Tag: Insect repellent

Native to the Mediterranean, rue (Ruta graveolens) is a woody, evergreen perennial prized since antiquity for its potent aroma and symbolic meaning. This herb, also known as "herb-of-grace," holds a complex legacy of both medicinal folklore and cautionary warnings.

For decades, people have believed that taking a specific vitamin, particularly vitamin B1 (thiamine), can repel mosquitoes and other biting insects. However, controlled scientific studies have found no evidence that any oral supplement, including those with B vitamins, is effective as a systemic insect repellent.

According to the World Health Organization, there were an estimated 249 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2022, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Given the health risks, many seek natural prevention methods, but does taking B12 prevent mosquito bites? The simple answer is no, despite decades of anecdotal claims.

Over a century ago, Southern farmers traditionally crushed American Beautyberry leaves and rubbed them on their skin and livestock as a natural insect repellent. Modern science has since confirmed this folk remedy, finding active compounds that effectively repel mosquitoes, ticks, and other pests.

According to a 2022 review of over 100 studies, oral thiamine (vitamin B1) cannot repel insects at any dosage or route of administration. This definitively debunks the persistent myth that vitamin B1 keeps bugs away by altering a person's body odor.

According to a 2022 systematic review of over 100 papers, oral thiamine (vitamin B1) "cannot repel arthropods in any dosage or route of administration". This finding addresses the common misconception about what vitamin to take for sand flies, revealing that traditional methods of protection are still the most reliable.

While a popular folk remedy suggests that a vitamin B deficiency causes mosquitoes to bite you more, scientific studies overwhelmingly debunk this theory. The truth is that a vitamin deficiency is not the reason for being a mosquito magnet; other factors, like genetics, carbon dioxide output, and skin bacteria, are the actual culprits.

Native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia, lemongrass is celebrated worldwide for its distinctive citrusy aroma and versatility. Beyond its role in Thai and Vietnamese dishes, this fibrous herb and its potent essential oil are valued across multiple industries, from health and wellness to natural pest control.

The belief that taking vitamin B12 supplements can prevent mosquito bites has persisted for decades, with some anecdotes dating back to flawed studies in the 1940s. However, modern, controlled scientific research has repeatedly debunked this claim. This article will explore why vitamin B12 does not ward off mosquitoes and what genuinely effective strategies you should use instead.

Despite widespread anecdotal claims, scientific studies have shown that vitamins, particularly B vitamins, are not effective in repelling midges and other biting insects. The persistent myth suggests that a supplement can alter your body odor to be repulsive to pests, but controlled experiments have found no evidence to support this belief.