How to combat the deadly dengue in Malaysia
The current water shortage means many people are probably storing water inside and outside their house. It’s the ideal ground for mosquito breeding and thus the spread of Dengue fever. The rainy weather hasn’t been helpful either creating little pools of muddy water in pots and drains – adding to the Aedes mosquito’s prime picks of egg-laying spots.
Mosquitoes, including the ones that carry the deadly illnesses, can generally be warded off with products that can be found at most supermarkets; think insect repellents, insecticides, mosquito coils or vaporizer mats. These products are easily purchased but how many times can one keep replenishing them? As natural and herbal is currently everyone’s holy word, we’ve decided to go that route and have found there are cheaper alternatives to doing the same thing just as effectively. Here are some of the more popular ones that have survived the years of being passed down from generation to generation as well as some common sense advice:
1) Plant mosquito-repelling flora
There are so many easy-to-grow plant species that are well-known to have Mother Nature’s power in repelling those pesky bugs so having them growing in your garden or around the perimeter will minimise their presence. The reason being for their effectiveness is the fact that these flora species give out odorous attributes that mosquitoes seem to detest. An all-natural barrier of protection for your garden is what these plants are capable of providing.
Choose one or mix a few types to provide your garden with beautiful flowers and foliage to add aesthetic benefits. Some of them include catnip, rosemary, marigolds, and ageratum. If you find it difficult to grow any one of these in your garden considering our weather – the less aesthetically pleasing option is lemongrass. It can cost you anywhere between RM5 to RM10 for one small plant to start your garden with.
2) Homemade citronella candles
Citron-what? That’s lemongrass to the uninitiated. It has been widely used as an herb in many Asian cuisines due to its flexibility in cooking, where it can be added fresh, dried or powdered into the dishes. It also grows well in our tropical climate but be warned: the roots can slowly overpower other plants’ roots.
As mentioned in the point above, these simple homemade citronella candles are effective in keeping those mosquitoes at bay with their strong scent that carries the well-known protective characteristics. Since they are handmade, you can customize the sizes for various usages, and save about RM30 for something similar!
3) DIY mosquito repellent
If you’d like to step out of your house early in the morning or sometime at dusk, you may want to rethink that idea since those are the most active periods for mosquitoes (more on that a little later on). However, if you’ve got those powerful bug repellents that work wonders, you’re good to go without turning into a buffet for those bloodsuckers!
You can actually make your own mosquito repellent to apply onto yourself (lotion) or to be used as a room spray / body spritz by following this handy tutorial that not only guides you on how to concoct some, but also gives you different recipes for different uses (think children to pets to adults). Best of all, you get to save money in the long-run since a small 60ml tube of lotion costs around RM20 which is not going to last very long if used regularly.
4) Consume garlic or cider vinegar
According to the old wives’ tales, eating lots of garlic will create a “mosquito barrier” by allowing an invisible layer of garlic oil to seep through your pores. But we warn you: it’s not going to make you popular! Not by a longshot. You can also mix one part garlic juice to 5 parts water to create a (albeit reeking) spray for external usage. As for the cider vinegar, consuming a few tablespoons mixed in water everyday will change your body’s pH level enough to be less attractive to mosquitoes. But beware, garlic and cider vinegar are very pungent and will act not only as a natural repellent for mosquitoes, it will also serve to repel all your friends and any wandering vampire!
Garlic can be purchased at a cheap price, about RM2.80 for a kilogram whereas a 473ml bottle of apple cider vinegar from Tesco retails for RM6.80.
5) Know the active time of mosquitoes
Equipping yourself with some basic knowledge about when the Aedes species is most active for feeding is the first step to preventing them from attacking you. Limit all outdoor activities in the morning for several hours after daybreak and in the late afternoon for several hours before dark, that’s when they are most likely to come out in bloodthirsty swarms!
However, do take note there is a high possibility the mosquitoes will still make their presence felt, especially indoors, in shady areas, or when it is overcast.
6) Don’t wear dark clothing
The little black dress isn’t just the kind to catch the eye of the regular Holly GoLightly but also the swarms of mosquitos we’ve come to find in our gardens. Research has indicated that mosquitoes respond well to dark colours (navy blue, black, royal purple) as they are highly visual and the first tactic they have of finding “food” (that would be you reading this) is via visual cues and these colours absorb heat. Once these bloodsuckers have honed in on you like a heat-seeking missile, they then follow the scent, which is the rate of carbon dioxide production. After that, you’re just a walking buffet. Wear thick clothing like jeans since they cannot penetrate the material and tops with long sleeves, you’ll be able to pass on the target to the next person instead!
Source: Free Malaysia Today
Published: 10 Apr 2014
Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies
