-histamines, they are that itchy (luckily not infected). GP says that he has an unusually strong reaction and should get insect repellent, but we are not keep on using loads of nasty chemicals, especially on the kids (who may have inherited his allergic reaction). Anyone had any success with alternative repellents?

[Angelonthemove]

apparently B6 or marmite is good at repelling if eaten not smeared all over :D

[jubjub]

I have heard that citrus based sprays work well. Maybe get some essential oils?

He has our sympathy hubby had the same thing first summer here, got bitten really badly, legs swelled up and he still has a few marks over a year later. He got told by the pharmacist its because as immigrants we dont have any built up immunity so get hit with it really hard... dunno how true that really is, but kinda makes sense in a way.

[sizzlingbadger]

I had the same horrendous reactions to sand fly bites the first year.

Now just get a very itchy red patch and not much else :o

Think you can get some natural insect repellents. I've tried the chemical laden spray and still I end up getting bitten :(

[nippa&pippa]

Join the club here, I know how your OH feel!!!
Try put pure 100% lavendar oil on the bites as well as act repellent in small areas. But go to health shop as some of them have natural instect repellent balm ;) (if having problem finding one, let me know ;) )

[Familyofmonkeys]

I have heard that citrus based sprays work well. Maybe get some essential oils?

He has our sympathy hubby had the same thing first summer here, got bitten really badly, legs swelled up and he still has a few marks over a year later. He got told by the pharmacist its because as immigrants we dont have any built up immunity so get hit with it really hard... dunno how true that really is, but kinda makes sense in a way.

GP said same thing about immigrants....but told OH not to risk getting bitten again as he could be laid up in bed if got more bites all at once :( . Hope I don't get bitten.....I have crap skin and react to everything really badly, but never put insects to the test. Been surrounded by people stung by bees and wasps, or covered in mozzie bites....but don't get bitten myself.......maybe I just smell funny to them :laugh

Sophia.....will dig out lavender oil and try it. Does Tea Tree oil work aswell?

[IanW99]

Also try this thread Sandfly bites (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10030) for additional suggestions.

Ian

[benandclare]

Hi folks
was having the sand fly debate at work and the kiwis in the throng said their age old remedy for bite prevention is half baby oil half dettol shaken up and applied keeps the little bu**ers away !!:nice1 apply with frequency and shake (the bottle) immediately prior to use. haven't tried it yet but got to be worth a go to out wit them :yes

ttfn Clare :nice1

[Park City Partner]

I am very allergic and even chemicals don't seem to work well for me...as for my baby someone had told be about lavender working so I got some eco store baby massage oil that has lavender in it and used it on my baby...now I worked very hard at not exposing her to sandflies on the trip but when I did she had the oil on and she didn't get bitten. There are various natural balms out there...One is called Tui Bug Balm...good luck.

[katandbob]

I had one go bad, I ended up with a hole in my ankle and still have the scar, I have a tin of Tropical strength spray on the porch door and spray myself when I go out the door!

Kat

oh and I've been told by many a southlander to take 5ml of Kerosene???

I don't know if they are trying to kill me off or if it works? as I'm too chicken to try LOL

[migratory birds]

Kat, the kerosene sounds like a great alternative that most of us wouldn't even think to reach for!! Here in the Great Lakes region of North America, the Indians smeared beaver fat all over in precolonial times - supposed to be pretty rank smelling (most of them likely use the sprays now!). Maybe possum fat would be a good substitute and a possible use for what's gleaned from the garden's edge!

Seriously, the best alternative bug repellent I've used was a soy-oil based product called "Blocker" with soy oil as the active ingredient and coconut oil, glycerin, lecithin, vanillin, geranium oil as inert ingredients. Trouble is I could only find it one summer a few years ago so I save it for when I expect the worst.

Sounds like I should bring it with us when we travel to NZ for a visit in Nov (before the big move in Jan)...

As far as treating the bites goes, we've used peppermint oil in witch hazel to spray or dab on mosiquito bites or chicken pox - has worked the best for us.

In the thread on sandfly bites Ian referred us back to there was a post by "mexican in nz" who said that Vic's Vapor Rub is used in Mexico for bites. Many Asians use "Eagle Brand Medicated Oil" - similar I suppose to Vic's - very potent odor (mentholated as I recall) and I bet you could find it in Asian markets in Auckland or Welly (perhaps Asian markets in the smaller towns of NZ as well).

[Familyofmonkeys]

Hi folks
was having the sand fly debate at work and the kiwis in the throng said their age old remedy for bite prevention is half baby oil half dettol shaken up and applied keeps the little bu**ers away !!:nice1 apply with frequency and shake (the bottle) immediately prior to use. haven't tried it yet but got to be worth a go to out wit them :yes

ttfn Clare :nice1

Bet you'd smell pretty strange with that on :exit